Diversity: the research and the lack of progress

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address the profession's focus on diversity, including the original research, and analyze the research beyond the profession to understand better the bases for the limited progress in fulfilling diversity goals. The paper focuses on the fact that diversity has been equated with race and the potential implications of that relationship.Design/methodology/approachAn overview and analysis of diversity research, including factors associated with the success of diversity programs, is presented, focusing on research regarding the relationship between diversity and race. The article also considers how perceptions of race and racism have been manifested across sectors and in various countries. Based upon the fact that diversity and race have been equated, the discussion focuses on the extent to which this relationship is connected to the limited progress associated with diversity goals.FindingsResearch related to race, diversity, and affirmative action indicate both the complexity of the concepts among scientists, social scientists, and members of the general public, as well as the biases reflected in the viewpoints, often manifested in public policy. The research among communication scholars also indicates a predisposition to avoiding communication about difficult topics, such as race and racism, reflective in the use of more benign terminology, such as diversity.Practical implicationsWhile diversity research continues to be necessary in the profession, going beyond that which documents the levels of under‐representation, there is also the need for further consideration of the applicability of research beyond the LIS profession. In this regard, the understanding of research related to diversity, race, and affirmative action, and the relationship among the three provides the basis for further research in LIS and a more informed approach in addressing diversity issues in the profession.Originality/valueThe primary focus of the discussion of the paper is that of the nature of diversity, race and racism, as defined in the context of the USA. However, research related to race, racial classifications and hierarchies, and diversity in other parts of North America, Australia, Europe, and Africa are considered to a limited extent as well.

The Spectrum Doctoral Fellowship Program: Enhancing the LIS Professoriate

“…This problem is even more acute in library and information science (Brown-Syed, et al, 2008;Reeling, 1992). A corollary issue of diversity recruitment and retention in LIS education, typically addressed in relation to master's level degrees (Alire, 2001;Barlow & Aversa, 2006;Dewey & Keally, 2008;Gollop, 1999;Honma, 2005;Jaeger et al, 2010;Neely & Peterson, 2007;Stringer-Stanback, 2008;Wheeler, 2005;Winston, 2008), is minority recruitment and retention in PhD programs, which deserves fresh and dedicated attention and study. The latest statistics available from the Association for Library and Information Science Educators (ALISE) indicate that the LIS professoriate remains sorely lacking in diversity: Only 3.7% of the fulltime faculty members are Latino, as compared to 14.5% of the total population, while African Americans comprise just 5.5% of the fulltime faculty as compared to 12.1% of the population.…”

“…Mark Winston (1998Winston ( , 2001Winston ( , 2008 has provided seminal research on the recruitment and retention of people of color in the profession and the disciplines that support it. His early studies determined that common themes emerge across the literature of the professions.…”

“…Later research undertaken by Winston (2008) makes the case that past studies indicate a "predisposition to avoiding topics, such as race and racism, which is reflected in the use of more benign terms, such as diversity." He focuses in his article on "diversity, race and affirmative action and the relationship among them as a more informed approach from which to address the continuing lack of diversity in the profession," and by extension in the discipline and the professoriate (p. 3).…”

Including the Voices of Librarians of Color in Reference and Information Services Research

“…11 The scholarship in this area has been criticized as overemphasizing demographic trends, lacking in original research, and focusing too narrowly on academic research libraries. 12 The research on race and ethnicity in RIS has tended to focus on service provision for users of color rather than on the perspective of the service provider. Some examples of this research include information behavior of immigrants, 13 effectiveness of reference service to international students, 14 equality of digital reference service to various ethnic groups, 15 and the influence of race and ethnicity on service provider approachability.…”

Engaging an Age-Diverse Workplace: Revisiting a Business Opportunity and Challenge

“…Diversity is an important component of business success, contributing to "quality decision making" [1] as well as the flexibility, adaptability, and innovation so necessary to global competitiveness [2]. While diversity in the workplace is not new, it is becoming a topic of increasing importance as the cost and benefit of recruiting and retaining qualified personnel that can work together, as well as understand and respect each other, is becoming increasingly clear: "With demographic shifts, advances in technology and communications, and globalization, diversity is quickly becoming a driver of growth around the world" [3].…”