Information professionals' participation in interdisciplinary research: a preliminary study of factors affecting successful collaborations

Abstract

Objectives: This pilot study explores the conditions that support or hinder information professionals' participation in interdisciplinary research teams. Methods: We undertook a preliminary grounded theory study investigating factors that impact on information professionals' participation in interdisciplinary research. Four biomedical information professionals working in academic universities and teaching hospitals in Canada participated in semi-structured interviews. Grounded theory methods guided the data collection and analysis. Results: Participants identified the conditions that support or hinder research participation as belonging to four distinct overlapping domains: client-level factors including preconceptions and researcher resistance; individual-level factors such as research readiness; opportunities that are most often made not found; and organisational supports. Conclusions: Creating willingness, building preparedness and capitalising on opportunity appear crucial to successful participation in interdisciplinary research. Further exploration of the importance of educational, collegial and organisational supports may reveal additional data to support the development of a grounded theory regarding the facilitation of information professionals' engagement in interdisciplinary research.

The academic librarian as co‐investigator on an interprofessional primary research team: a case study

“…If participation on research teams involves an element of work outside the normal scope of what librarians do on a day‐to‐day basis, one might ask what these information professionals hope to gain by pushing the boundaries of their job descriptions. Lorenzetti and Rutherford interviewed four biomedical information professionals working in academic universities and teaching hospitals. They identified that the pursuit of authorship opportunities may be a key driver for joining research teams, especially if these librarians have academic status and the imperative to publish is a component of career advancement.…”

“…Additionally, they identified that information professionals may agree be motivated to join research teams out of professional insecurity, concerned that if they turn down opportunities they might not arise again. In terms of non traditional tasks and services, Lorenzetti and Rutherford (p280) also advanced the idea that those librarians who can approach work on research teams as an opportunity for ‘professional learning and growth rather than simply an occasion to demonstrate existing skills may find more opportunities to engage in research than those who cannot’. Roland and Glenn similarly found that participants in their study were unusually innovative and entrepreneurial compared with those who did not work on research teams.…”

The power of information: health information and UK agendas

“…Access to content forms part of the framework for health information in Scotland, alongside the information literacy to be able to access, appraise and apply evidence. 3 Writing from a cancer perspective, patient information in Northern Ireland is integrated into clinical care at the local level, as part of clinical pathways. The Welsh Assembly Government does not yet have a strategy for health information, but initial steps are being taken that will lead either to a cancer information strategy or to a wider health information strategy.…”

“…2 Ford et al conclude their review by highlighting areas for further research in the area of public health, 2 a research need which library and information workers are potentially well placed to help fulfil; Lorenzetti et al's manuscript signposting the way to successful LIS participation in interdisciplinary research. 3 Elsewhere, the contributions to librarian and neuroscientists to Iran's scientific publications in neuroscience is the subject of Mohammadhassanzadeh et al's manuscript. 4 Forecasts, predictions and processes are the foci of the remaining manuscripts in this issue of HILJ.…”

The role of the health information professional

“…Lorenzetti and Rutherford explore a different aspect of professional competence, namely participation in research. In a pilot study conducted in Canada the authors used in‐depth interviews with four biomedical information professionals to explore the conditions that either support or hinder information professionals’ participation in interdisciplinary research.…”