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An investigation of digital scholarship and disciplinary culture in Oman

Ali Al‐Aufi (Department of Library and Information Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman)
Paul Genoni (School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia)

Library Hi Tech

ISSN: 0737-8831

Article publication date: 7 September 2010

663

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate disciplinary differences in the use of networked information for research and scholarly communication at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Oman. The paper produced quantitative data on how and why academics within different disciplines utilise networked information either made available internally through the university library, or externally through services accessed by the internet.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted with academic staff at SQU.

Findings

Statistical analysis found a number of significant differences between respondents in the science disciplines and those in the social sciences and humanities with regard to their use of, and attitudes towards, digital information services. While respondents from science disciplines show overall longer and more frequent use of networked information, respondents from humanities and social sciences indicated more positive attitudes towards library networked services.

Research limitations/implications

The Arab country context presents a challenge in determining the degree to which results can be extrapolated to other environments, in that disciplines are also divided by language. Science disciplines teach in English, and the social science and humanities in Arabic.

Originality/value

While similar studies have been undertaken in developed countries, this study is an attempt to establish some data for a developing Arab country.

Keywords

Citation

Al‐Aufi, A. and Genoni, P. (2010), "An investigation of digital scholarship and disciplinary culture in Oman", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 28 No. 3, pp. 414-432. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831011076666

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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