Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore and understand how academic librarians use evidence in their professional decision making. A grounded theory methodology was used, following the approach of Charmaz. The 19 participants were academic librarians in Canada. Data were gathered via online diaries and semistructured interviews over a 6-month period in 2011. The findings from this study illustrate how academic librarians use evidence in their practice, namely to convince. Convincing has two subcategories: confirming, which is usually applied to oneself, and influencing, which is usually applied to others. This study is the first to focus on how academic librarians use evidence in their decision making. The findings highlight the impact of collaboration and organizational dynamics on decision making and evidence use. Convincing emerged as the main theoretical concept in relation to how evidence is used.
Highlights
This article reveals findings related to how academic librarians use evidence sources in decision making related to their work
The study grew out of a desire to bring library and information studies (LIS) research to bear on the evidence-based library and information practice (EBLIP) model and determine whether it fits with how librarians use evidence
When examining the research data collected for this study, the scenarios presented by the participants illustrate that there are two broad categories of librarian decision making
Summary
This article reveals findings related to how academic librarians use evidence sources in decision making related to their work. The data generated in this study led the researcher to the theoretical concept of “convincing” as the main way that academic librarians use evidence. This concept will be developed through an exploration of the environment in which academic librarians work, their level of decision-making power, and the subconcepts of confirming and influencing. The study grew out of a desire to bring library and information studies (LIS) research to bear on the evidence-based library and information practice (EBLIP) model and determine whether it fits with how librarians use evidence. All five categories include some level of influencing as it pertains to decision making, and depend on power and relationships within an organization
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