Information Dimensions in Library and Information Science Doctoral Mentoring: Qualitative Findings

Abstract

Socialization of doctoral students refers to the process through which they acquire various types of information about their work, department, university, and discipline for their future careers.  This study aims to investigate information behaviors, with emphasis on identifying types of information exchanged in mentoring between faculty advisors and their doctoral students in library and information science (LIS). As a first step to developing a content framework for LIS doctoral mentoring, the author interviewed ten LIS doctoral students from nine U.S. universities. Based on data from these interviews, the author identified sixteen types of information exchanged: language, history, coursework, research, skills, teaching, networking, structure, politics, goals, strategies, values, norms/tradition, rules/policies, benefits, and personal life. In comparison with a content framework used, four dimensions were newly added. In addition to the identification of content dimensions, the author observed four meaningful contextual levels to which the content types can be applied: work, department/school, university, and discipline. The qualitative data also showed that interpersonal factors of advisees/advisors and contextual factors might relate to information exchange in doctoral mentoring. In a following paper, the author will present the results of a follow-up survey that tests and generalizes the findings of this study.

URL: http://ijkcdt.net/xml/17107/17107.pdf