Library and Information Research Group
A comparison of UK academics' conceptions of information literacy in two disciplines: English and Marketing
Sheila Webber, Stuart Boon, Bill Johnston
Library and Information Research Volume 30, Number 93, Winter 2005, pp4-15
Refereed Paper
The authors
Sheila Webber is Senior Lecturer in the Department of
Information Studies, University of Sheffield.
Stuart Boon is a Lecturer in the Centre for Academic
Practice and Learning Enhancement, University of
Strathclyde, Glasgow (formerly Research Associate at
the University of Sheffield).
Bill Johnston is Senior Lecturer in the Centre for
Academic Practice and Learning Enhancement,
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.
Abstract
The authors aim to present and compare findings from
a phenomenographic investigation into conceptions of
information literacy in two populations: academics in
English and Marketing disciplines teaching at British
universities. These were chosen as examples of,
respectively, soft-pure and soft-applied disciplines.We
begin by defining information literacy and briefly setting
our research in context. We explain the nature of
research using the phenomenographic approach, and
describe our sample and methods. We present firstly,
the four qualitatively different conceptions of
information literacy held by the English academics, and
then the seven conceptions held by the Marketing
academics. Key differences between the conceptions
held in the two disciplines are discussed, in particular
relating differences to characteristics of soft-pure and
soft-applied disciplines. The authors conclude that
study of the differences between the conceptions held
by the two disciplinary groups can illuminate and guide
information literacy initiatives.
Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge the support of the Arts and
Humanities Research Council in funding this project.
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Updated: 11 September 2006