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Yaghoub Norouzi, , ,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Introduction
In the digital publishing environment, the websites of international scientific publishers function as critical interfaces between content providers—such as researchers, academics, and students—and their intended audiences. The effectiveness of these platforms is closely linked to the quality of their user interface (UI), which directly affects usability, accessibility, and the overall user experience. Within the framework of the Business-to-Consumer (B2C) model, particularly in subscription-based and digitally delivered content, UI design plays a pivotal role in facilitating efficient content discovery, streamlining access, and enabling personalized services. Employing the B2C model as an analytical lens allows for a systematic evaluation of the design elements that influence user engagement, retention, and trust. This study evaluates the user interfaces of the top 100 international scientific publishing websites, identifies recurring design strengths and shortcomings, and provides evidence-based recommendations to enhance user experience and align design practices with innovative B2C principles.
Methods and Materoal
This study employed an applied, descriptive–analytical survey design aimed at assessing the user interface (UI) of the top 100 international scientific publishing websites, drawing upon the Innovative B2C Business Model framework. The approach integrated systematic observation and content analysis to examine functional, structural, and experiential aspects of these platforms.
The primary research instrument was a researcher-developed checklist, conceptualized in accordance with the Innovative B2C Model for e-commerce and grounded in Nielsen’s (1993) heuristic principles of usability.
The checklist construction followed a multi-step process:
1.Item Generation – An extensive literature review was conducted to identify UI and UX indicators relevant to scientific publishing and digital commerce. This included studies on usability, digital publishing business models, and user engagement frameworks.
2.Content Validation – A panel of four academic experts in information science and interface evaluation reviewed the initial checklist draft for relevance, clarity, and comprehensiveness. Their feedback led to item refinement, deletion of redundancies, and the inclusion of additional critical elements.
3.Final Structure – The validated checklist encompassed three core dimensions:
Website Visual Appeal – 9 components evaluating aesthetic quality, clarity, and visual consistency.
Content Structure Enhancement – 17 components assessing navigability, resource organization, and accessibility.
Trust and Loyalty – 26 components covering credibility signals, personalization, and retention-oriented features.
Operational definitions were provided for each component to ensure scoring consistency across evaluators.
The study population comprised 100 international publishers listed in the authoritative meta-analysis by Nishikawa-Pacher (2022), recognized for its comprehensive coverage of global scientific publishing entities. A census sampling approach was adopted, meaning all publishers in the list were included in the evaluation.
Two independent evaluators—both experienced university librarians with over a decade of professional practice and scholarly work in UI/UX evaluation—conducted systematic assessments.
Prior to full-scale data collection, a pilot test was performed on a subset of 10 randomly selected publisher websites to ensure clarity of checklist items and to standardize scoring criteria.
Each website was evaluated on both desktop and mobile versions to capture platform-specific design variations. Compliance with each checklist component was scored as follows:
Yes (2) – Fully meets the criterion.
Partial (1) – Partially meets the criterion, with noticeable limitations.
No (0) – Does not meet the criterion.
Evaluator discrepancies were resolved through consensus discussions, ensuring inter-rater reliability.
Data were coded numerically and processed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The analysis included:
Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and variances) to summarize compliance patterns.
One-Sample T-Test to assess whether the mean compliance scores for each dimension significantly exceeded a predefined acceptable threshold.
Friedman Test to rank dimensions according to overall compliance levels.
Duncan’s Multiple Range Test for post-hoc pairwise comparisons to detect significant differences among dimensions.
Findings were visualized using bar charts and comparative graphs, enabling clear identification of strengths, weaknesses, and priority areas for improvement in UI design based on the Innovative B2C framework.
Through this rigorous methodology, the study ensured validity, reliability, and practical applicability of results for digital publishing stakeholders aiming to optimize user interface performance and enhance user trust, engagement, and retention.
Resultss and Discussion
Based on the findings, the ease of font readability component was identified as the most prominent, with 91% of the evaluated websites meeting this criterion. Furthermore, 83% of the evaluated websites lacked non-text audio symbols, and 53% lacked non-text video symbols—making these the weakest elements within the visual attractiveness index. This deficiency in incorporating non-text symbols (audio and video) into the user interface may significantly undermine the digital business performance of international publishers.
In the context of the structure strengthening index (content), the components of having the necessary function and the possibility of returning to the first page on each page were recognized as the most important with a compliance rate of 95% and the component of active and valid links with a compliance rate of 94%, so compliance with it plays an important role in creating trust and social credibility of publishers. 69% of the statistical community did not have a sales agency or bookstore portal. The sales portal allows the collection of user purchase, interest, visit and behavior data, which is very key for marketing, content production and business decisions. Without it, the publisher is deprived of this data.
Among the trust and loyalty indicators, the contact us component and the same site design in different browsers were recognized as the most important with 98% compliance, and the ability to write a review for each book was recognized as the least important with 75% of the statistical population not doing so.
Brill, Dovepress and IOS Press with an average compliance of 1.89; Oxford University Press and Bentham with an average compliance of 1.80; De Gruyter, Medcrave and Penn University Press State with an average compliance of 1.89 were recognized as the top publishers in the three areas of visual appeal, structural reinforcement (content), and continuity (customer loyalty and trust), respectively.
A significant difference was observed between the statistical population rankings in compliance with the components of these three indicators. By confirming the first hypothesis of the study, it was concluded that the score obtained from the websites under study in the user interface evaluation is significantly lower than the maximum score, i.e. the full evaluation score. By confirming the second hypothesis of the study, it was found that the average total score obtained from the evaluations in the three areas of visual appeal, structural reinforcement (content), and continuity (customer loyalty and trust) are not the same.
Conclusion
The assessment revealed that none of the top 100 international scientific publication websites fully met the needs of disabled or handicapped audiences, which is a fundamental flaw in the accessibility index of user interface design. To address this weakness, it is recommended that the websites studied comply with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Multimedia content is one of the important SEO factors. Its lack of use by the community may reduce visibility in search results. Today's users, especially the younger generations, are accustomed to multimedia content. The lack of audio and visual elements, including videos and podcasts, and the lack of diversity in the type of content presentation may cause this range of audiences to be lost. It is recommended to present book introductions, interviews with authors, or database usage guides in the form of several-minute videos. The use of simple animations, audio and video icons, and responsive designs can increase the sense of modernity and attractiveness on publishers' sites.
In the digital publishing environment, the websites of international scientific publishers function as critical interfaces between content providers—such as researchers, academics, and students—and their intended audiences. The effectiveness of these platforms is closely linked to the quality of their user interface (UI), which directly affects usability, accessibility, and the overall user experience. Within the framework of the Business-to-Consumer (B2C) model, particularly in subscription-based and digitally delivered content, UI design plays a pivotal role in facilitating efficient content discovery, streamlining access, and enabling personalized services. Employing the B2C model as an analytical lens allows for a systematic evaluation of the design elements that influence user engagement, retention, and trust. This study evaluates the user interfaces of the top 100 international scientific publishing websites, identifies recurring design strengths and shortcomings, and provides evidence-based recommendations to enhance user experience and align design practices with innovative B2C principles.
Methods and Materoal
This study employed an applied, descriptive–analytical survey design aimed at assessing the user interface (UI) of the top 100 international scientific publishing websites, drawing upon the Innovative B2C Business Model framework. The approach integrated systematic observation and content analysis to examine functional, structural, and experiential aspects of these platforms.
The primary research instrument was a researcher-developed checklist, conceptualized in accordance with the Innovative B2C Model for e-commerce and grounded in Nielsen’s (1993) heuristic principles of usability.
The checklist construction followed a multi-step process:
1.Item Generation – An extensive literature review was conducted to identify UI and UX indicators relevant to scientific publishing and digital commerce. This included studies on usability, digital publishing business models, and user engagement frameworks.
2.Content Validation – A panel of four academic experts in information science and interface evaluation reviewed the initial checklist draft for relevance, clarity, and comprehensiveness. Their feedback led to item refinement, deletion of redundancies, and the inclusion of additional critical elements.
3.Final Structure – The validated checklist encompassed three core dimensions:
Website Visual Appeal – 9 components evaluating aesthetic quality, clarity, and visual consistency.
Content Structure Enhancement – 17 components assessing navigability, resource organization, and accessibility.
Trust and Loyalty – 26 components covering credibility signals, personalization, and retention-oriented features.
Operational definitions were provided for each component to ensure scoring consistency across evaluators.
The study population comprised 100 international publishers listed in the authoritative meta-analysis by Nishikawa-Pacher (2022), recognized for its comprehensive coverage of global scientific publishing entities. A census sampling approach was adopted, meaning all publishers in the list were included in the evaluation.
Two independent evaluators—both experienced university librarians with over a decade of professional practice and scholarly work in UI/UX evaluation—conducted systematic assessments.
Prior to full-scale data collection, a pilot test was performed on a subset of 10 randomly selected publisher websites to ensure clarity of checklist items and to standardize scoring criteria.
Each website was evaluated on both desktop and mobile versions to capture platform-specific design variations. Compliance with each checklist component was scored as follows:
Yes (2) – Fully meets the criterion.
Partial (1) – Partially meets the criterion, with noticeable limitations.
No (0) – Does not meet the criterion.
Evaluator discrepancies were resolved through consensus discussions, ensuring inter-rater reliability.
Data were coded numerically and processed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The analysis included:
Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and variances) to summarize compliance patterns.
One-Sample T-Test to assess whether the mean compliance scores for each dimension significantly exceeded a predefined acceptable threshold.
Friedman Test to rank dimensions according to overall compliance levels.
Duncan’s Multiple Range Test for post-hoc pairwise comparisons to detect significant differences among dimensions.
Findings were visualized using bar charts and comparative graphs, enabling clear identification of strengths, weaknesses, and priority areas for improvement in UI design based on the Innovative B2C framework.
Through this rigorous methodology, the study ensured validity, reliability, and practical applicability of results for digital publishing stakeholders aiming to optimize user interface performance and enhance user trust, engagement, and retention.
Resultss and Discussion
Based on the findings, the ease of font readability component was identified as the most prominent, with 91% of the evaluated websites meeting this criterion. Furthermore, 83% of the evaluated websites lacked non-text audio symbols, and 53% lacked non-text video symbols—making these the weakest elements within the visual attractiveness index. This deficiency in incorporating non-text symbols (audio and video) into the user interface may significantly undermine the digital business performance of international publishers.
In the context of the structure strengthening index (content), the components of having the necessary function and the possibility of returning to the first page on each page were recognized as the most important with a compliance rate of 95% and the component of active and valid links with a compliance rate of 94%, so compliance with it plays an important role in creating trust and social credibility of publishers. 69% of the statistical community did not have a sales agency or bookstore portal. The sales portal allows the collection of user purchase, interest, visit and behavior data, which is very key for marketing, content production and business decisions. Without it, the publisher is deprived of this data.
Among the trust and loyalty indicators, the contact us component and the same site design in different browsers were recognized as the most important with 98% compliance, and the ability to write a review for each book was recognized as the least important with 75% of the statistical population not doing so.
Brill, Dovepress and IOS Press with an average compliance of 1.89; Oxford University Press and Bentham with an average compliance of 1.80; De Gruyter, Medcrave and Penn University Press State with an average compliance of 1.89 were recognized as the top publishers in the three areas of visual appeal, structural reinforcement (content), and continuity (customer loyalty and trust), respectively.
A significant difference was observed between the statistical population rankings in compliance with the components of these three indicators. By confirming the first hypothesis of the study, it was concluded that the score obtained from the websites under study in the user interface evaluation is significantly lower than the maximum score, i.e. the full evaluation score. By confirming the second hypothesis of the study, it was found that the average total score obtained from the evaluations in the three areas of visual appeal, structural reinforcement (content), and continuity (customer loyalty and trust) are not the same.
Conclusion
The assessment revealed that none of the top 100 international scientific publication websites fully met the needs of disabled or handicapped audiences, which is a fundamental flaw in the accessibility index of user interface design. To address this weakness, it is recommended that the websites studied comply with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Multimedia content is one of the important SEO factors. Its lack of use by the community may reduce visibility in search results. Today's users, especially the younger generations, are accustomed to multimedia content. The lack of audio and visual elements, including videos and podcasts, and the lack of diversity in the type of content presentation may cause this range of audiences to be lost. It is recommended to present book introductions, interviews with authors, or database usage guides in the form of several-minute videos. The use of simple animations, audio and video icons, and responsive designs can increase the sense of modernity and attractiveness on publishers' sites.
Dr Seifallah Andayesh, Dr Zahra Kianrad,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Introduction: This study aims to examine the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities on organizational creativity, with a particular focus on the mediating role of knowledge sharing among librarians working in university libraries affiliated with medical sciences universities located in Tehran.
Research Method: The research employed a descriptive-survey design and is applied in terms of purpose. The statistical population included all librarians employed in the libraries of medical sciences universities in Tehran. Given the limited population size, a census method was used for data collection, resulting in 214 completed questionnaires. Valid and standardized instruments were utilized to measure the study variables. The level of AI utilization was assessed using a 22-item questionnaire adapted from Chen et al. (2022), covering five dimensions: AI management, AI-based decision-making, AI infrastructure, AI readiness, and AI-related skills. Organizational creativity was measured using a 15-item scale developed by Liao and Wu (2013). Knowledge sharing was evaluated using a 12-item questionnaire by Damaj et al. (2016). All instruments were based on a five-point Likert scale. Instrument validity was confirmed through convergent and discriminant validity analyses, and reliability was verified via Cronbach's alpha coefficients.
Findings: The results indicated a significant and positive relationship between AI capabilities and organizational creativity. AI also had a significant and positive effect on knowledge sharing. Moreover, knowledge sharing was positively and significantly associated with organizational creativity.
Discussion and Conclusion: The analyses revealed that knowledge sharing serves as a full mediator, playing a crucial role in linking AI capabilities to organizational creativity.
Originality: This research contributes to the literature on AI in the field of library and information science by highlighting the role of emerging technologies in fostering organizational creativity and addressing gaps in understanding the dynamics between AI and innovation within academic libraries
Reza Naserijahromi, Mehdi Mohammadi, Marzieh Abdolvahabi, Solmaz Khademi, Majid Kowsari, Sedigheh Shadi,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Objective: This research was a synthesis research approach to the concept of critical information literacy.
Methodology: This research was a qualitative method using a five-stage interpretive-critical approach. The statistical population of this research focused on primary sources close to the field of the present study. The criterion for selecting the studies under study was alignment and coherence with the purpose, title, and variables of the present study. In this regard, the search for sources was carried out according to the research question and based on the knowledge gained from reviewing the theoretical background. The keywords entered in scientific search engines and databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Elsevier, Scopus were: synthesis research approach, media literacy, critical literacy, critical information literacy, and information news. After the collected data reached a saturation point and the need to select studies was no longer needed, the review and interpretation process began. The findings obtained from the analysis and synthesis of research reports related to critical information literacy were categorized into three main themes: "Scientometrics of Information Literacy", "Correlation of Information Literacy and Critical Thinking", and "Media Information Literacy".
Conclusion: In fact, a necessary knowledge, awareness, and skills with a standard framework of information and critical literacy can independently provide a suitable infrastructure and foundation for the interaction of information literacy and critical literacy, which will create a balance and interaction between the capacities and abilities of curiosity, creativity, and judgment in individuals.
Mis Shahla Bouazzar, Dr Alireza Ghorbani, Dr Nazmohammad Ounagh,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Aims: This study investigates the relationship between the use of virtual social networks and both cultural capital and social capital among high school students in Ahvaz, Iran. Method: A descriptive-survey research method was employed, with the statistical population consisting of all high school students in Ahvaz. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample of 320 participants was selected through multi-stage random cluster sampling. Data were collected using Bourdieu’s social capital and cultural capital questionnaires, along with Lee’s (2005) virtual networks usage scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Finding: The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between the components of usefulness, compatibility, social influence, and perceived enjoyment and the variables of social capital and cultural capital. Specifically, virtual social networks enhance individuals' social and cultural capital by improving adaptability, reinforcing social influence on behavior, increasing perceived enjoyment, and maximizing the perceived utility of these platforms. Furthermore, the results indicated that both virtual social network usage and cultural capital can predict the level of social capital among high school students in Ahvaz. Conclusion: Leveraging the potential of social networks can effectively increase students' cultural and social capital.
Mohammad Hossein Marzban, Rahman Sharifzadeh, ,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Volume 12, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
As information becomes one of the most important resources for companies and cyber threats get more advanced, there has been a big increase in spending on security tools. But research shows that over 90% of big security problems come from mistakes made by human. This shows that it's really important to focus on "information security culture" along with technical tools. Most traditional ideas about security culture, like those from Schein and Hofstede, are centered around human and don't take into account the role of non-human elements. This gap in understanding means we need better ways, like Actor-Network Theory, to look at how all different factors work together. This study was done to fill that gap and look at what influences security culture in a major financial organization. The research used a qualitative method and included interviews with 25 managers, experts, and users at the Central Bank of Iran, as well as field observations and document analysis. The results showed that security culture comes from the interaction of three main human groups: senior managers who make big decisions, employees who carry out daily tasks, and technical teams that turn policies into real actions. Also, five types of non-human elements were found: policies like ISO 27001, technologies such as SIEM and MFA, physical infrastructure, documents, and organizational processes. A key finding was the role of hybrid actors, like authentication systems, which mix humans and technology and affect how people behave. Compared to simple models, this study shows that building a better security culture needs a network approach that considers all the different factors. Recommendations include making security tools easier to use, training managers, and embedding security into everyday work. This approach can help financial and governance organizations that face similar challenges.
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