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Showing 287 results for Type of Study: Research
Rahman Marefat, Mahmood Sangari,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (5-2025)
Volume 12, Issue 1 (5-2025)
Abstract
Background and purpose: The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying methods of validating methods of resources among sports science students of Birjand University. In numerous classes involving students from various disciplines, a recurring challenge reported by students was their unfamiliarity with source validation methods. Students, consistently indicated a lack of knowledge on how to assess the credibility of sources. When provided with examples of valid and invalid sources, many students struggled to properly evaluate them. Some students even expressed the belief that source validation was unnecessary, emphasizing merely the importance of using sources rather than verifying their validity. The researchers focused on a specific group—sports science students at Birjand University—to investigate how these students evaluate the sources they need and what challenges they encounter in the process.
Studies suggest that students often lack the skills to assess the credibility of articles found in databases or general websites like Wikipedia and online encyclopedias (Marefat, 1401; Azarang, 1399). For printed sources, students typically consider the author's credibility, organizational affiliation, and the publisher’s reputation as indicators of source reliability (Moradi, 1384). Marefat identified ten main categories related to evaluating sources, including institutional credibility, author credibility, content accuracy, observational reliability, referential validation, publication date, information distortion, credibility doubts, recognition of source credibility, and citation rate, particularly from psychology students’ perspectives (Marefat, 1396).
Research by Keshavarz, Vasfi, and Sha'bani (1393) examined the credibility of internet health information and how personality traits like conscientiousness influence evaluation methods among health-medical professionals. They found that many struggle to assess quality, relying mainly on impartiality, timeliness, and author credibility. Similarly, Roozbahani and Riahi-nia (1395) highlighted that faculty members prioritize content accuracy, data reliability, logical consistency, and relevance in determining source credibility. Kader’s study (Kader, 2013) on nurses identified a six-stage process for evaluating online health information, depending on skills, time, and website quality. Liu and Huang’s research (2005) among Chinese students revealed that current students often base their judgments on author name, affiliation, and website reputation, whereas graduates focus more on the information’s accuracy and quality.
Despite many evaluation efforts, challenges remain: first, understanding how users process unobservable information is difficult; second, differing information needs lead to varied processing approaches; and third, establishing a universal criterion for correct information processing is often impossible outside controlled environments. These issues highlight the complexity of assessing information credibility and the ongoing need for effective evaluation strategies (Liu, 2000).The main questions of the present study are:
1. What are the challenges faced by sports science students at Birjand University in evaluating their required resources?
2. How do sports science students at Birjand University evaluate their required resources?
Method:The statistical population of the present study consisted of 67 sports science students at Birjand University at the time of the research. Given the effort to collect maximum data, all 67 individuals were considered part of the research population, and no sampling was performed. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. In total, twenty master's students in sports science were interviewed. The interview process continued until saturation was reached, after interviewing sixteen students. From the sixteenth to the twentieth interview, the data obtained were repetitive, and based on this, the researchers decided to stop data collection. The initial codes were placed under sub-categories and main categories. In the present study, member checking was used to determine the research's credibility. In the present study, the constructivist approach in grounded theory, as proposed by Charmaz (2014), was adopted as the basis for the work, therefore, there is no need to present a paradigmatic model. Data analysis was also performed using MAXQDA 2020 software.
Findings: Among the 67 members of the research population, a total of 20 sports science students from Birjand University were interviewed. A totoal of 50% of the interviewees were women (10 people), and 10 (50%) were men. Categorizes and presents the concepts and codes extracted from the interviews related to the research questions. In the axial coding of the data, a total of 6 main challenges related to the validation methods of resources of sports students present in the interviews were found, such as lack of familiarity with investigating research violations, lack of familiarity with plagiarism, lack of familiarity with plagiarism software, etc. Also, 15 core codes related to the second research question, how to accredit sports students, were obtained.
Conclusion: Interviews with the research population revealed that students in the research population face certain challenges in validating sources. They highlighted "unfamiliarity with examining research misconduct, unfamiliarity with plagiarism, unfamiliarity with plagiarism software, unfamiliarity with citation styles and citation management software, disregard for the author's academic rank, and unfamiliarity with the credibility of open-access articles" in their conversations with researchers.
These points were derived from the overall final concepts identified during the interviews, which included "unfamiliarity with how to examine research misconduct, unfamiliarity with examining research misconduct, unfamiliarity with examining plagiarism, unfamiliarity with plagiarism software, unfamiliarity with citation styles, unfamiliarity with EndNote, disregard for the author's academic rank, and unfamiliarity with the credibility of open-access articles." The findings of the present study emphasize the need for serious attention from all students, including sports science students and other students, to the issue of information credibility and quality, and the necessity of sufficient and continuous training and skills in this area. Skill training in determining the quality and credibility of sources, based on specific and strong criteria, in the form of training courses, workshops, laboratories, projects, and research, are among the immediate actions in this field.
Especially, It is suggested that to better understand the problems and provide better solutions, other qualitative and mixed methods such as foresight and videography with highly standardized checklists be conducted in more extensive and broader research to achieve more generalizable and broader results. It seems that training in source validation methods is needed for the sports science students participating in the research, and their training can reduce the challenges of source validation among students and improve their source validation methods. It is suggested that the data from this research be measured as a quantitative study among students of Birjand University and other various universities across the country.
Studies suggest that students often lack the skills to assess the credibility of articles found in databases or general websites like Wikipedia and online encyclopedias (Marefat, 1401; Azarang, 1399). For printed sources, students typically consider the author's credibility, organizational affiliation, and the publisher’s reputation as indicators of source reliability (Moradi, 1384). Marefat identified ten main categories related to evaluating sources, including institutional credibility, author credibility, content accuracy, observational reliability, referential validation, publication date, information distortion, credibility doubts, recognition of source credibility, and citation rate, particularly from psychology students’ perspectives (Marefat, 1396).
Research by Keshavarz, Vasfi, and Sha'bani (1393) examined the credibility of internet health information and how personality traits like conscientiousness influence evaluation methods among health-medical professionals. They found that many struggle to assess quality, relying mainly on impartiality, timeliness, and author credibility. Similarly, Roozbahani and Riahi-nia (1395) highlighted that faculty members prioritize content accuracy, data reliability, logical consistency, and relevance in determining source credibility. Kader’s study (Kader, 2013) on nurses identified a six-stage process for evaluating online health information, depending on skills, time, and website quality. Liu and Huang’s research (2005) among Chinese students revealed that current students often base their judgments on author name, affiliation, and website reputation, whereas graduates focus more on the information’s accuracy and quality.
Despite many evaluation efforts, challenges remain: first, understanding how users process unobservable information is difficult; second, differing information needs lead to varied processing approaches; and third, establishing a universal criterion for correct information processing is often impossible outside controlled environments. These issues highlight the complexity of assessing information credibility and the ongoing need for effective evaluation strategies (Liu, 2000).The main questions of the present study are:
1. What are the challenges faced by sports science students at Birjand University in evaluating their required resources?
2. How do sports science students at Birjand University evaluate their required resources?
Method:The statistical population of the present study consisted of 67 sports science students at Birjand University at the time of the research. Given the effort to collect maximum data, all 67 individuals were considered part of the research population, and no sampling was performed. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. In total, twenty master's students in sports science were interviewed. The interview process continued until saturation was reached, after interviewing sixteen students. From the sixteenth to the twentieth interview, the data obtained were repetitive, and based on this, the researchers decided to stop data collection. The initial codes were placed under sub-categories and main categories. In the present study, member checking was used to determine the research's credibility. In the present study, the constructivist approach in grounded theory, as proposed by Charmaz (2014), was adopted as the basis for the work, therefore, there is no need to present a paradigmatic model. Data analysis was also performed using MAXQDA 2020 software.
Findings: Among the 67 members of the research population, a total of 20 sports science students from Birjand University were interviewed. A totoal of 50% of the interviewees were women (10 people), and 10 (50%) were men. Categorizes and presents the concepts and codes extracted from the interviews related to the research questions. In the axial coding of the data, a total of 6 main challenges related to the validation methods of resources of sports students present in the interviews were found, such as lack of familiarity with investigating research violations, lack of familiarity with plagiarism, lack of familiarity with plagiarism software, etc. Also, 15 core codes related to the second research question, how to accredit sports students, were obtained.
Conclusion: Interviews with the research population revealed that students in the research population face certain challenges in validating sources. They highlighted "unfamiliarity with examining research misconduct, unfamiliarity with plagiarism, unfamiliarity with plagiarism software, unfamiliarity with citation styles and citation management software, disregard for the author's academic rank, and unfamiliarity with the credibility of open-access articles" in their conversations with researchers.
These points were derived from the overall final concepts identified during the interviews, which included "unfamiliarity with how to examine research misconduct, unfamiliarity with examining research misconduct, unfamiliarity with examining plagiarism, unfamiliarity with plagiarism software, unfamiliarity with citation styles, unfamiliarity with EndNote, disregard for the author's academic rank, and unfamiliarity with the credibility of open-access articles." The findings of the present study emphasize the need for serious attention from all students, including sports science students and other students, to the issue of information credibility and quality, and the necessity of sufficient and continuous training and skills in this area. Skill training in determining the quality and credibility of sources, based on specific and strong criteria, in the form of training courses, workshops, laboratories, projects, and research, are among the immediate actions in this field.
Especially, It is suggested that to better understand the problems and provide better solutions, other qualitative and mixed methods such as foresight and videography with highly standardized checklists be conducted in more extensive and broader research to achieve more generalizable and broader results. It seems that training in source validation methods is needed for the sports science students participating in the research, and their training can reduce the challenges of source validation among students and improve their source validation methods. It is suggested that the data from this research be measured as a quantitative study among students of Birjand University and other various universities across the country.
Dr. Mohammad Moradi, ,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (5-2025)
Volume 12, Issue 1 (5-2025)
Abstract
In order to know whether the quality standards are being met, universities evaluate the educational quality of professors every semester using professor evaluation by students based on evaluation criteria determined by the Ministry of Science. However, it has never been investigated which of the criteria has had the greatest impact on increasing student interaction with professors and course content, and consequently increasing student learning and productivity. Also, methods such as Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) techniques only measure the opinions of experts for each of the evaluation criteria, which may be in contradiction with reality. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the importance of each of the professor evaluation criteria related to student-professor interaction and course content based on students' performance and their average scores, as well as the results of professor evaluations by students. For this purpose, data mining techniques and regression models have been used. Also, a decision tree classification model has been presented to predict the academic status of students based on the characteristics of a professor.
Methods and Materials
The research method consists of 4 phases. In the first phase, the evaluation criteria for university professors related to student interaction with professors and course content were reviewed based on the items announced by the Ministry of Science. Then, in the second phase, data and information on the evaluation of professors by students and the average efficiency and grades of students were collected. In the third phase, the collected data were analyzed using data mining techniques and regression models, and the importance of each evaluation criteria was examined. In the fourth phase, a decision tree classification model was presented to predict the academic status of students according to the characteristics of the professor. The presented model will help professors and educational administrators determine teaching and classroom management methods to increase student interaction with professors and course content, and as a result, achieve the desired academic status of students.
Resultss and Discussion
Based on the results obtained, the evaluation criterion "having an appropriate lesson plan and comprehensiveness and continuity in presenting the material" with a coefficient of 28.907 had the greatest impact on increasing student interaction with professors and, as a result, increasing student productivity and grades. This emphasizes the need to use organization in teaching and learning, and the teacher should pay special attention to setting the lesson plan as planning and organizing the set of activities in relation to educational goals, lesson content, and students' abilities for the duration of the semester. The evaluation criterion "social manners and behavior with students and mutual respect" with a coefficient of 12.069 is the second factor affecting student efficiency. The evaluation criterion "classroom order and time management" with a coefficient of 11.597 is the third factor affecting student efficiency and scores. "Teacher's mastery of the subject matter" with a coefficient of 8.316 has been identified as the fourth factor affecting student efficiency and scores. The evaluation criterion "appropriateness of teaching strategies and methods to the course objectives" with a coefficient of 7.775 has been identified as the fifth factor affecting students' scores. The evaluation criterion "using appropriate student evaluation methods according to the course objectives" with a coefficient of 7.769 has been the sixth factor affecting students' average scores. "Possibility of communication (face-to-face and offline) with the professor outside the classroom" with a coefficient of 1.571 is the seventh factor affecting students' efficiency. Also, solutions were presented to strengthen the evaluation criterion with high weight and importance, namely the criterion "having an appropriate lesson plan and comprehensiveness and continuity in presenting the material".
Conclusion
The level of importance obtained for each evaluation criterion and the classification model created can help professors and educational administrators determine teaching and classroom management methods to increase student interaction with professors and course content, and as a result, increase their efficiency and average grades.
Methods and Materials
The research method consists of 4 phases. In the first phase, the evaluation criteria for university professors related to student interaction with professors and course content were reviewed based on the items announced by the Ministry of Science. Then, in the second phase, data and information on the evaluation of professors by students and the average efficiency and grades of students were collected. In the third phase, the collected data were analyzed using data mining techniques and regression models, and the importance of each evaluation criteria was examined. In the fourth phase, a decision tree classification model was presented to predict the academic status of students according to the characteristics of the professor. The presented model will help professors and educational administrators determine teaching and classroom management methods to increase student interaction with professors and course content, and as a result, achieve the desired academic status of students.
Resultss and Discussion
Based on the results obtained, the evaluation criterion "having an appropriate lesson plan and comprehensiveness and continuity in presenting the material" with a coefficient of 28.907 had the greatest impact on increasing student interaction with professors and, as a result, increasing student productivity and grades. This emphasizes the need to use organization in teaching and learning, and the teacher should pay special attention to setting the lesson plan as planning and organizing the set of activities in relation to educational goals, lesson content, and students' abilities for the duration of the semester. The evaluation criterion "social manners and behavior with students and mutual respect" with a coefficient of 12.069 is the second factor affecting student efficiency. The evaluation criterion "classroom order and time management" with a coefficient of 11.597 is the third factor affecting student efficiency and scores. "Teacher's mastery of the subject matter" with a coefficient of 8.316 has been identified as the fourth factor affecting student efficiency and scores. The evaluation criterion "appropriateness of teaching strategies and methods to the course objectives" with a coefficient of 7.775 has been identified as the fifth factor affecting students' scores. The evaluation criterion "using appropriate student evaluation methods according to the course objectives" with a coefficient of 7.769 has been the sixth factor affecting students' average scores. "Possibility of communication (face-to-face and offline) with the professor outside the classroom" with a coefficient of 1.571 is the seventh factor affecting students' efficiency. Also, solutions were presented to strengthen the evaluation criterion with high weight and importance, namely the criterion "having an appropriate lesson plan and comprehensiveness and continuity in presenting the material".
Conclusion
The level of importance obtained for each evaluation criterion and the classification model created can help professors and educational administrators determine teaching and classroom management methods to increase student interaction with professors and course content, and as a result, increase their efficiency and average grades.
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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