Exploring Student Learning of Information Skills in Malaysian Higher Education Aidah Abdul Karim A thesis submitted to Auckland University of Technology In fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 2014 School of Education Te Kura Matauranga TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................ ii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... vii ATTESTATION OF AUTHORSHIP .................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................ ix ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 1 1.1 Overview .................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background of the Study .......................................................................................... 1 1.3 Origin of the Study ................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Statement of the Problem ......................................................................................... 3 1.5 Theoretical Framework and Approach of the Study ................................................ 5 1.6 Research Questions .................................................................................................. 6 1.7 Structure of the Thesis ............................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER 2: THE CONTEXT OF THE STUDY ................................................... 8 2.1 Overview .................................................................................................................. 8 2.2 Geography of Malaysia ............................................................................................ 8 2.3 History and Politics of Malaysia .............................................................................. 9 2.4 Economy of Malaysia ............................................................................................ 10 2.5 The Development of Public Universities in Malaysia ........................................... 13 2. 6 Types of Public Universities in Malaysia ............................................................. 16 2.7 The Graduate Employability of Malaysian Public Universities ............................ 18 2.8 Student Information Skills Programmes in Malaysian Public Universities ........... 20 2. 9 Cultural and Learning Orientation in Malaysia .................................................... 24 2.10 Summary .............................................................................................................. 28 CHAPTER 3: STUDENT LEARNING OF INFORMATION SKILLS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AROUND THE WORLD ............................................... 29 3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................ 29 3.2 The Development of Information Skills ................................................................ 29 3.3. The Definition of Information Skills..................................................................... 30 3.4 Outcomes for Student Learning of Information Skills ........................................... 34 3.5 Enablers for Student Learning of Information Skills ............................................. 38 3.6 Learning Theories for Student Learning of Information Skills ............................. 43 3.7 Approaches for Student Learning of Information Skills ........................................ 45 ii 3.8 Embedded Models for Student Learning of Information Skills ............................. 48 3.9 Assessment for Student Learning of Information Skills ........................................ 51 3.10 Personal Influencing Factors for Student Learning of Information Skills ........... 53 3.11 Social Influencing Factors for Student Learning of Information Skills ............... 58 3.12 Summary .............................................................................................................. 62 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .................. 63 4.1 Overview ................................................................................................................ 63 4.2 Phases of Information Skills Studies...................................................................... 63 4.3 Locating Student Learning of Information Skills within Communities of Practice64 4.4 Conceptualizing Student Learning of Information Skills within a Community of Practice ......................................................................................................................... 67 4.5 Summary ................................................................................................................ 71 CHAPTER FIVE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION .............. 72 5.1 Overview ................................................................................................................ 72 5.2 Research Philosophy .............................................................................................. 72 5.3 Research Approach ................................................................................................ 73 5.4 Research Setting ..................................................................................................... 75 5.5 Research Participants ............................................................................................. 78 5.6 Data-collection Methods ........................................................................................ 82 5.7 Data Analysis and Management............................................................................. 86 5.8 Research Quality .................................................................................................... 88 5.9 Summary ................................................................................................................ 90 CHAPTER SIX: THE ACTIVITY OF STUDENT LEARNING WITH INFORMATION ........................................................................................................ 92 6.1 Overview ................................................................................................................ 92 6.2 Step 1: Identifying Information Need .................................................................... 92 6.3 Step 2: Accessing Information ............................................................................... 96 6.4 Step 3: Interacting with Sources of Information .................................................. 103 6.5 Step 4: Using Information to Construct Understanding ....................................... 105 6.6 Step 5: Articulating the Understanding and the Construction of the Understanding .................................................................................................................................... 107 6.7 Step 6: Reflecting the Understanding and the Construction of the Understanding110 6.8 Summary .............................................................................................................. 114 CHAPTER SEVEN: IMMEDIATE AND INTERPERSONAL CONTEXTS FOR THE ACTIVITY OF STUDENT LEARNING WITH INFORMATION .......... 116 7.1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 116 iii 7.2 Attaining Multiple Goals...................................................................................... 116 7.3 Using Multiple Shared Resources ........................................................................ 121 7.4 Developing Multiple Interpersonal Contexts ....................................................... 123 7.5 Summary .............................................................................................................. 131 CHAPTER EIGHT: SOCIAL CONTEXTS FOR THE ACTIVITY OF STUDENT LEARNING WITH INFORMATION ................................................................... 133 8.1 Overview .............................................................................................................. 133 8.2 Information Age ................................................................................................... 133 8.3 Knowledge Discipline .......................................................................................... 137 8.4 Academic Research .............................................................................................. 138 8.5 Workplace Context............................................................................................... 139 8.6 Local Context ....................................................................................................... 140 8.7 The University Context ........................................................................................ 143 8.8 The Department .................................................................................................... 148 8.9 The Library..........................................................................................................