Linking Information Literacy with Research Productivity: A Survey of Mathematicians in Pakistan

abstract:The present study aims to determine the impact of perceived information literacy (IL) skills on the research productivity of mathematics faculty members in Pakistan. The study explores their opinion of their ability to identify information needs and information sources. It also examines their perceived capability of constructing effective and efficient strategies for locating, accessing, evaluating, and applying the needed information legally and ethically. A structured questionnaire was developed based on the SCONUL Seven Pillars of Information Literacy. Questionnaires were sent to 300 academicians from 36 public sector universities in the Punjab province of Pakistan through personal visits, e-mail, and postal service. After repeated follow-up calls, 185 filled questionnaires were received. The major findings of the study showed that the mathematics faculty members believed they had reasonable IL skills. The majority of them had published research articles in learned journals. The study revealed a positive impact of perceived IL skills on the research productivity of mathematics faculty members. IL instruction sessions designed for faculty may improve the research output of mathematics scholars in their respective universities.