University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Social justice research in library and information sciences: a case for discourse analysis

Oliphant, Tami

Content Files
64.2.oliphant.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89747

Description

Title
Social justice research in library and information sciences: a case for discourse analysis
Author(s)
Oliphant, Tami
Issue Date
2015
Keyword(s)
Social justice in LIS
Date of Ingest
2016-04-01T18:06:51Z
Abstract
Scholars have employed a variety of research methodologies and methods to explore, probe, and uncover ways in which social justice is enacted, embodied, supported, or not supported by researchers, educators, and practitioners in library and information science and services (LIS). Discursive psychology as developed by social psychologist Jonathan Potter and critical discourse analysis as developed by Norman Fairclough are introduced as fruitful approaches to investigate the critical intersections of LIS and social justice. The theoretical development of social justice in LIS is discussed. Next, critical discourse analysis and discursive psychology are examined and then analyzed for goodness of fit with Kevin Rioux’s (2010) five underlying assumptions of social justice metatheory: (1) All human beings have an inherent worth and deserve information services that help address those needs; (2) People perceive reality and information in different ways, often within cultural or life role contexts; (3) There are many different types of information and knowledge, and these are societal resources; (4) Theory and research are pursued with the ultimate goal of bringing positive change to service constituencies; (5) The provision of information services is an inherently powerful activity. Drawing on the findings of the goodness of fit of Rioux’s metatheory and examples of discourse analytic studies in LIS, this article offers practical strategies for social justice researchers wanting to use critical discourse analysis or discursive psychology.
Publisher
Johns Hopkins University Press and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
ISSN
0024-2594
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
Article
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89747
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2015.0046
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2015 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Owning Collections

Library Trends 64 (2) Fall 2015: Social Justice in Library and Information Science and Services PRIMARY
Library Trends 64 (2) Fall 2015: Social Justice in Library and Information Science and Services. Edited by Bharat Mehra.