RGU: Staff: ABS Research Institute - Professor Dorothy Williams

Faculty Management Group

More Faculty Management Group staff

Professor Dorothy Williams

PhD (Aberdeen University); BSc (Hons) (Edinburgh University); DipLib (with Distinction) (RGIT);
Member of Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.

Tel: +44 (0)1224 263905
Email: d.williams@rgu.ac.uk

Academic Role and Research Interests

I am the Director of the IMAGES Research Institute, Aberdeen Business School. Prior to taking up this role I was the Research Coordinator for the Department of Information Management and taught information policy and impact and research methods on a number of Masters courses.

My research interests focus around information literacy, and impact of information and information services. I have undertaken externally funded research and consultancy/advisory work in these areas, with particular emphasis on learners’, teachers’ and decision-makers’ engagement with information.

Research projects (1996 onwards)

Making Connections: developing information literacy in students receiving support for learning. Scottish Executive Education Department, Jan-June 2006. £10,000. (Project Leader)

The Development of Carer Information Strategies. A collaborative project with the Health Services Research Group. Supported by the Carers Research Partnership.

Teachers' Conceptions of Information Literacy in relation to Classroom Practice. Society for Educational Studies and RGU, 2004-2005. £36,383. (Project Leader)

Access to the knowledge base to support interdisciplinary models of healthcare delivery and clinical priority areas. NHS Scotland, 2003. £14,847. (with S Burnett, Centre for Knowledge Management, The Robert Gordon University)

The nature of future strategy for library and knowledge services for NHS Scotland: a preliminary needs analysis. NHS Scotland, 2003. £7000. (Project leader)

Impact evaluation for Museums, Archives and Libraries: feasibility study of the development of a public access portal to support the sector in impact evaluation. Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. Dec 2002 - Mar 2003. (Project leader)

The use of research by teachers: information literacy, access and attitudes. Economic and Social Research Council. May 2002 - Mar 2003. £41,423. (Project leader)

Impact evaluation for Museums, Archives and Libraries: available evidence. Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. April - Aug 2002. £22,061. (Project leader)

Impact of School Library Services on attainment and learning of primary level students: critical literature review. Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. Jan 2002 - March 2002. £3,403. (Project leader)

Impact of Secondary School Libraries on attainment and learning: critical literature review. Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. Oct - Dec 2001. £6000. (Project leader)

Impact of the school library resource Centre on learning. Library and Information Commission (LIC), Sept 1999 - Feb 2001. £44,500. (Project leader)

Provision of support for ICT development in schools: a survey of Scottish Education Authorities. Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED), August 1999 – February 2000. £5000. (Project leader)

Development of ICT Training Needs Analysis instrument for UK Public Libraries. New Opportunities Fund, August – September 1999. £5000. (Project leader)

Lead Assessor of applications from training providers for approval under the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) ICT training programme for teachers and librarians in Scotland. New Opportunities Fund, Oct 1998 – Oct 1999. Approx.£3000.

Preparation of guidelines and consultation document for ICT in Initial Teacher Education. SOEID, March - July 1998. £7,100. (Project leader)

Access to Electronic Networks: Evaluating Alternative Strategies (AENEAS). Scottish Library and Information Commission, Jan - June 1998. (With Robert Newton, School of Information and Media, The Robert Gordon University)

ICT skills and knowledge needs of teachers. Scottish Office Education and Industry Department, 1997-8. £27,100. (Project leader)

Impact of research information on practitioners. A study of the impact of information skills research in schools. Funded by the British Library Research and Innovation Centre (BLRIC), January - December 1996. £21,695. (Project leader)

External Activities

Member of Research Assessment Exercise 2008 Panel for Library and Information Management.

Project leader for the Infusions information skills training partnership (RGU/QMUC) - ongoing

Member of AHRC Peer Review College, 2006 -

Member of external validation panels: e.g. Doctorate in Health and Social Science (QMUC, 2006); SQA Professional Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Application of ICT in Libraries (SQA, 2005)

Visiting expert, Ministry of Education, Chilie/British Council Cooperative Relations Project on Information Skills, October 2005.

Visiting professor, Jageillonian University, Krakow, Novemebr 2005.

Facilitator, Information Literacy Meeting of Experts, organized by US National Commission on Library and Information Science and UNESCO, Prague, September 2003.

Member of Advisory Committee for Smart Web Technologies Centre.

Member of Advisory Committee of the Scottish Centre for Research in Online Learning and Assessment (SCROLLA)

Consultancy and advisory work with Scottish Executive Education Dept.

Member of judging panel for Scottish Annual National Grid for Learning ICT Innovation Awards.

Referee for applications for research funding for ESRC, AHRB, British Library Research and Innovation Centre.

Referee for Educational Review and a number of conferences (including eLiteracy 2003 and eLit2004 conferences)

Joint editor of Health Libraries Review research column, 1997-1999.

Associate editor Library and Information Research News, 1997 to 2000.

Committee member, Library and Information Research Group, 1996 – 2000.

Member of the General Teaching Council for Scotland, 1999 – 2001.

Invited contributor to European Environment Agency working group on Public Information Policy (1998)

Member of Research Degrees Committee, The Northern College of Education, 1997 - 2001.

External Examiner for MSc Information Studies and MA Information and Library Studies, Leeds Metropolitan University, 1995 to 1999.

External examiner for MPhil and PhD students.

Research supervision

Director of Studies for:

Robertson, J.E. Information skills development in FE: a student centred, computer aided learning approach in Business Studies. DfEE funded. PhD awarded 1994.

Morrison, S. The impact of recent curriculum developments on libraries in independent schools in Scotland. MPhil awarded 1995.

Farmer, J. An examination of awareness, use and management of evidence-based information within the context of health service commissioning in Scotland. PhD awarded 1999.

Steele, W.M. An evaluation of still image functionality with particular reference to image quality and viewer attributes in a Higher Education learning context. PhD awarded 2000.

Newton, R. Evaluation of the development and application of multimedia computer assisted learning in Higher Education. PhD awarded 2001.

Sutton, A. The development of critical skills and attitudes to reading for information 5-14. PhD awarded 2001.

Ongoing:

An examination of the user experience of virtual libraries.
The relationship between access to information and the effects of peripherality.
The role of narrative knowledge within the innovation process.
Evidence-based practice in school libraries
The relationship between information literacy and knowledge management.

Publications (2000 onwards)

Journal Articles

Williams, D and Coles, L. Evidence-based practice in teaching: an information perspective. Journal of Documentation, 63 (6), 2007, pp 812-835.

Williams, D and Wavell, C. Secondary school teachers’ conceptions of student information literacy. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 39 (4), December 2007, pp 199-212.

Wavell, C and Williams, D. Tangled Spaghetti: The complex nature of information literacy. ALISS Quarterly 2 (2), January 2007, pp 31-34.

Williams, D and Coles, L. Teachers’ approaches to finding and using research evidence: an information literacy perspective. Educational Research, 49 (2), June 2007, pp185-206.

Royle, J, Coles, L, Williams, D and Evans, P. Publishing in International Journals: An Examination of Trends in Chinese Co-Authorship. Scientometrics, 71 (1), 2007, pp 59-86.

Marshall, L and Williams, D. Consumer evaluation of the quality of health information materials in a variety of media. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science , 38 (3), 2006, pp 141-156

Williams, D.A., 2006. Libraries supporting learners. School Librarian, 54(2), Summer, pp.65-67.

Williams, D.A., Wavell, C., Baxter, G., MacLennan, A. and Jobson, D., 2005. Implementing impact evaluation in professional practice: a study of support needs within the museum, archive and library sector. International Journal of Library Management, 25, pp.533-548.

Williams, D.A. and Wavell, C., 2005. Information literacy: what does it mean to you? Connected, 13, Summer, pp.21.

Burnett, S., Williams, D.A. and Webster, L., 2005. Knowledge Support for Interdisciplinary Models of Healthcare Delivery: a study of knowledge needs and roles in Managed Clinical Networks. Health Informatics Journal, 11(2), pp.146-160.

Williams, D.A. and Coles, L., 2004. Teachers reluctant to use research. Connected, 10, Spring, pp.22.

Johnson, I.M, Williams, D.A., Wavell, C. and Baxter, G., 2004. Impact evaluation, professional practice, and policy making. New Library World, 105, No.1196/1197, pp.33-46.

Marcella, R., Davies, S., and Williams, D.A., 2002. The language strategies of Scottish exporters in the food and drink sector. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 9(4), pp.358-369.

Illingworth, L., Williams, D.A. and Burnett, S., 2002. The costs and benefits of the Internet as a marketing and communications tool: the attitudes, perceptions and experiences within the non-profit environmental sector in Scotland. Aslib Proceedings, 54(5), pp.280-293.

Williams, D.A. and Wavell, C., 2002. Recent research on the impact of the school library resource centre on learning. SCAN, 21(3), Aug, pp.37-40 [ISSN: 07264127]

Williams, D.A. and Wavell, C., 2001. Evaluating the impact of the school library resource center on learning. School Libraries Worldwide, 7(1), Jan, pp.58-71.

Williams, D.A. and Wavell, C., 2001. The school library resource centre and learning: what difference does it make? School Libraries In View, 15, Autumn, pp.6-9.

Williams, D.A. and Wavell, C., 2001. Recent research on the impact of the school library resource centre on learning. The School Librarian, 49(3), Autumn, pp.123-127.

Williams, D.A., Coles L., Richardson, A., Wilson, K. and Tuson, J., 2000. Integrating ICT in professional practice: an analysis of teachers’ needs based on a survey of primary and secondary teachers in Scottish schools. Journal of Information Technology in Teacher Education, 9(2), pp.167-182.

Book chapters

Williams, D.A. 2005. Literacies and learning in: Developing the new learning environment: the changing role of the academic librarian. (Eds. Levey, P. and Roberts, S.) Chapter 3. London: Facet.

Reports

Williams, D.A. and Wavell, C. (2006) Information Literacy in the Classroom: secondary school teachers' conceptions. Final report on research funded by Society for Educational Studies. Aberdeen:The Robert Gordon University.

Royle, J., Coles, L. and Williams, D.A. (2005) Scientific co-authorship in China: an examination of co-authoring patterns and the impact of Elsevier journals. Aberdeen:The Robert Gordon University.

Williams, D.A. and Coles, L. (2003) The Use of Research Information by Teachers: information literacy, access and attitudes. A report for the Economic and Social Research Council. June.

The use of research information by teachers: information literacy, access and attitudes.

Burnett, S., Webster, L., Williams, D.A. (2003) Access to the knowledge base to support interdisciplinary models of healthcare delivery and clinical priority areas. Report prepared for NHS Scotland Library and Knowledge Services.

Burnett, S., Webster, L., Williams, D.A. (2003) The Nature of Future Strategy for Library and Knowledge Services for NHS Scotland: a preliminary analysis of user needs. Report prepared for NHS Scotland Library and Knowledge Services.

Williams, D.A., Baxter, G., Wavell, C., and MacLennan, A. (2003) Impact Evaluation Pilot Web Portal. Final report on a study undertaken for Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. Aberdeen: The Robert Gordon University.

Wavell, C., Baxter, G., Johnson, I.M. and Williams, D.A. (2002) Impact evaluation of museums, archives and libraries: a review of available evidence. Final report for Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. Aberdeen: The Robert Gordon University for Re:source: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. ISBN 1 901 085 716

Impact evaluation of museums, archives and libraries.

Williams, D.A., Coles, L., and Wavell, C. (2002) Impact of School Library Services on Achievement and Learning in Primary Schools. London: Resource, The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries and Dept for Education & Skills, 2002.

Impact of school library services on achievement and learning in primary schools

Williams, D.A., Wavell, C. and Coles, L. (2001) Impact of Secondary School Libraries on Achievement and Learning: critical literature review. Final report of a study funded by Department for Education & Skills and Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. Aberdeen: The Robert Gordon University for DfES and Re:source.

Impact of secondary school libraries on achievement and learning

Williams, D.A. and Wavell, C. (2001) Impact of the School Library Resource Centre on Learning. Final report of a research project funded by Re:source: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. Library and Information Commission Research Report 112. (The Robert Gordon University School of Information and Media Research Report 9). Aberdeen: The Robert Gordon University, 2001 for Re:source: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. ISBN: 1 901 085 67 8 ISSN 1466-2949

Impact of the school library resource centre on learning

Project reports are also available through the Department of Information Management Research web pages:

Department of Information Management Research

Conference papers

Willaims, D.A. (2006) Libraries supporting learners - really? Keynote presentation at Librarians' Information Literacy Annual Conference (LILAC), Leeds University, 27th-29th March 2006. [Power Point presentation available online at: http://www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/bysubject/informationliteracy/lilac/lilac2006]

Williams, D.A. (2005) Libraries supporting learners. Online Proceedings of SETT-The Scottish Learning Festival, SECC Glasgow, 21st-22nd September 2005. [Available online at: http://www.Itscotland.org.uk/sett/seminarsandkeynotes/seminars/librariessupportinglearners.asp (audio)]

Williams, D.A. (2005) Understanding the impact of the school library on learning: research findings from studies in UK schools. CISSL-IMLS International Research Symposium on "The impact of school libraries on student learning". New York, 28th-29th April 2005. [Available online at: http://cissl.scils.rutgers.edu/imls/symposium/main.htm]

Williams, D.A. and Coles, L. (2005) Teachers' real-world information literacy: a study of school teachers' use of research information in support of their reflective evidence-based practice. Librarians' Information Literacy Annual Conference (LILAC), Imperial College London, 4th-6th April 2005. [Available online at: http://www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/bysubject/informationliteracy/lilac/lilac2005]

Williams, D.A. (2002) Learning to learn: an ICT training model to support professional development and change in school libraries. In "Continuing Professional Education for the Information Society". Proceeding of the 5th World Conference on Continuing Professional Education for the Library and Information Science Professions. [IFLA] Munchen: Saur, pp.105-114.

Williams, D.A. (2002) The relationship between information literacy and learning. Paper given at the Scottish Education and Teaching Technology. Glasgow, September.

Williams, D.A. and Wavell, C. (2002) Learning and the school library resource centre. In "School libraries for a knowledge society", Prodeedings of the 31st Annual Conference of the International Association of School Librarianship, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 5th-9th August 2002. Kuala Lumpur: IASL, pp.77-90.

Williams D.A. and Wavell, C. (2002) Searching for excellence: The impact of the school library resource centre on learning. Keynote address at the Annual Conference of the School Library Association, Leeds June.

Williams, D.A. (2002) The relationship between Information Literacy and Learning in Secondary Schools. IT&Ilit 2002, Glasgow University, March.

Williams, D.A. (2001) Information literacy and online networked learning environments. Scottish Centre for Research in Online Learning and Assessment (SCROLLA) Symposium, Glasgow, November.

Williams, D.A. (2000) ICT in schools: research in Scotland. Invited paper for a joint Finnish/Scottish Research Seminar hosted by the Scottish Executive Education Department. Edinburgh, Scottish Executive, 1st June.

Other conference/seminar presentations

Williams, D.A. (2005) Teachers' use of research information: information access and information literacy in professional development. Invited research seminar, Manchester Metropolitan University, February 2005 and RGU, March 2005.

Williams, D.A. (2004) Support for evidence-based practice in teaching: the role of the school librarian? Paper given at International Association of School Librarians Conference, Dublin, 17th-20th June. (to be published as a journal article)

Williams, D.A. (2004) Information competencies. Keynote presentation at Learning and Teaching Scotland/NGfL Masterclass on Information Literacy, Stirling Business Centre, 18th March.

Williams, D.A. (2003) Evaluating the impact of the SLRC. Presentation/workshop at Annual Conference of N Yorkshire Schools Library Service, 15th-17th October.

Workshops

Williams, D.A. and Wavell, C. (2005) Information literacy - the classroom reality. A workshop based on findings from recent research into teachers' conceptions of information literacy. The Robert Gordon University, 7th December.

Williams, D.A. and Wavell, C. (2001) The impact of the School Library Resource Centre on Learning. One day workshop based on recent research conducted at The Robert Gordon University. Glasgow, Learning and Teaching Scotland, September.

Dorothy's past work