Läsarstudier inom biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap - en metastudie av nio magisteruppsatser, skrivna vid Institutionen Biblioteks- och Informationsvetenskap i Borås, 2000 -2010

Abstract

This Master's thesis aims to discover, understand and interpret how, with what results, and with what settings adults reading are investigated in a series of nine Master's theses, written at The Swedish School of Library and Information Science at the University of Borås 2000-2010. This Master's thesis is a meta-study that operates with theoretical concepts such as discipline, sub-discipline, research field, interdisciplinarity and with a qualitative research method called analytic induction. The results show that LIS - reader studies illustrate varied knowledge about adults reading that investigates with two main approaches - a general and a specific one - but with a common interest in two main categories: reading circumstances and reading effects and values. LIS – reader studies show an instrumental perception of the borrowed theories for study of reading and their application and a less epistemological justification of these in relation to LIS, as own research field. The problem area readers and reading is regarded with uncertainty as study topic in the LIS, and this attitude shows up, despite a depth theoretical awareness, a less intellectual self-awareness and a more pragmatic one.