Mesleki Bir Tartışma Listesi Olarak KUTUP-L’nin İçerik Analizi.

Abstract

Electronic discussion lists are widely used as a professional and scientific communication tool. Analyzing discussion lists provides useful information on professional and scientific communication patterns. This study aims to find out list members’ professional and scientific communication patterns using KUTUP-L, a Librarians’ Discussion List, as a case study. Descriptive statistics and bibliometric analysis are based on a total of 19,827 messages posted on KUTUP-L between 1994 and 2008. Content analysis is based on a stratified sample of 977 messages. Findings indicate that communication in the list has increased continuously over the years. The intent analysis of the messages shows that initiatory messages are sent to the list more often than reflexive ones. Distribution of messsages conforms to Pareto and Price laws but not to Lotka’s Law. Content analysis results show that almost half the messages (40%) were off-topic. Topical analysis shows that issues of professional-scientific communication (17%), interlibrary loan activities (12%), collections (10%) and professional issues (7%) were discussed most often in the list. Nondiscussion, postings on celebrations (16%), condolences (9.4%) and job ads (8.7%) were widely included in the list communication. Findings of the study indicate that KUTUP-L seems to have an impact on professional lives of many Turkish librarians in that they use it as a venue to ask questions, share news and information with their colleagues, follow up current developments and discuss professional as well as social issues.