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A Cluster Analysis of LIS Students in Singapore and Implications for Defining Areas of Specialization

Khoo, Christopher S.G. and Higgins, Susan Ellen and Foo, Schubert and Lim, Sey-Peng (2004) A Cluster Analysis of LIS Students in Singapore and Implications for Defining Areas of Specialization. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science 45(1):pp. 36-57.

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Abstract

A study of the subject interests of LIS students in Singapore was carried out via a questionnaire survey of students and graduates of the master of science (MSc) information studies program at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, as well as survey of applications to the program. Cluster analysis was performed on the questionnaire data. The respondents were clustered based on the elective subjects that they selected in the questionnaires. For both sets of data, two distinct clusters were found - a library-oriented cluster and an information technology (IT)/information management-oriented cluster. In each cluster, further sub-clusters were found that correspond to known specializations in the field. An analysis of the relationship between the clusters and the areas of specialization selected by respondents indicated some ways of improving the areas of specialization defined in the MSc program. The cluster analyses were found to yield useful results and provided a better understanding of the students' interests and how the interests were structured.

EPrint Type:Journal Article (Paginated)
Keywords:Students perceptions Curriculum redesign Student-centered institution
Subjects:Library and Information Science Education
ID Code:764
Deposited On:29 March 2005
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1. The terms "subject" and "course" are used interchangeably in this paper.

2. There is also a program for paraprofessionals at the Temasek Polytechnic (a type of community college).

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