Applying interpretive phenomenological analysis to library and information science research on blended librarianship: A case study

Israel Mbekezeli Dabengwa; Jaya Raju; Thomas Matingwina

doi:10.1016/j.lisr.2020.101055

Applying interpretive phenomenological analysis to library and information science research on blended librarianship: A case study

Libr Inf Sci Res. 2020 Oct;42(4):101055. doi: 10.1016/j.lisr.2020.101055. Epub 2020 Oct 5.

Authors

Israel Mbekezeli Dabengwa¹, Jaya Raju², Thomas Matingwina¹

Affiliations

¹ National University of Science & Technology, Private Bag AC 939, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
² University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.

Abstract

Although interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) has value in library and information science (LIS), it has low uptake in Africa. The methodological and theoretical approaches to using IPA in LIS and other disciplines are outlined, including a critical analysis of applying double hermeneutics and horizontalization to construct a hermeneutic interpretation. A blended librarianship thesis conducted in Zimbabwe is compared with LIS-based IPA studies and blended librarianship research to reflect the value of IPA methods. The illustration narrates how IPA was implemented within the context of phenomenology to analyse the complexity of academic librarians' views, taking into consideration social and historical environments. The weaknesses of the study are discussed, including the use of quality criteria of credibility, dependability, and transferability. The guided analysis of the study encourages the use of IPA in LIS as it can solve research problems and generate new theories to inform practice, services, philosophy, theory, and institutions.