Explicating cultural competence through LIS research: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis

• Main Authors: Torres, Efren M., Jr., Abrigo, Christine M., Dery, Zipporah M.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Cultural competence; Library science; Information science; Library and Information Science; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/13829
• Institution: De La Salle University

Purpose — The study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the literature on cultural competence in Library and Information Science (LIS) from 2001 to 2023. The research focuses on the productivity and impact of countries, authors, and publication sources in the field. Additionally, the study highlights the prevailing themes and emerging patterns in cultural competence within LIS. Design/Methodology/Approach — A quantitative research design was employed using bibliometric analysis and systematic review of literature. Scopus was used to extract data, yielding 33 documents. The study analyzed co-citation, keyword co-occurrence, and co-authorship networks using VOSviewer to map into the intellectual, conceptual and social structures of the research field. Findings —Cultural competence research in LIS has seen modest global attention, with 33 publications and 240 citation from 47 authors across 20 journals. The United States leads in both research productivity and impact, followed by Australia. Diversity emerged as the central theme, linking with equity, inclusion, multiculturalism, and social justice. However, the study found minimal collaboration among researchers, indicating a need for stronger coauthorship networks. Practical implication — The findings highlight the importance of relevant and collaborative research in cultural competence to enhance its impact in the LIS field. The study also calls for broader geographical participation and more coordinated research efforts to address evolving social and cultural challenges. Originality/Value — The study provides a detailed bibliometrics analysis of cultural competence in LIS, offering insights into current research trends and underscoring the need for further exploration and collaboration in this area. It serves as a foundation for future research and practical applications in enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within LIS.