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Trust in the academy : a conceptual framework for understanding trust on academic web profiles

Francke, Helena LU (2022) In Journal of Documentation 78(7). p.192-210
Abstract

Purpose: Institutional and commercial web profiles that provide biobibliographic information about researchers are used for promotional purposes but also as information sources. In the latter case, the profiles' (re)presentations of researchers may be used to assess whether a researcher can be trusted. The article introduces a conceptual framework of how trust in researchers may be formed based on how the researchers' experiences and achievements are mobilized on the profiles to tell a multifaceted story of the “self.” Design/methodology/approach: The framework is an analytical product which draws on theories of trust as well as on previous research focused on academic web profiles and on researchers' perceptions of trust and... (More)

Purpose: Institutional and commercial web profiles that provide biobibliographic information about researchers are used for promotional purposes but also as information sources. In the latter case, the profiles' (re)presentations of researchers may be used to assess whether a researcher can be trusted. The article introduces a conceptual framework of how trust in researchers may be formed based on how the researchers' experiences and achievements are mobilized on the profiles to tell a multifaceted story of the “self.” Design/methodology/approach: The framework is an analytical product which draws on theories of trust as well as on previous research focused on academic web profiles and on researchers' perceptions of trust and credibility. Two dimensions of trust are identified as central to the theoretical construction of trust, namely competence and trustworthiness. Findings: The framework outlines features of profile content and narrative that may influence the assessment of the profile and of the researcher's competence and trustworthiness. The assessment is understood as shaped by the frames of interpretation available to a particular audience. Originality/value: The framework addresses the lack of a trust perspective in previous research about academic web profiles. It provides an analysis of how potential trust in the researcher may be formed on the profiles. An innovative contribution is the acknowledgement of both qualitative and quantitative indicators of trustworthiness and competence, including the richness of the story told about the “self”.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Academia.edu, Academic social networking sites, Academic web profiles, Cognitive authority, Credibility, Framework, Researchers, ResearchGate, Trust
in
Journal of Documentation
volume
78
issue
7
pages
192 - 210
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
external identifiers
  • scopus:85115200855
ISSN
0022-0418
DOI
10.1108/JD-01-2021-0010
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6f91fcf9-b733-4f11-beab-3b30f7347d9c
date added to LUP
2021-10-01 14:09:53
date last changed
2024-02-04 04:09:12
@article{6f91fcf9-b733-4f11-beab-3b30f7347d9c,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: Institutional and commercial web profiles that provide biobibliographic information about researchers are used for promotional purposes but also as information sources. In the latter case, the profiles' (re)presentations of researchers may be used to assess whether a researcher can be trusted. The article introduces a conceptual framework of how trust in researchers may be formed based on how the researchers' experiences and achievements are mobilized on the profiles to tell a multifaceted story of the “self.” Design/methodology/approach: The framework is an analytical product which draws on theories of trust as well as on previous research focused on academic web profiles and on researchers' perceptions of trust and credibility. Two dimensions of trust are identified as central to the theoretical construction of trust, namely competence and trustworthiness. Findings: The framework outlines features of profile content and narrative that may influence the assessment of the profile and of the researcher's competence and trustworthiness. The assessment is understood as shaped by the frames of interpretation available to a particular audience. Originality/value: The framework addresses the lack of a trust perspective in previous research about academic web profiles. It provides an analysis of how potential trust in the researcher may be formed on the profiles. An innovative contribution is the acknowledgement of both qualitative and quantitative indicators of trustworthiness and competence, including the richness of the story told about the “self”.</p>}},
  author       = {{Francke, Helena}},
  issn         = {{0022-0418}},
  keywords     = {{Academia.edu; Academic social networking sites; Academic web profiles; Cognitive authority; Credibility; Framework; Researchers; ResearchGate; Trust}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{192--210}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{Journal of Documentation}},
  title        = {{Trust in the academy : a conceptual framework for understanding trust on academic web profiles}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JD-01-2021-0010}},
  doi          = {{10.1108/JD-01-2021-0010}},
  volume       = {{78}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}