CV

Adam Worrall

Florida State University, School of Library and Information Studies
College of Communication and Information
101 Louis Shores Building, 142 Collegiate Loop
PO Box 3062100, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2100
(850) 274-5838 | apw06@my.fsu.edu | adam@adamworrall.org
http://www.adamworrall.org

Research Interests

My research centers around social informatics, especially social, collaborative information behavior and the social contexts of information and communication technologies in communities and collaborative environments. My particular focus is on the social, community, and collaborative contexts of digital libraries as boundary objects within and across social worlds, information worlds, and communities.

Education

Doctoral Student in Information Studies 8/2009 – present
School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS), Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Committee members: Dr. Michelle M. Kazmer (chair), Dr. Gary Burnett, Dr. Sanghee Oh, Dr. Deborah Armstrong (university representative, Management Information Systems).

M.S. in Library and Information Studies (MSLIS) 8/2006 – 4/2008
College of Information (CI), Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Specialized in Information Architecture and Information Organization. Significant coursework in digital libraries, information organization and metadata, usability analysis, information behavior, and research methods.

B.S. in Computer Science 8/1999 – 12/2002
College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Graduated magna cum laude with University Honors. Significant coursework in computer programming and information systems development theory and skills, including C, C++, Java, database concepts, and technical writing.

Publications

Journal articles (refereed, under review)

Hinnant, C. C., Stvilia, B., Wu, S., Worrall, A., Burnett, G., Burnet, K., Kazmer, M. M., & Marty, P. F. (under review). Author team diversity and the impact of scientific publications: Evidence from physics research at a national science lab. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Journal articles (refereed, published)

Stvilia, B., Hinnant, C. C., Schindler, K., Worrall, A., Burnett, G., Burnett, K., Kazmer, M. M., & Marty, P. F. (2011). Composition of scientific teams and publication productivity at a national science lab. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 62(2), 270-283. doi:10.1002/asi.21464

Presented results from a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded study examining scientific teams at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, identifying several key associations between the diversity and network characteristics of science teams and overall team productivity as measured by peer reviewed journal publications.

Posters (refereed)

Worrall, A., Marty, P. F., Roberts, J., Burnett, K., Burnett, G., Hinnant, C. C., Kazmer, M. M., Stvilia, B., & Wu, S. (2012). Observations of the lifecycles and information worlds of collaborative scientific teams at a national science lab. In J.-E. Mai (Chair), iConference 2012 proceedings (pp. 423-425), Toronto, Canada, February 7-10, 2012. New York, NY: ACM. doi:10.1145/2132176.2132234

Presented findings from NSF-funded observations of teams conducting experiments at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, demonstrating how multiple, overlapping, and nested lifecycles and information worlds play an important role in promoting successful and continuing scientific collaboration.

Hinnant, C. C., Stvilia, B., Wu, S., Worrall, A., Burnett, K., Burnett, G., Kazmer, M. M., & Marty, P. F. (2012). Data curation in scientific teams: An exploratory study of condensed matter physics at a national science lab. In J.-E. Mai (Chair), iConference 2012 proceedings (pp. 498-500), Toronto, Canada, February 7-10, 2012. New York, NY: ACM. doi:10.1145/2132176.2132263

Presented findings from NSF-funded semi-structured interviews with key condensed matter physicists associated with the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Findings indicate the field’s work practices and reward structures may impede the development and implementation of formalized curation policies focused on community data sharing.

Oh, S., Worrall, A., & Yi, Y. J. (2011). Quality evaluation of health answers in Yahoo! Answers: A comparison between experts and users. In A. Grove (Ed.), Proceedings of the 74th ASIS&T Annual Meeting: Communication and information in society, technology and work, New Orleans, LA, October 9-12, 2011. Silver Spring, MD: American Society for Information Science and Technology. doi:10.1002/meet.2011.14504801269

Presented findings from an in-progress study of the perceptions of the quality of online health answers, as judged by health reference librarians and Yahoo! Answers questioners. Forty evaluators from each group reviewed ten answers each on ten evaluation criteria; we found that librarians’ quantitative ratings were significantly lower on most criteria.

Worrall, A. (2010). Supporting community-building in digital libraries: A pilot study of LibraryThing. In A. Grove (Ed.), Proceedings of the 73rd ASIS&T Annual Meeting: Navigating streams in an information ecosystem, Pittsburgh, PA, October 22-27, 2010. Silver Spring, MD: American Society for Information Science and Technology. doi:10.1002/meet.14504701389

Reported ongoing research studying the support for community-building activities in digital libraries. A low level of support was identified via an online survey completed by a small pilot sample of LibraryThing users. Community-building activities did actually occur, but without the support of LibraryThing as a boundary object.

Stvilia, B., Hinnant, C. C., Schindler, K., Worrall, A., Burnett, G., Burnett, K., Kazmer, M. M., & Marty, P. F. (2010). Composition of scientific teams and publication productivity. In A. Grove (Ed.), Proceedings of the 73rd ASIS&T Annual Meeting: Navigating streams in an information ecosystem, Pittsburgh, PA, October 22-27, 2010. Silver Spring, MD: American Society for Information Science and Technology. doi:10.1002/meet.14504701389

Reported findings from an NSF-funded study examining scientific teams at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, determining how the diversity and network characteristics of science teams impacts overall team productivity as measured by peer reviewed journal publications.

Burnett, G., Burnett, K., Kazmer, M. M., Marty, P. F., Stvilia, B., Hinnant, C. C., & Worrall, A. (2010). Virtual scientific teams: Life-cycle formation and long-term scientific collaboration. In J. Unsworth (Chair), iConference 2010 proceedings (pp. 409-411), Champaign, IL, February 3-6, 2010. Champaign, IL: iSchools.

Presented work in progress in an NSF-funded 2 year research project of the same name, studying virtual collaboration amongst scientific teams at the National High Field Magnetic Laboratory.

Posters (non-refereed)

Worrall, A. (2012). Digital libraries as boundary objects across social and information worlds: A preliminary theoretical framework. Poster presented at the 2012 Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Annual Conference, Dallas, TX, January 17-20, 2012.

Presented a preliminary theoretical framework for conceiving of digital libraries as boundary objects, examining such integration through the twin lenses of Strauss’s social worlds perspective and Burnett and Jaeger’s theory of information worlds.

Hinnant, C. C., Stvilia, B., Burnett, G., Burnett, K., Kazmer, M. M., Marty, P. F., Schindler, K., & Worrall, A. (2011). Team diversity and the quality of scientific publications. Poster presented at the 2011 Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, January 4-7, 2011.

Presented preliminary findings from an NSF-funded study, employing citation analysis of articles published in Physical Review Letters by scientists who used the facilities of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Analysis indicated an increase in team seniority may have a negative effect on publication impact.

Presentations

Invited talks

Worrall, A., & Yi, Y. J. (2011). Quality evaluation of health answers in Yahoo! Answers: A comparison between experts and users. Research-in-progress presentation, College of Communication and Information, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, November 2, 2011.

Contributed equally to presenting an in-progress study of the quality of online health answers as perceived by health reference librarians and Yahoo! Answers questioners (Sanghee Oh, PI). Forty evaluators from each group reviewed ten answers each on ten evaluation criteria; we found that librarians’ quantitative ratings were significantly lower on most criteria.

Invited panels

Mandel, L. H., Alemanne, N. D., Worrall, A., & Yu, C. (forthcoming, March 2012). Theoretical flamingoes. Research panel session, College of Communication and Information, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, March 14, 2012.

Panel of four doctoral students, led by Mandel with others contributing equally, who will present and discuss four theoretical and epistemological paradigms / approaches in information science: physical (Yu), cognitive (Alemanne), social (Worrall), and semiotic (Mandel). A fishbowl discussion of these and other theories, paradigms, and perspectives will follow. This panel is based on the Metatheoretical Snowmen panels led by Jenna Hartel (University of Toronto iSchool) at recent ASIST conferences.

Alemanne, N. D., Landbeck, C., & Worrall, A. (2011). Jumpstarting your career: Participation in academic & professional organizations. Panel session, College of Communication and Information and Information, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, September 14, 2011.

Panel of three doctoral students who led and contributed equally to a discussion of academic and professional organizations and conferences in LIS, focusing on ASIST, ALISE, and the iSchools / iConference. We promoted service to the profession and field through these organizations and gave advice on what one should and should not do in preparing for and attending conferences.

Na, K., Whetstone, M., & Worrall, A. (2011). Research questions. Research panel session, College of Communication and Information, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, January 19, 2011.

Panel of three doctoral students who led and contributed equally to a discussion of current and future research questions in LIS. Covered key challenges suggested by the NSF; the implications of questions in relation to professional organizations, conferences, funding sources, and publication outlets; and developing personally relevant research questions.

Kazmer, M. M. (speaker), Worrall, A., & Smith, P. (respondents) (2009). At the boundaries of the iField: Virtual organizations and the Mag Lab. Research colloquium, College of Communication and Information, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, October 28, 2009.

Member of panel that responded to presentation of this NSF-funded research project studying virtual collaboration amongst scientific teams at the National High Field Magnetic Laboratory (“Mag Lab”). Also introduced speaker and panelists and facilitated discussion and Q & A with the audience.

Research Experience

Research Collaborator 1/2011 – present
Quality Evaluation of Health Answers in Social Q&A: A Comparison between Health Reference Librarians and Questioners

Research collaboration (for academic credit from 1/2011 – 8/2011) with Dr. Sanghee Oh and her graduate research assistant, Yong Jeong Yi, investigating the influence of social media in and on health information seeking and sharing behaviors. Compared health reference librarians, nurses, and questioners’ quality evaluations of answers to questions on Yahoo! Answers, a social Q&A Web site. Helped with reviewing literature, applying for human subjects approval, survey design, recruiting participants, collecting data, analyzing results, and publishing and presenting findings. Project Web site: http://socialqa.cci.fsu.edu/hae.html

Graduate Research Assistant 1/2010 – present
Virtual Scientific Teams: Life-Cycle Formation and Long-Term Scientific Collaboration

A National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded 2½ year project (#0942855), working with numerous FSU SLIS faculty under the leadership of Dr. Kathy Burnett (PI). The project aims to identify what social and organizational factors best support the transition from short-term, experiment focused, virtual scientific collaborations to long-term productive, innovative programs of scientific research. My contributions are wide-ranging, including observation sessions of scientific teams conducting experiments, transcribing interviews, helping with both quantitative and qualitative data analysis and coding (using NVivo), writing portions of papers and posters, taking notes during meetings, assisting with writing follow-up grant proposals, helping to organize our private project management site, and maintaining the Web site for the project (http://voss.cci.fsu.edu).

Principal Investigator 1/2010 – 4/2010
Supporting Community-Building in Digital Libraries: A Pilot Study of LibraryThing

Piloted a survey instrument to measure the level of support that the LibraryThing digital library provided for community-building behaviors and activities by its users, under the guidance of Dr. Besiki Stvilia, as a first step towards the goals in my research agenda. While only a pilot study with concomitant limitations, some interesting findings were nevertheless uncovered, discussed in my poster presented at ASIST 2010 (see above). I intend to explore these further in future mixed methods research, including revising the survey instrument developed in this project.

Teaching Experience

Guest Speaker, Digital Libraries 11/2011
School of Information Management, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Gave a talk entitled Social Digital Libraries for Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd’s Digital Libraries course. Presented, in the context of a session on design and usability, a theoretical view of and framework for social digital libraries. The framework incorporates boundary object theory, the theory of information worlds, and key social elements including communities and collaboration.

Syllabus development, proposed Qualitative Research Methods seminar 5/2010 – 8/2010
School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS), Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Developed, in collaboration with Dr. Michelle M. Kazmer and Dr. Gary Burnett, a proposed syllabus for a new doctoral seminar at SLIS in qualitative research methods as an outgrowth of a directed independent study (DIS). My contributions included writing objectives, selecting suitable readings, and determining appropriate assignments for students. Drs. Kazmer and Burnett provided feedback and suggestions throughout the process that were incorporated into the final proposed syllabus, which we then presented at an FSU teaching colloquium in 9/2010 entitled Collaborative Syllabus Development: A Case Study.

Teaching Assistant 8/2009 – 12/2009
School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS), Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Graded papers and assignments, held virtual office hours and question-and-answer sessions, helped to choose readings, facilitated in-class and online discussion, and led one class session per course. Students highly rated my teaching effectiveness in these courses, particularly for the class sessions I led and my question-and-answer sessions.

Digital Libraries (LIS 5472; graduate elective) Fall 2009
Information Security (LIS 5916; graduate elective) Fall 2009

Professional Experience

Library Intern 1/2008 – 4/2008
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Miami Regional Library, Miami, FL

Evaluated, analyzed, improved usability and design of digital library Web site interface; upgraded and secured database system and restored access to important, often-requested digital collections; worked with entire process of digitizing gray literature and scientific data; provided basic reference and customer services to patrons.

Information Technology and Systems Consultant 5/2003 – 8/2006
Self-employed, Miami, FL

Analyzed, resolved issues with users’ computer software and hardware drivers; installed hardware equipment and set up associated software and settings; assisted and educated clients in using computers, information systems, and the Internet easily and efficiently, helping them solve their information and technology problems.

Grants and Fellowships

College Teaching Fellowship, Florida State University 8/2009 – 8/2010

Competitive university-wide fellowship awarded based on academic achievement and recommendations. Serving as a teaching assistant as part of fellowship (see above).

Academic and Professional Service

Organizational Affiliations

Association for Library & Information Science Education (ALISE) 12/2010 – present

Member, Doctoral Students SIG

American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIST) 2/2010 – present

Secretary, ASIST SIG SI (Social Informatics) 10/2011 – present

Member, SIG SI, SIG DL (Digital Libraries), SIG USE (Information Needs, Seeking, and Use)

American Library Association (ALA) 9/2008 – present

FSU Service Activities

Student Facilitator, FSU SLIS Agraphia writing support group 8/2011 – present

Doctoral Student Representative, SLIS Doctoral Program Committee 10/2010 – present

Secretary, Beta Phi Mu, Gamma Chapter 1/2010 – 12/2011

Representative, Congress of Graduate Students (COGS) 9/2009 – 7/2011

Vice Chair, COGS Academics and Student Life Committee 12/2010 – 7/2011

Peer Reviewer for

iConference 2012 (papers and posters)

Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology

Journal of Internet and Information Systems

Academic Honors and Awards

Honor Societies

Florida State University Fellows Society 8/2009 – present

Beta Phi Mu Inducted 10/2008

Active member, Gamma Chapter (FSU) 6/2008 – present

Phi Kappa Phi 4/2008 – present

Golden Key International Honour Society Inducted 9/2001

Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UCF chapter) Inducted 4/2001

National Society of Collegiate Scholars (UCF chapter) Inducted 8/2000

Other Honors and Awards

FSU SLIS College Leadership Award 4/2011

President’s List, University of Central Florida Spring, Summer, Fall 2001; Spring, Fall 2002

Dean’s List, University of Central Florida Fall 1999; Spring, Fall 2000