Yazdan Mansourian

Department of Educational Technology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Tarbiat Moallem University, 

No 49, Mofateh Ave, P.O.Box: 15614, Tehran, Iran

Email: y.mansourian at gmail.com

URL: http://dagda.shef.ac.uk/yazdan/                       Weblog: http://invisibleweblog.blogspot.com/

EDUCATION:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Information Science, the University of Sheffield, UK (October 2002 - November 2006)

Thesis: Information Visibility on the Web and Conceptions of Success and Failure in Web Searching.

Master of Arts (MA) in Library and Information Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran (September 1998 – January 2001)

Dissertation: Evaluation of User Satisfaction Rate with Computerized Information Services in Libraries of Ferdowsi University.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Agricultural Engineering, the University of Guilan, Iran (September 1991 – September 1995)

AWARDS:

A scholarship to carry out PhD research in abroad, awarded by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of Iranian Government (October 2002 to March 2006).

WORK EXPERIENCES:

Assistant Professor

Department of Educational Technology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Tarbiat Moallem University (January 2007 to Present)

Member of ILISA Board of Directors

Iranian Library and Information Science Association (March 2007 to Present)

Part-time Teaching Assistant

Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield (Oct. 2003 to Dec. 2006)

Customer Service Assistant

University of Sheffield Main Library (Oct. 2006 to Present)

Part-time Learning Resource Centre Assistant

The Sheffield College, Loxley College (March 2005 to July 2005)

Expert on Library and Information Science

Public and International Relations Office, Mashhad Municipality (May 2001 – Sept. 2002)

Administrator of Online Information Services

Central Library of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Oct. 1999 - May 2001)

Reference Librarian

Central Library of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Oct.1998 – Sept. 1999)

PUBLICATIONS:

Peer-reviewed Papers:

§         Mansourian, Y. and Madden, A. (2007). “Methodological approaches in web search research”. Electronic Library, Vol. 25. No.1, pp. 90-101.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2006). “Adoption of Grounded Theory in LIS research”. New Library World, Vol. 107 No. 9/10, pp. 386-402.

§         Mansourian, Y. & Ford, N. (2006). “The invisible web: An empirical study of ‘cognitive invisibility’”. Journal of Documentation, Vol. 62 No. 5, pp. 584-596.

§         Mansourian, Y. and Ford, N. (2006). “Web searchers’ attributions of success and failure: an empirical study”. Journal of Documentation, (accepted and in press, Vol. 62 No. 6).

§         Mansourian, Y. and Ford, N. (2007). “Search persistence and failure on the Web: a “bounded rationality” and “satisficing” analysis. Journal of Documentation, (accepted and in press in Vol. 63)

§         Mansourian, Y. (2007). “Biologists’ search patterns on the web”. New Library World (in press).

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). "Technical and non-technical aspects of the Invisible Web". Informology, Vol. 1, No 2, pp. 221-237.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). Intelligent search agents and information seeking through the Web environment, Informology, Vol. 1, No 4. pp. 213-231.

Conference Proceedings:

§         Mansourian, Y. (2005). “Identifying effective factors on the level of information visibility for end users on the web environment”. In: Ingwersen, P. and Larsen, B. (eds.) Proceedings of 10th International Conference of the International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics (ISSI 2005) 2, pp. 722. Stockholm: Karolinska University Press.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2005), “Enhancement of information seeking efficiency in the electronic resources”. In: The Abstract Book of Computer and Information Technology Group, Proceedings of 13th Iranian Researchers Conference in Europe, 2nd July 2005. The University of Leeds, Leeds. pp. 21-22.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). “Searching the Invisible Web: An empirical study of users’ interactive searching behaviour in the opaque side of the web environment”. In: Dearden, A. & Watts, L. (eds.) Design for Life: Proceeding of the 18th British HCI Group Annual Conference, 6-10 September 2004, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds. pp. 231-232. Bristol: Research Press International.

Teaching Activities:

I teach the following modules at the university:

§         Indexing and Abstracting

§         An Introduction to Databases and Databank

§         Reference Services and Specialized Reference Resources

During the past three years I have been teaching as a part-time teaching assistant (running practical sessions, tutorial sessions and marking) for the following modules at the University of Sheffield.

§         Practical Computing (INF6901)

§         Information Literacy (INF104)

§         Information Management in Organisations (INF6002)

§         Information Literacy Research (INF6014)

§         Information Resources and Information Literacy (INF6350)

§         Healthcare Information (INF6370)

§         Business Information (INF304)

§         Information Management (GSC6000)

§         Designing Usable Websites (INF 213)

I also delivered a few lectures (as guest speaker) for two of the above-mentioned modules including Information Resources and Information Literacy (INF6350) and Information Literacy Research (INF6014).

I also have run two workshops in 2007:

§          Cataloguing of Internet Resources which was held in Astan Quds Research Centre in Mashhad (27 and 28 January 2007)

§         The Effect of the Invisible Web on the Accessibility of Information on the web (28 February 2007) which was held in the Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy.

Presentations:

§         Mansourian, Y. and Webber, S. (2006). “Context in web searching: implications for information literacy”. Librarians' Information Literacy Annual Conference (LILAC2006). 27th - 29th March 2006, Leeds University, Leeds.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2006). “Exploring the concept of information visibility on the World Wide Web”. Quantitative Methods for Internet Research. 6th - 8th April 2006, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2005). “Cognitive and affective aspects of human information seeking behaviours.” The Annual Interdisciplinary Conference for Postgraduate Students in the Social Sciences and Humanities, 7th April 2005, the University of Sheffield.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). “End users’ perceptions of the invisible web and their conceptualization of information retrieval failure on the web”. Information Studies Seminar Series (2004-2005). 11th October 2004, the University of Sheffield.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). “What is the invisible web?” The Annual Interdisciplinary Conference for Postgraduate Students in the Social Sciences and the Arts. 22nd April 2004, the University of Sheffield.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2003). “Towards a model of user-oriented aspects of the invisible web”. Information Studies Seminar Series (2003-2004). 8th December 2003, the University of Sheffield.

Poster Presentations

§         Mansourian, Y., Ford, N. & Webber, S. (2006), “The hidden territory of the Internet”. Second Annual Poster Competition of the UK GRAD Programme. 19th May 2006, University of Northumbria, Newcastle.

§         Mansourian, Y.; Ford N.; Webber, S. (2006), Searching in Nebulous, Uncertain or Unsatisfactory Situation (SINUOUS). Presented in 19 April 2006 in the research advisory panel at the University of Sheffield.

§         Mansourian, Y.; Ford N.; Webber, S. (2005), “How people search the Internet: success and failure on the online world, Poster Presentation at the Annual Poster Competition of the UK GRAD Programme, 26th May 2005, University of Leeds, Leeds.

§         Mansourian, Y.; Ford N.; Webber, S. (2005), Failure Ontologies: Conceptualizing Unsuccessful Searches (FOCUS). Poster Presentation at Promoting Information Literacy for Information and Computer Sciences, 8th June 2005, University College Worcester. Worcester, UK.

Book Reviews and other Publications

§         Mansourian, Y. (2006). "Review of: Ingwersen, P., & Jarvelin, K. "The Turn: Integration of Information Seeking and Retrieval in Context." Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer, 2005. Webology, 3(3), Book Review 4. Available at: http://www.webology.ir/2006/v3n3/bookreview4.html

§         Mansourian, Y. (2006). "Chemoinformatics and the World Wide Web: An Interview with Professor Peter Willett." Webology, 3(2), Article 27. Available at: http://www.webology.ir/2006/v3n2/a27.html

§         Mansourian, Y. (2005). "The past, present and future of web search research: an interview with Dr. Amanda Spink". Webology, 2 (2), Article 15. Available at: http://www.webology.ir/2005/v2n2/a15.html

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). "Review of: Spink, A., & Jansen, B. J. Web Search: Public Searching of the Web. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004". Webology [Online], Vol. 1 No.2 Available at: http://www.webology.ir/2004/v1n2/bookreview1.html

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). "Similarities and differences between web search procedure and searching in the pre-web information retrieval systems". Webology [Online], Vol. 1, No. 1, Available at: http://www.webology.ir/2004/v1n1/a3.html

Editorial Activities

§         Member of the editorial board of the Evidence Based Library and Information Practice.

§         Member of the editorial board of Webology journal.

§         Referring papers for the International Information & Library Review journal.

Persian Books:

§         Fattahi, R. and Mansourian, Y. (2002). Serials management handbook: collection development, organization & services. Tehran: Debizesh Publication.

Persian Papers:

§         Mansourian, Y. (2006). “Grounded Theory:  Inductive theory building based on real data”. Library and Information Science: Quarterly Journal of Central Library and Documentation Centre of Astan Quds Razavi, (in press).

§         Mansourian, Y. (2005). “Development of information retrieval model in the hidden web environment”. Faslname-ye Ketab (Quarterly Journal of the National Library of Iran in Library and Informaiton Science), Vol. 16 No. 3, pp. 75-86.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). "The Hidden Internet and the Buried Information Resources under the Invisible Depth of the World Wide Web". Library and Information Science, Quarterly Journal of Central Library and Documentation Centre of Astan Quds Razavi. Vol. 7 No. 1. pp, 25-42.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). What is the Invisible Web and Why It Is Important. Nama [Online] (the Online Journal of IRANDOC), Vol. 2, No. 1. Available at: http://www.irandoc.ac.ir/data/E_J/vol2/Invisible_Web.pdf

§         Mansourian, Y. (2003), “A Review of the Recent User-Oriented Studies in the Web-Based Information Retrieval Research". Library and Information Science, Quarterly Journal of Central Library and Documentation Centre of Astan Quds Razavi. Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 1-22.  

§         Mansourian, Y. (2003), Effective Factors on Information Seeking and Information Retrieval Procedure in the World Wide Web Environment. [Online] Ketabdar Electronic Journal, Vol. 2 No. 2.  Available at: http://www.ketabdar.org/magazine/detailarticle.asp?number=23

§         Mansourian, Y. (2002). Library and Information Science Portals: A Selection of Subject Gateways of Librarians on the Web. ILISA Newsletter. Vol. 1, No. 5, pp. 23-27.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2001), "Features of Library Web sites in the Internet ".  Payam Ketabkhaneh (Quarterly Journal of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance), Vol. 10, No 4, pp. 10- 17. 

§         Mansourian, Y. (2001), "Evaluation of User Satisfaction Rate with Computerized Information Services in Libraries of Ferdowsi University (Extract from Author's MA Thesis). Library and Information Science, Quarterly Journal of Central Library and Documentation Centre of Astan Quds Razavi. Vol.3, No. 4, Winter 2001, PP.37-58. 

§         Mansourian, Y. (2001), " A Review of Concept and Measurement of User Satisfaction in Library and Information Research: Literature Review " (Extract from Author's MA Thesis). Payam Ketabkhaneh (Quarterly Journal of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance) Vol 11, No 1, pp. 34 -41. 

§         Azad, A.; Mansourian, Y. (2001), "A Glance at the Library and Information Science Dissertations during 1994-1999". Ketabdari (An Academic & Research Journal on Bibliography, Library and Information Science, Published by Central Library & Documentation Centre of Tehran University) Vol. 35, No. 37, pp. 85-101.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2000), “Full Text Electronic Journals of Library and Information Science in the Internet." Library and Information Science, Quarterly Journal of Central Library and Documentation Centre of Astan Quds Razavi.  Vol.2, No. 4, pp.39-59. 

§         Mansourian, Y. (2000), "A Proposal for Publishing a Library and Information Science Abstract Journal in Iran ". Payam Ketabkhaneh (Quarterly Journal of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance) Vol. 10, No 3, pp. 69-72. 

Persian Conference Proceedings:

§         Mansourian, Y. and Naimabadi, M. (2004). The Role of Library Websites in Enhancement of Users’ Information Literacy Skills. In proceeding of user education and development of information literacy conference of Astan Quds Razavi, Mashhad. 22-23 May, pp. 403-415.

Persian Presentations:

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). Different Aspects of the Invisible Web. Presented at Iranian Library & Information Science Association Conference January 2004: Library Websites: Design and Evaluation). Tehran: The University of Tehran, 14 January 2004.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2004). The Invisible Web. Presented at the Seminar of Khorasan Branch of the Iranian Library & Information Science Association. Ferdowsi University, 8 January 2004.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2002). Digital Libraries: A Review of Opportunities & Challenges. Presented in the Sixth Conference of Iranian Management & Planning Organization's Librarians. Yazd. Feb. 2002.

§         Mansourian, Y. (2001), New Information Technology and its Role in Cultural Development. First International Conference of the Information Services and Cultural Development. Tehran Jan. 2001. 

§         Mansourian, Y. (2001). A Review of the Librarians' Role in Digital Libraries. Presented in the Third Seminar of Alzahra University, “From Traditional Libraries to Digital Libraries. Tehran. March 2001.

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

§         Member of ILISA Board of Directors

§         Teaching information seeking skills to library users.

§         Teaching web page designing by Front page & Netscape Composer.

§         Teaching basic skills to work in Internet (search, e-mail and etc.) for the library users.

§         Publishing a local electronic newsletter for current awareness services in Ferdowsi University from October 1999 to May 2001.

§         Student member of the ASIS&T since 2005.

§         Associate member of CILIP since 2004. 

Attended Professional Workshops

§         Participation at the “Re-using Qualitative Data” workshop, CRESC Methods Workshop, Qualitative Research Laboratory, the University of Manchester, 28th September 2005.

§         Participation at the "Collaboration, Co-Laboratories and e-Research", MANDEC Centre, the University of Manchester, 21st June 2005.

§         Participation at the "Promoting Information Literacy for Information and Computer Sciences", University College Worcester, 8th June 2005.

§         Participation at the "Information Retrieval in Context", SIGIR 2004, the University of Sheffield, 29th July 2004.

§         A grant to travel and attend 28th European Conference on Information Retrieval (ECIR) at Imperial College London, UK, 10-12 April 2006. The grant was awarded by ECIR.

§         A seat in “Research Training Residential Workshop: Quantitative Methods for Internet Research” at the University of Wales; Aberystwyth, UK, 6th - 8th April 2006, awarded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).