Learning scholarly information competencies in the community of practice: A case study of polish critical pedagogy researchers

Abstract

The present paper presents the findings of research conducted in 2014/2015. The aim of the research was to understand how members of a particular academic community learn scholarly information competencies, wherein learning was perceived as a social and cultural phenomenon and, especially, as a practice. The research methodology was based on semi-structured interviews with individual members of the community and focus-group interviews. The community under study consisted of Polish critical pedagogy researchers. My investigations drew on Schatzki, Lave, and Wenger for the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the qualitative data analysis. The research showed that being a part of the community of practice offers multiple opportunities to learn scholarly information literacy. However, at the same time, being inside and co-creating a community does not necessarily entail new scholarly information competencies since the group may hinder the inclusion of new practices.