Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to explore the effect of knowledge of evidence-based practice (K-EBP) and organizational culture on the innovation behavior of university librarians in South Korea. The structured survey questionnaire consisted of four sections and 60 items. The four sections were concerned with K-EBP, organizational culture, innovation behavior, and EBP-related activities and demographic. The respondents were librarians working in 101 university libraries in South Korea. The results of this study were as follows. First, K-EBP indicated that the respondents had excellent practical skills, but their ability to appraise critically, apply knowledge and to conduct research was weak. Second, the questionnaire scores for K-EBP were significantly positively correlated with those for organizational culture and innovation behavior. Higher K-EBP scores corresponded to higher scores for relation-, innovation-, and task-oriented organizational culture. Third, K-EBP outcomes differed significantly by age group, education level, employment type, job title/seniority, reading of academic journal articles, and attendance at conferences. Organizational culture differed significantly with age. Innovation differed significantly with both age and conference attendance. Fourth, in the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, factors predicting K-EBP scores were education level and reading academic journals. Fifth, the multiple regression analysis identifying factors predicting innovation revealed statistically significant regression coefficients for overall K-EBP and for innovation- and hierarchy-oriented organizational culture. The regression coefficient for perception of a hierarchy-oriented organizational culture was negative. To promote innovation behavior of librarians, we need to foster an innovative organizational culture characterized by communication and cooperation, and improve the ability of librarians to engage in EBP. Educational programs that promote librarian engagement in research-related activities are needed.