“It’s a personal thing”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of law librarians’ evaluation of revalidating in the LIANZA professional registration scheme

Abstract

Research problem: This qualitative study explores how law librarians in New Zealand evaluate revalidation in the LIANZA professional registration scheme. The LIANZA scheme has been running since 2007 and previous studies have highlighted areas of difficulty for registrants. This study focuses on the practitioner perspective to explore the factors which registrants consider when evaluating the scheme, and how they assess these factors when making their evaluations.

Methodology: This research uses Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Five participants were selected and data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Inductive theorizing from the data was conducted using the methods of IPA, which involve systematic qualitative analysis of individual cases before moving on to an analysis of the whole group.

Results: The findings revealed that participants had several factors they accounted for when evaluating the scheme, these included practical, environmental and affective aspects of participation. The key findings were the tension participants experienced around recording the process of participation, and the difficulties they experienced with the reflective writing component of revalidation.

Implications: This study highlights the need for training in reflective practice and reflective writing for registrants as well as the need to explore other forms of reflection for assessment purposes. Attempts to simplify the recording process for registrants would also reduce the difficulties they experience. Further research with other groups within the information profession would allow for comparison of the results to determine if these issues are shared.