Evaluating survey research in articles published in Library Science journals

Introduction and objective: Survey research is a method frequently used in Library Science. The main objective of this study is to evaluate if the studies carried out in the field of Library Science, that use surveys as a research method, provide complete and detailed information on their design and execution. Methods: Scientific papers published in 2019 in journals in the Library Science area included in the Journal Citation Reports, that used surveys as a quantitative research method, were selected from the Web of Science database. To assess the degree of information coverage, a tool was created consisting of 32 items used in various guides and recommendations. Results and conclusions: most of the scientific papers based on surveys in Library Science present a serious deficiency on the information provided. It is necessary to improve and complete information about the sampling procedure, development and administration of the questionnaire, as well as on the analysis of its results. This information will allow us to evaluate the potential errors made and, consequently, the quality and validity of the conclusions reached.