What types of LIS research are preferred in evidence-informed public policy development? Investigating differences in policy citations of Review Articles and Original Research

Academic research, including library and information science (LIS) studies, cited as evidence for public policy development, is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, what types of LIS research are more favored by public policymakers remains unknown. Review articles and original research articles published in LIS journals between 2000 and 2020 were selected as the sample ( n = 34,977). Negative binomial regression and zero-inflated negative binomial regression were used to examine the data. Linear regression models and an alternative outcome variable were used to check the robustness of the results. The findings revealed that review articles can achieve higher policy citations compared to original research articles. This study could enhance the understanding of bridging the divide between LIS research and policy development practices.