Interviewee: Professor Kun Huang
Interview Date: August 6th, 2023
Interview Method: Face-to-face interview
Interviewer: Tianwei Li

Interviewee's Introduction:
Professor at the School of Government Management, Beijing Normal University. Visiting scholar at North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill. Member of the ITAT Education Engineering Research Group at the Education Management Information Center of the Ministry of Education.

Main Research Areas: Interactive Information Retrieval, Emotion Information Processing, Information Users

1.I have learned that your main research areas are focused on interactive information retrieval, emotion information processing, and information users.

(1) Could you please talk about the factors you consider when choosing your research direction during your undergraduate, master's, doctoral studies, and teaching process?

Professor Kun Huang: The choice of research direction is influenced by different factors at different stages. During undergraduate and master's studies, the research topics are generally determined based on the direction of the advisor, and the topics are more specific and clear. During the doctoral studies, the topic selection is more open and requires a combination of the advisor's expertise, personal interests, and research findings. After starting to work, I continue to extend the research conducted during the doctoral period for a certain period of time. At the same time, I try to use the findings from previous research to generate new research points. National research guidelines and major national development strategies to some extent guide researchers and help align research topics with the needs of grant applications.

(2) What was your undergraduate major and which knowledge and skills that you learned are crucial in your current work?

Professor Kun Huang: My undergraduate major was Information Management. In terms of important knowledge and skills for my current work, cultivating a disciplinary mindset to understand and analyze problems is crucial. In terms of professional knowledge, it mainly laid a foundation in basic knowledge and programming skills.

2.You have published papers on "Research on User Information Retrieval Behavior in Digital Libraries" and "Adversity and Coping Behavior in Academic Information Searching among College Student". I am currently studying EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE at the University of California, Berkeley. I find the learning process to be quite challenging, and it is different from the educational model in China. In the summer school course, we need to retrieve and read a large amount of literature, and independent retrieval and organization of materials are also required for assignments and exam preparation. Sometimes, it is difficult to find the necessary materials. Can you please talk about where and how to retrieve information effectively and efficiently for studying and research? The internet is filled with diverse information, so how can one determine the accuracy and objectivity of the information?

Professor Kun Huang: The difficulty in academic information searching related to courses and research is due to the complexity, openness, and high requirement for innovation of the problems themselves. It also requires a certain level of knowledge, which can make students easily feel discouraged. Even teachers can encounter difficulties in this aspect. There are several ways to address this. Firstly, students can participate in information literacy courses offered by the school library. Secondly, they can seek advice from classmates who have experience with similar courses or research projects, as well as consult their mentors and ask them to recommend relevant resources. Additionally, further expanding the search using the same author or the references cited in the literature found can help obtain more relevant papers.

To determine the credibility of information retrieved online, characteristics such as the source of the information, logical consistency of the information content, and completeness of the information are generally considered. For academic information, it is generally obtained from specialized databases such as Web of Science and CNKI. Therefore, relatively speaking, the quality has already been reviewed and is still acceptable.

3.You have also conducted a visiting study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and published a paper on "Research and Insights into Course Design at American Library and Information Science Schools".

(1) Could you please discuss the course design in the field of Library and Information Science or Data Science in the United States and how it can benefit further advanced studies or employment opportunities?

Professor Kun Huang: I have not focused much on course research in the field of Data Science. However, I would recommend studying a few papers to gain insights. These papers primarily include:

[1] Dong Jing, Xu Hao, Wu Dan. The Path of Information Discipline Features in Data Science Education: Interpretation and Reflection on "iDSCC Report" [J]. Journal of Library and Information Science, 2023, 40(02): 49-56. DOI: 10.13366/j.dik.2023.02.049.

[2] Wu Dan, Xu Hao. "Human-Centered" Data Science Education: New Developments in Library and Information Science [J]. Journal of Library and Information Science, 2021, 38(06): 12-20. DOI: 10.13366/j.dik.2021.06.012.

[3] Wu Dan, Sun Yaqi, Xu Hao. Comparative Study of Graduate Education in Data Science: A Multidisciplinary Comparison [J]. Library Tribune, 2021, 41(11): 108-117.

[4] Wu Dan, Chen Xi, Xu Xiaoyun. Investigation and Study of Talent Cultivation in Data Science in Domestic and Foreign Universities [J]. Journal of Documentation and Data Science, 2019, 1(02): 24-38.

I have some observations about the course design in the United States. Firstly, the course descriptions are usually comprehensive and provide recommendations and suggestions for module courses based on students'career goals, making it easier for students to make choices. To ensure alignment with market demands, regular surveys of graduates are conducted, and the course offerings are adjusted and improved based on students' feedback. However, the implementation and situation may be influenced by factors such as faculty resources and specific teaching conditions.

(2) If studying information retrieval or library and information science, what kind of knowledge, skills, and experience should one focus on or accumulate?

Professor Kun Huang: Information retrieval may be more computer-oriented, while library and information science leans towards practical applications. It mainly depends on one's interests. In terms of basic preparation, having a strong problem-solving awareness, a certain level of mathematical thinking, programming skills, and some experience participating in projects would be advantageous.

4.I am currently contemplating and exploring the direction that genuinely interests me and allows for further learning and advancement. Could you please discuss the changes that may occur in the fields of library and information science, information retrieval, and organization, particularly with the rapid development of big data and artificial intelligence, especially since the release of ChatGPT at the end of last year? In the fields of library and information science or cultural publishing, what levels of research are currently focused on in the ethics of artificial intelligence, and what aspects of AI development will they impact in the future?

Professor Kun Huang: The emergence of ChatGPT has had a significant impact on various industry sectors. In the field of information resource management (formerly known as library and information science), researchers have been continuously exploring the impact and influence of artificial intelligence. One recent study we conducted investigates how ChatGPT affects researchers' academic information-retrieving behavior and search effectiveness. We aim to understand how researchers will utilize these tools, assess the quality of information provided by these tools, and make judgments and decisions accordingly. As for the ethics of artificial intelligence, it is indeed an important topic nowadays. Only by developing AI within the framework of international ethical norms can our AI technology grow healthily and gain more respect and support. We have done some literature analysis work before, which you can refer to. It mentions the risks and governance issues that may arise at the levels of data, systems, and intelligent agents.

Kun Huang, Xu Xiaoting, Li Anrunze, et al. Literature Analysis and Insights on Ethical Research in Artificial Intelligence in SSCI Journals in the Past 5 Years[J]. Modern Information, 2021, 41(06): 161-171.

5.Recently, my main focus has been on the summer school at Berkeley and the Talent Program. However, I have encountered some difficulties in my research projects, writing learning reports, and papers. For instance, firstly, how can I acquire enough useful knowledge to fully understand it myself? Secondly, how do I choose a topic for in-depth exploration and design experiments to validate the viewpoints I want to argue? Thirdly, during the process of writing a paper, how can I present my arguments with logical and evidence-based explanations, emphasizing deep thinking and innovation? Lastly, when it comes to publishing, I sometimes face subjective treatment and my papers are rejected multiple times. Please provide guidance on what to pay attention to in these stages and how to overcome these challenges.

Professor Kun Huang: These are excellent questions that cover the entire lifecycle of scientific research. Research is a continuous process of learning and growth, which is also the main focus of research methodology courses. For example, how to identify and propose research questions, how to conduct literature review and synthesis, how to design research, and how to implement and present research findings as a logical narrative, as well as how to submit and publish research papers.

It may be beneficial to undergo systematic learning through relevant courses. Professor Feng Xiaotian's "Research Methods in Sociology" is relatively accessible and easy to understand. I recommend taking a look if you are interested.

6.I have seen that you have conducted relevant research projects, including the "Investigation of the International Reputation of Chinese English Scientific Journals." Could you please share the similarities and differences between the research backgrounds, research output translation, and paper publication of Chinese and foreign scholars? This will help Chinese scholars understand highly reputable and high-quality international scientific journals, as well as help foreign scholars understand the development of academic journals in China. By communicating and discussing issues from the same perspective, using journals as a medium, how can we better promote scientific and academic exchanges between China and foreign countries?

Professor Kun Huang: The main focus of the research project you mentioned is to understand how foreign peers perceive Chinese English scientific journals. According to the survey results, international peers have a certain level of recognition, with evaluation scores ranging from 3 to 4 (on a 5-point scale). However, the project did not cover the differences and similarities in research backgrounds, research output translation, and publication among researchers. Nevertheless, this is an excellent question and falls within the scope of bibliometrics, such as:

[1] Luo L., Guo W., Zhang Y., et al. Analysis of Hot Research Topics and Scholar Composition in the Field of Life Sciences in China and Abroad. Journal of Science and Technology Journalism, 2022, 33(06): 763-775.

[2] Ni J., Li P., Liu H., et al. Analysis of the Characteristics of Research Papers in Biomedical Journals in China and Abroad during Public Health Emergencies: Taking COVID-19 Special Issue Papers as an Example. Journal of Science and Technology Journalism, 2021, 32(02): 262-268.

There are many papers in this area, and the questions can be further divided. To promote scientific and academic exchanges between China and foreign countries, there are currently plenty of opportunities, such as participating in conferences and submitting papers for publication. There are also academic communities like ResearchGate, where researchers from China and abroad with similar interests can communicate. Strengthening the development of Chinese English scientific journals and increasing recognition of these journals in the evaluation of domestic teachers' research output can attract high-quality research to domestic journals to a certain extent.