Last revised 5/2/05 being revised now
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
School of Information Resources and Library Science
Research Methods 506
FALL 2005
Instructor: Margaret Higgins, PhD
Email: Margaretahiggins@yahoo.com
Class Location: TBA
Office Hours: By appointment
Course Content
The course offers an introduction to research techniques and their application in social research. Students will gain an appreciation of factors involved in research and an ability to critically evaluate research. Statistics will be addressed, with the emphasis being on engendering a level of familiarity with statistical concepts. This course will not create statisticians but it will provide a platform for discussion with experts of the statistics required for research.
Aims of the course
To provide an understanding of the nature, role and value of research, and to demonstrate the importance of, and necessity for, research; To familiarize students with a variety of research methods; To enable students to interpret and evaluate research..
Objectives of the course
By the end of the course students should be able to
• identify and implement research strategies appropriate for problems in their own working environment.
• identify well executed, reliable, and valid research
• identify research results which can be applied to their own library or information centre.
Code of Academic Integrity
Students are required to comply with the University's expectation of academic honesty as stated in the University of Arizona's Code of Academic Integrity (1991 Revision).
Required Text : Patten, M.L. (any recent edition). Understanding Research Methods: An Overview of the Essentials, 2 nd Ed., California: Pyrczak Press.
Required Reading : Campbell, D & Stanley, J. (1963). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research. Reprinted from Handbook of Research on Teaching. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally College Publishing Company.
Assessment
Participation 5%
Assignment 1: 15%
Assignment 2: 15%
Research Proposal 45%
Exam 20%
i) Expectations: Students are expected to participate in class - they are especially expected to take a leading role in discussions. My rationale for this is that in your work you will often have to speak for a service in which only you believe - and you may have to argue for your department's (rightful?) budget allocation. You therefore have to speak with confidence and knowledge, and you have to make a positive impression management. You might as well practice now.
ii) Other than for medical (or other super-good) reason, no late assignments will be accepted.
iii) Prepare all written work in APA format; and word process or type all work.
Grades: A: 100-90 B: 89-80 C: 79-70 Less than 'C' is fail.
Lecture Schedule (Subject to refinement
Teaching Weeks:
One General Introduction & Expectations
Two What is Research & Why do it? Ways of Knowing
Three Research Process
Four Science & Positivism
Five Designs & Error Readings: Campbell & Stanley
Six Designs & Error Readings: Campbell & Stanley
Seven Basic & Applied research
Eight Introduction to Statistics
Nine Introduction to Statistics (cont)
Ten Qualitative & Quantitative research
Eleven Sampling; Survey research & User studies
Twelve Bibliometrics/ Historical / Archival
Thirteen Different countries / different research concerns
Fourteen Research and Decision Making: their connections
Fifteen Exam
(note – the ‘weeks’ above refer to teaching weeks. There will be interruptions for such holidays as Thanksgiving.)
Readings List
It is unrealistic to expect students to read all of these articles.
However, students who manage to read these (or even some of them) will be better informed, and more able to participate. In lieu of the absolute expectation that all of these are read, the class emphasis will be on demonstrating absolute and complete knowledge of the assigned text, and of Campbell & Stanley.
American Educational Research Association (1992). Ethical Standards of the American Educational Research Association. Educational Researcher. 21, 7. 23-26.
Bookstein, A. (1985). Questionnaire Research in a Library Setting. Journal of Academic Librarianship. 11. Mar , 24-28.
Brooks, T. (1989). The Model of Science and Scientific Models in Librarianship. Library Trends. 38. Fall 1989. 237-249..
Busha, C.H. (1981). Library Science Research: the path to progress. In Busha, C. (ed) A Library Science Research Reader and Bibliographic Guide. p.1-37 Littleton, Colo: Libraries Unlimited.
Campbell, D & Stanley, J.(1963). Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research. Reprinted from Handbook of Research on Teaching. Chicago,IL.: Rand McNally College Publishing Company.
Case, D & Richardson, J. (1990). Predictors of Student Performance with Emphasis on Gender and Ethnic Determinants. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. 30, 3. Winter. 163-180.
Chalmers, A. From What is this thing called Science? 1978, pp 89-100.
Cooper, M. (1990). Perspectives on Qualitative Research with Quantitative Implications.: Studies in Information Management. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. 31, 2. 105-112.
Davis, C.H. (1990). On Qualitative Research. Library and Information Science Research. 12, 327-328.
Elliott, C (1981). Citation Patterns and Documentation for the History of Science: Some Methodological Considerations. American Archivist, 44, 2. 131-142.
Enger, K.B., Quirk, G & Stewart, J. (1989). Statistical Methods Used by Authors of Library and Information Science Journal Articles. Library and Information Science Research. 11, 37-46.
Ford, N. Research and practice in librarianship: A cognitive view. In Katz, B & Kinder, R. (eds). Current Trends in Information Research and Theory, 21-47, New York: Haworth Press.
Gilbey, J. (1988) How Good are Your Data? New Scientist. 118. June 9. p.80.
Glazier, J. (1992). Qualitative and Non Qualitative Research Methodologies: Thesis, Antithesis, or Synthesis? in Glazier, J. & Powell, R. (eds). Qualitative Research in Information Management. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited Inc.
Grover, R. & R. C. Greer. (1991). The Cross-disciplinary Imperative of LIS Research. in McClure, C & Hernon, P.(eds). Library and Information Science Research. 101-113, Norwood, N.J.: Ablex.
Howe, K & Eisenhart, M.(1990). Standards for Qualitative (and quantitative) Research: A prolegomenon. Educational Researcher, 19, 4. 2-9.
Kromrey, J. (1993). Ethics and Data Analysis. Educational Researcher, 22,4. 24-27.
Leedy. P. (1993). Practical Research. 5th ed. New York: Macmillan. 109-111; 223-239.
Line, M. (1982). Collecting the Information, in Stone, S. Library surveys: An Introduction to the Use, Planning and Presentation of Surveys, 2nd ed., 48-67, 69-78. London: Clive Bingley.
Lockett, M. (1987). The Bradford Distribution: a review of the literature, 1934-1987. Library and Information Science Research. 11, 21-36.
Lynch, M.J. (1984). Research in Librarianship: an uneasy connection. Library Trends. 32, 4. 367-383.
Martyn, J & Lancaster, W. (1981). Example of a Questionnaire Used in an Aslib Study, in Investigative Methods in Library and Information Science: An Introduction. Arlington, Va.: Information Resources Press, 204-207.
McCombs, C & Busha, C. (1981). Historical Research and Oral History in Librarianship. Part II - Oral History. In Busha, C. (ed.) A Library Science Research Reader and Bibliographic Guide, 82-90; 96-99, Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited.
Moore, P & St. George, A. (1991). Children as Information Seekers: The cognitive demands of books and library systems. School Library Media Quarterly. 19, 3. 161-168.
Moore, P. & St. George, A. (1989). The Information Quest: A look at children as information seekers. SET: Research Information for Teachers. 2, 9. 1-4.
Moran, B. (1985). Survey Research for Librarians. Southeastern Librarian. 35, 78-81.
Powell, R.R. (1991). Basic Research Methods for Librarians. 2nd ed. Ablex: Norwood, NJ. 53-81.
Putnam, C. (1988). Do It Again, Sam. New Scientist. 118. Apr 14. p70.
Roy, Loriene. (1993) "National Findings, National Measures: The NCES Survey on Children's Services in Public Libraries and Output Measures for Public Library Services to Children." Journal Of Youth Services In Libraries 6, 2. 181-184.
Sengupta, I. (1992). Bibliometrics, Informetrics, Scientometrics and Librametrics: an Overview. Libri, 42, 2. 75-98
Simpson, I. (1988). Bibliometrics, in Basic Statistics for Librarians, 3rd ed. 177-192. London: Lib Assn.
Swisher, R & McClure, C. (1984). Research, Planning, and Decision Making. In Research for Decision Making: Methods for Librarians. Chicago: ALA.
Tizard, B. (1990). Research and Policy: Is there a Link? The Psychologist. 3, 10. 435-440.
Vandergrift, K. (1990). Children's Literature: Theory, Research & Teaching. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited. 26-54.
Wainer, H. (1984). How to Display Data Badly. American Statistician, 38, 2. 137-147.
White, H (1992). The Freedom to Write a Research Paper Without being Mugged. Library Journal. 117, 3. Feb 15. 138-139.