University of Parma | 21 October 2016

Research methods and methodologies for emerging LIS scholars and professionals

Lynn Silipigni Connaway, PhDSenior Research Scientist and Director User ResearchOCLC Research

When put on the spot and asked to define “research,” what would you say?

(Connaway & Radford, forthcoming, 1)

Three key steps: “1. Pose a question, 2. Collect data to answer the question, and 3. Present an answer to the question.”

(Cresswell, 2012, 3)

“Much of the library-related research has been applied research dealing with everything from evaluating e- collections, to assessment of reference services, to analyzing integrated library systems.” (Connaway & Radford,

forthcoming, 2-3)

Method: “Any procedure employed to attain a certain end” (e.g., focus groups)

Methodology: “A study of the plans which are used to obtain knowledge” (Runes, 2001, 346)

(Polkinghorne, 1983, 5)

Why is it important to become well-versed in research methods and methodologies?

(Connaway & Radford, forthcoming, 3-5)

One challenge of LIS research is “not making the connection between the implications of research results and findings to the practical profession of LIS.” (Connaway, 2015)

What do you think the most widely used data collection method was from 1950-1975?

(Powell, 1999)

Methodology 1950 1960 1965 1970 1975 Total* %*

Theoretical-analytical 11 17 11 36 52 127 14

Information system design

7 16 21 57 49 150 17

Surveys on the public 3 2 9 20 19 53 3

Survey or experiment on libraries, etc.

22 15 45 89 113 284 32

Bibliometric and similar studies

0 1 7 14 16 38 4

Content analysis 0 1 2 1 3 7 1

Secondary analysis 6 15 15 13 27 76 8

Historical methodologies

21 26 25 49 42 163 18

Descriptive bibliography

7 4 6 4 9 30 3

Comparative studies 0 2 6 4 7 19 2

Other and multiple 3 1 7 9 10 30 3

All papers* 76 96 139 274 315 900 100

Research Papers by Methodology and Year

Research Methods: JDoc 2001-2010 (N=367)• Theoretical approach,

38%• Content analysis, 14%• Questionnaire, 13.8% • Experiment, 13.4%• Interview, 13.4%

(Chu, 2015)

Research Methods:JASIS&T 2001-2010 (N=554)• Experiment, 31%• Bibliometrics, 23%• Questionnaire, 14% • Content analysis, 13%• Theoretical approach,

12% (Chu, 2015)

Research Methods: LISR 2001-2010 (N=241)• Content analysis, 30%• Questionnaire, 28%• Interview, 20%• Theoretical approach,

15%• Experiment, 9%

(Chu, 2015)

Research Methods: JAL 2004-2013METHOD PERCENTAGEQuestionnaire 47.6

Test or Quiz 2.6Diary 0.6

Content Analysis 27.2Semi-structured Interviews 14.0Analysis of existing statistics 6.6Citation Analysis 6.3Focus Group Interview 5.7Observation 4.3Log Analysis 3.4Task Analysis 2.9

(N=346)

“The LIS field is maturing in terms of research method selection and application in that a greater number and wider variety of research methods are used in all the research publications this study examines…Scholars are no longer limited to the research methods traditionally applied in LIS explorations…"

(Chu, 2015, 40)

“It is never too soon to start thinking about publishing venues for the research at hand.”

(Connaway & Radford, forthcoming, 12)

“One of the most difficult obstacles to overcome for professional librarians, library students, and scholars alike is finding the time to think, do the research, and (most difficult of all) write.”

(Connaway & Radford, forthcoming, 14)

• Scholarly journals: Library Quarterly, Journal of Academic Librarianship, portal, and College and Research Libraries

• Practitioner- oriented journals: Library Hi Tech, Information Technology and Libraries, and Journal of Library Administration

• Professional magazines: American Libraries, Library Journal, and College & Research Libraries News

(Hahn & Jaeger, 2013)

“I believe the African proverb, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,’ is quite appropriate. through collaboration and cumulative research, the scholarly record of LIS research will continue to grow and mature.”

(Connaway, 2015)

Questions?Lynn Silipigni Connaway

Senior Research Scientist and Director of User ResearchOCLC Research

connawal@oclc.org

ReferencesChu, H. (2015). Research methods in library and information science: A content analysis. Library & Information Science Research, 37(1), 36-41. Connaway, L.S. (2015). "Research challenges: The pathway to engagement and progress," BiD: textos universitaris de biblioteconomia i documentació 35 (desembre), Retrieved September 19, 2016 from: http://bid.ub.edu/en/35/connaway.htm.  Connaway, L.S., & Radford, M.R. (forthcoming). Research methods in library and information science (6th ed.) Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.  Cresswell, J.W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

ReferencesGreifeneder, E. (2014). Trends in information behaviour research. Proceedings ofISIC: The Information Behaviour Conference, 19(4), Retrieved September 19, 2016 from: http://www.informationr.net/ir/19-4/isic/isic13.html#.V-A8FpMrLHc.  Hahn, T.B. & Jaeger, P.T. (2013). From practice to publication. College & Research Libraries News, 74(5), 238–242. Luo, L. & McKinney, M. (2015). JAL in the past decade: A comprehensive analysis of academic library research. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 41(2), 123-129. Mouly, G.J. (1978). Educational research: The art and science of investigation. Boston, MA:Allyn and Bacon.

ReferencesPolkinghorne, D. (1983). Methodology for the human sciences: Systems of inquiry. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.  Powell, R.R. (1999). Recent trends in research: A methodological essay. Library & Information Science Research, 21(1), 91-119. Research [Def 2]. (n.d.). In Merriam- Webster Online. Retrieved September 19, 2016 from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/research.  Runes, D.D. (Ed.). (2001). The dictionary of philosophy. New York, NY: Citadel Press.