| Description |
vii, 421 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and indexes. |
| Contents |
Using research results to improve practice in the information professions / Barbara M. Wildemuth -- The Questions Asked. Developing a research question / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Questions originating in library and information practice / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Descriptions of phenomena or settings / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Testing hypotheses / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Questions related to theory / Chad Morgan and Barbara M. Wildemuth -- Research Designs and Sampling. Case studies / Songphan Choemprayong and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Naturalistic research / Abe J. Crystal and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Longitudinal studies / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Delphi studies / Lili Luo and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Quasi-experimental studies / Carolyn Hank and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Experimental studies / Barbara M. Wildemuth and Leo L. Cao ; Sampling for extensive studies / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Sampling for intensive studies / Barbara M. Wildemuth and Leo L. Cao ; Studying special populations / Carol L. Perryman and Barbara M. Wildemuth -- Methods for Data Collection. Historical research / Chad Morgan and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Existing documents and artifacts as data / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Transaction logs / Laura Sheble and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Think-aloud protocols / Sanghee Oh and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Direct observation / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Participant observation / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Research diaries / Laura Sheble and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Unstructured interviews / Yan Zhang and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Semistructured interviews / Lili Luo and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Focus groups / Barbara M. Wildemuth and Mary Wilkins Jordan ; Survey research / Carolyn Hank, Mary Wilkins Jordan, and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Measuring cognitive and affective variables / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Developing new measures / Songphan Choemprayong and Barbara M. Wildemuth -- Methods for Data Analysis. Content analysis / Kristina M. Spurgin and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Qualitative analysis of content / Yan Zhang and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Discourse analysis / Barbara M. Wildemuth and Carol L. Perryman ; Analytic induction / Kristina M. Spurgin and Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Descriptive statistics / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Frequencies, cross-tabulation, and the chi-square statistic / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Analyzing sequences of events / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Correlation / Barbara M. Wildemuth ; Comparing means : t tests and analysis of variance / Abe J. Crystal and Barbara M. Wildemuth -- Conclusion. Putting it all together / Barbara M. Wildemuth. |
| Summary |
For many practitioners, best practices are often developed through significant amounts of direct experience. However, they can also be developed through the examination and application of research findings. By critically assessing existing studies within library and information science, both aspiring and experienced professionals can acquire a deeper understanding of available methods, as well as design more effective studies. The author has created a book that mirrors the process of conducting a research study. At the same time, she exposes the reader to a wealth of competing and complementary techniques. Each chapter introduces a particular research method, points out its relative strengths and weaknesses, and provides a critique of two or more exemplary studies. Section One considers those research questions most often asked in the field of information and library science and explains how they can arise from practice and direct observation or from existing theories. Section Two covers a variety of research designs, as well as the sampling issues associated with those designs: case studies, naturalistic research, longitudinal studies, Delphi studies, and quasi-experimental and experimental designs. Section Three moves on to methods for collecting data: surveys, various types of interviews, historical and documentary studies, transaction log analysis, diaries, and participant observation. It concludes with a chapter discussing the ways in which any of these methods might be combined for use in a particular study. |
| Subject |
Library science -- Research -- Methodology.
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Library science -- Research -- Methodology. |
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Library science -- Research. |
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Information science -- Research -- Methodology.
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Information science -- Research -- Methodology. |
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Information science. |
| ISBN |
9781591585039 alkaline paper |
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1591585031 alkaline paper |
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