Effective research collaboration between librarians and ILS faculty

1
Effective research collaboration between
librarians and ILS faculty

• Barbara M. Wildemuth
• School of Information Library Science
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Lets begin with a question.

• What is it?
• How is this related to that?
• I suspect that this is true. Is it?

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Data collection

• What data do you need to answer your question?
• How can you get the data you need?
• Observing peoples information behaviors
• Asking people about their information behaviors

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Methods for observing users

• Direct observation during use
• Think-aloud protocols
• Transaction logs

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Methods for asking users about their behaviors,
opinions, feelings

• Questionnaires
• Surveys
• Measures
• Interviews
• Focus groups

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Study sample

• Define the population of interest
• Consider sample size
• Develop a sampling recruiting plan

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Study procedures

• Overall research design
• Managing each data collection session

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Data analysis (quantitative)

• Descriptive statistics
• Inferential statistics
• Reasoning from results to conclusions

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Data analysis (qualitative)

• Thematic content analysis
• Weighing conflicting evidence
• Drawing conclusions

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Focus on practitioner-scholar collaboration

• What are the strengths of each partner? How can
  those strengths be fully used?
• What goals for the study do the partners share?
  Where do their goals diverge?

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Photo/image credits

• Kennard Consulting, http//www.kennardconsulting.c
  om/kc/questionsAndAnswers.jsf
• Fagan, J.C., James Madison University Libraries,
  Harrisonburg, VA, http//www.lib.jmu.edu/edge/arch
  ives/Spring2005(2)/Article2.asp
• OBrien, K., Missouri Historical Society,
  http//www.mhsvoices.org/2006FallDept1.php
• USDA eGovernment Team, https//www.egov.usda.gov/N
  ewsroom/Newsletters/Files/USDA_eGov_Newsletter_Nov
  -Dec_2003.html
• ASP, http//www.devarticles.com/c/a/ASP/View-Your-
  Web-Servers-Log-Files-With-ASP/1/
• Peace Child Israel, http//www.mideastweb.org/peac
  echild/cameri_audience.htm
• School of Natural Resources, University of
  Nebraska-Lincoln, http//snrs.unl.edu/noaa-hdgc/pr
  ogress/progressreport.html
• Trochim, W.M.K., Research Methods Knowledge Base,
  http//www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/sampterm.p
  hp
• Doi, E., Ctr. for the Neural Basis of Cognition,
  Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA,
  http//www.cnbc.cmu.edu/edoi/misc/pic/labmtg-whit
  eboard.jpg
• Simula Research Laboratory, Norway,
  http//vefur.simula.no8888/QuA/163
• Rillero, P., Arizona State University West,
  http//www.west.asu.edu/rillero/bio4teachers.htm
• McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada,
  http//www.workingatmcmaster.ca/link.php?linkewls
  s3Aewlss-faculty-librarians
• Edukiwi.com, http//www.edukiwi.com/advice/advice_
  2.html
• Swift Research, Wetherby, UK, http//www.swift-res
  earch.co.uk/datacollection.php4