List Books » Applications of Social Research Methods to Questions in Information and Library Science
Authors: Barbara M. Wildemuth
ISBN-13: 9781591585039, ISBN-10: 1591585031
Format: Paperback
Publisher: ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Date Published: May 2009
Edition: New Edition
BARBARA M. WILDEMUTH is the Frances Carroll McColl Professor, School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to her 15+ year career at UNC, she was the associate director of the ERIC Clearinghouse on Tests, Measurement, and Evaluation.
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. In what is surely the first of its kind for librarians, Barbara Wildemuth 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. An invaluable guide for librarians, educators and students alike.
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.
Acknowledgments ix
Part I Introduction
1 Using Research Results to Improve Practice in the Information Professions Barbara M. Wildemuth 3
Part II The Questions Asked
2 Developing a Research Question Barbara M. Wildemuth 11
3 Questions Originating in Library and Information Practice Barbara M. Wildemuth 21
4 Descriptions of Phenomena or Settings Barbara M. Wildemuth 27
5 Testing Hypotheses Barbara M. Wildemuth 33
6 Questions Related to Theory Chad Morgan Barbara M. Wildemuth 40
Part III Research Designs and Sampling
7 Case Studies Songphan Choemprayong Barbara M. Wildemuth 51
8 Naturalistic Research Abe J. Crystal Barbara M. Wildemuth 62
9 Longitudinal Studies Barbara M. Wildemuth 73
10 Delphi Studies Lili Luo Barbara M. Wildemuth 83
11 Quasi-experimental Studies Carolyn Hank Barbara M. Wildemuth 93
12 Experimental Studies Barbara M. Wildemuth Leo L. Cao 105
13 Sampling for Extensive Studies Barbara M. Wildemuth 116
14 Sampling for Intensive Studies Barbara M. Wildemuth Leo L. Cao 129
15 Studying Special Populations Carol L. Perryman Barbara M. Wildemuth 138
Part IV Methods for Data Collection
16 Historical Research Chad Morgan Barbara M. Wildemuth 147
17 Existing Documents and Artifacts as Data Barbara M. Wildemuth 158
18 Transaction Logs Laura Sheble Barbara M. Wildemuth 166
19 Think-aloud Protocols Sanghee Oh Barbara M. Wildemuth 178
20 Direct Observation Barbara M. Wildemuth 189
21 Participant Observation Barbara M. Wildemuth 199
22 Research Diaries Laura Sheble Barbara M. Wildemuth 211
23 Unstructured Interviews Yan Zhang Barbara M. Wildemuth 222
24 Semistructured Interviews Lili Luo Barbara M. Wildemuth 232
25 Focus GroupsBarbara M. Wildemuth Mary Wilkins Jordan 242
26 Survey Research Carolyn Hank Mary Wilkins Jordan Barbara M. Wildemuth 256
27 Measuring Cognitive and Affective Variables Barbara M. Wildemuth 270
28 Developing New Measures Songphan Choemprayong Barbara M. Wildemuth 278
Part V Methods for Data Analysis
29 Content Analysis Kristina M. Spurgin Barbara M. Wildemuth 297
30 Qualitative Analysis of Content Yan Zhang Barbara M. Wildemuth 308
31 Discourse Analysis Barbara M. Wildemuth Carol L. Perryman 320
32 Analytic Induction Kristina M. Spurgin Barbara M. Wildemuth 329
33 Descriptive Statistics Barbara M. Wildemuth 338
34 Frequencies, Cross-tabulation, and the Chi-square Statistic Barbara M. Wildemuth 348
35 Analyzing Sequences of Events Barbara M. Wildemuth 361
36 Correlation Barbara M. Wildemuth 375
37 Comparing Means: t Tests and Analysis of Variance Abe J. Crystal Barbara M. Wildemuth 383
Part VI Conclusion
38 Putting It All Together Barbara M. Wildemuth 395
Index of Authors of Examples Discussed 405
Subject Index 409
About the Contributors 419