Research

Core competency Guidelines

Students will be able to perform effectively in the library and information science professions by demonstrating competency in research activities. 

By the conclusion of the master’s degree program, students should be able to: 

• identify and explain a research question 

• locate, evaluate, analyze, and synthesize research findings 

• identify appropriate research methods, collect, and analyze data to address issues faced by libraries or other information agencies 

• employ evidence-based practices to solve information problems 

• design, conduct, and report research that contributes to the body of professional knowledge and/or theoretical constructs 

Work sample

Description

The attached research proposal was created with three teammates in our Research Design and Evaluation course. Together we crafted a formal proposal that includes research questions, theoretical frameworks, a review of the relevant literature, and proposed design, methods, and procedure for a study regarding the impact of education on student misuse of artificial intelligence in the classroom setting. In creating this proposal I demonstrated my mastery of research by designing a research project that contributes to the body of professional knowledge regarding artificial intelligence and generative technology use and education in a high school setting. I further demonstrated mastery by locating, evaluating, and analyzing research findings to build a comprehensive literature review of the relevant research. Finally, in building out the proposed study, I identified and explained the research question and identified appropriate research methods to address the issue that affects libraries. 

Analysis

Given the recent emergence of artificial intelligence and generative technologies accessible to anyone with internet access, the body of professional knowledge in this area is in need of expanding, which made it an excellent choice of topic. By locating, evaluating, and analyzing existing research and literature on the topic of generative technologies in the classroom setting, I determined that there was a significant gap in knowledge and information regarding how high school students use these technologies. Finding so little research to expand on or compare with was a challenge, but also an important opportunity to contribute to closing a gap in knowledge for the information science field. This also helped to define the boundaries of our research question, which focused on the use of artificial intelligence and generative technologies by high school students and how education on these technologies impacts their behaviors and perceptions. Not only would the proposed research contribute to closing a gap in knowledge, but it would also address widespread concerns in the library community about the appropriate and intentional use of artificial intelligence in the high school setting. The research methods were carefully selected to best answer the research questions by means of collecting useful, balanced data from a sizable and diverse population. 

Reflection

While this artifact is only a research proposal created for a class, it was planned and developed with practical logistics in mind and could easily be used to apply for grant funding or potentially put into practice without external funding. Crafting this proposal as though the study would actually be conducted was a particularly useful approach that helped ground our study in reality. This approach also ensured that we acknowledged potential limitations and ethical issues as well as potential avenues for application and future research. This was good practice for future research projects, where it is critical to assess and communicate the limitations and ethical issues at each step. Choosing a topic that is currently under-researched created some challenges but it provided an excellent learning opportunity that allowed our group to combine creativity with professional knowledge to build a research study that would suitably contribute to closing the gap.