Competency L

Statement of competency

Introduction

Reitz (2014) defines information science as the “systematic study and analysis of the sources, development, collection, organization, dissemination, evaluation, use, and management of information in all its forms, including the channels (formal and informal) and technology used in its communication.” Information scientists contribute to the profession by conducting research in the field and publishing their findings. The skills and knowledge of research methods and project design are necessary in order to do original research. Furthermore, being able to evaluate and synthesize research literature are important components of the research process. These abilities also come in handy when patrons request research to fulfill their information needs.

Quantitative Research

According to Connaway and Powell (2010), “Quantitative research methods involve a problem-solving approach that is highly structured in nature and that relies on the quantification of concepts, where possible, for purposes of measurement and evaluation” (p. 3). This research method deals with concrete information that can be gathered irrespective of the human senses or emotions. It involves numbers, measurements, and statistics. For example, a researcher may want to know how patron use of the library has changed over a period of ten years. To find the answer to this question they would need to compile statistical data of gate counts (the number of people that entered and exited the library), library material checkouts, database resources used, digital library material requested, reference questions asked, and so on. Once the data is collected, it can be evaluated and synthesized. Quantitative research is good for providing an objective view but it may be difficult for people to connect with.

Qualitative Research

Connaway and Powell (2010) state that “qualitative research methods focus on observing events from the perspective of those involved and attempt to understand why individuals behave as they do” (p. 3). Researchers can use surveys, focus groups, interviews, or observations to directly or indirectly study people in a variety of settings. Controlled, semi-structured, and natural settings all have an influence on the behaviors of test subjects. How aware people are of being observed also has an impact on their actions. Furthermore, the type of participants studied at a given time can change the outcomes of a study. For example, in a focus group study, one person with a dominating personality can take control of the conversation and minimize others’ participation as a result. In this case, a moderator intervenes to make sure that every person has an opportunity to share their thoughts. Qualitative research can take longer to compile, evaluate, and synthesize depending on the number of people studied and the length of the study. The advantage of this method is that it brings human stories to the fore of the data collected. However, this can be highly subjective, as it may involve people’s opinions, judgments, or feelings.

Research Design

What is research? Research is defined as “Systematic, painstaking investigation of a topic, or in a field of study, often employing hypothesis and experimentation, undertaken by a person intent on revealing new facts, theories, or principles, or determining the current state of knowledge of the subject" (Reitz, 2014). There are several different types of research designs. Which design or combination of designs a researcher chooses depends on the data they need to gather to answer the research question(s). Other factors that impact a researcher's design choice are time allotted to conduct the study, budget constraints, access to data, and which analytics will be used. Below are research designs compiled by Connaway and Powell (2010) in Basic Research Methods of Librarians:

• Survey Research - data collection from voluntary participants “assess the relative incidence, distribution, and interrelations of naturally occurring variables.”

• Experimental Research - “researcher manipulates at least one independent variable, controls other relevant variables, and observes the effect on one or more dependent variables.”

• Historical Research - systematic study of primary resources to understand the past events or to test previous hypotheses.

• Operations Research - “application of scientific method to management operations in an effort to aid managerial decision making.”

• Modeling - “an abstraction, a mental framework for analysis of a system.”

• Systems Analysis - studies the “total system and how the various components of the system interact.”

• Case Study - examines “a specific field or qualitative research method and thus is an investigation ‘of phenomena as they occur without any significant interventions of the investigators.’”

• Delphi Study - “a procedure using sequential questionnaires by which the opinions of experts can be brought to bear on issues that are essentially non-factual.”

• Content Analysis - “an analysis of the manifest and latent content of a body of communicated material (as a book or film) through a classification, tabulation, and probable effect.”

• Bibliometrics - “the application of mathematics and statistical methods to books and other media of communication.”

• Task-Based Research - “focuses on the scrutiny of specific tasks”

• Comparative Librarianship - “provides the framework for conducting an appropriate comparative analysis.”

• Technology-Based Research Methods - mixed-method study that evaluates the effectiveness of technology to do specific tasks or evaluates the research done using technology.

Evaluation and Synthetization

Researchers need to be able to evaluate and synthesize the literature produced by other researchers on the same topic of study. There are multiple reasons why this task is significant. First, it is important to know what research has already been done so as to avoid duplication. The point of research is to discover new findings or build upon the existing studies. The researcher’s study is stronger for investigating and providing a review of previous research because it shows that there is a precedent for the study. Whether the researcher aims to build upon said research or disprove its findings does not matter. What does matter is proving why their study is necessary. What is the point of conducting their study? Secondly, researchers need to know what methods previous researchers used to conduct their studies and their results. This can have an impact on what methodology a researcher uses and what research questions they ask in their own study. Third, researchers need to be able to identify any areas of controversy and gaps in the literature that need to be filled. Lastly, the researcher is now more knowledgeable about the topic by seeing connections between studies and can conceptualize a framework for their own research.

Evidence

Conclusion

In my undergraduate program, I majored in history - specifically Asian and Middle Eastern history. I needed to write several research papers that employed historical research design. I have worked with primary and secondary resources, conducted literature reviews, and endeavored to find answers to research questions for these papers. I believe that this experience will assist me when I am helping others conduct research. In addition, it will be beneficial if I need to conduct any original research in my profession.

References

Connaway, L. S. & Powell, R. R (2010). Basic Research Methods of Librarians (5th ed.). Libraries Unlimited.

Reitz, J. M. (2014). Online dictionary for Library and Information Science. Retrieved April 17, 2021, from https://products.abc-clio.com/ODLIS/odlis_i.aspx

Reitz, J. M. (2014). Online dictionary for Library and Information Science. Retrieved April 17, 2021, from https://products.abc-clio.com/ODLIS/odlis_r.aspx