Research plays a vital role in more deeply understanding library science. Thoughtful consideration of how evidence-based research is conducted is essential to its effective use. Research helps professionals identify and explore areas of concern or interest in addition to providing possible solutions for known problems. The Delphi and quasi-experimental studies provide examples of research performed in library science.
The Delphi Study
The Delphi study was developed by The RAND Corporation in the 1950s for the Air Force and was primarily used to forecast future events based on expert opinions (Wildemuth, 2009). Delphi studies provide an alternative to the traditional round-table type discussion (Cypher & Gant, 1971). The Delphi design depends on three components: anonymity, controlled feedback and statistical analysis of ranked items (Fischer, 1978). Each study uses a group of experts that can remain anonymous as their work is done through a series of questionnaires. The absence of meetings gives participants the freedom to respond without pressure from other members. Conformity based on majority opinion is also avoided (Fischer, 1978). Each study consists of several rounds of questionnaires in which items of interest are ranked numerically on a scale. As the rounds progress, feedback is controlled as each set of responses is organized and summarized in a subsequent questionnaire. The goal is to eliminate alternate solutions by aiming at consensus (Kochtanek & Hein, 1999). Statistical analysis of the items is performed at each round.
While the original intent of a Delphi study was to predict future events, the study is now also used for alternative purposes like gathering information. The design of the questionnaire attem...
... middle of paper ...
...riticism. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 4 (2), 64-70.
Haas, D. F. & Kraft, D. H. (1984). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for research in information science. Information Processing & Management, 20 (1-2), 229-237.
Kochtanek, T. R. & Hein, K. K. (1999). Delphi study of digital libraries. Information Processing and Management, 35, 245-254.
Olson, C. A., Tooman, T. R. & Leist, J. C. (2005). Contents of a core library in continuing medical education: A delphi study. The Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 25, 278-288.
Petersohn, B. (2008). Classroom performance systems, library instruction, and instructional design: A pilot study. Libraries and the Academy, 8 (3), 313-324.
Wildemuth, B. M. (2009). Applications of social research methods to questions in information and library science. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
...sis, which could make all results invalid. With any research projects, limitations will be present. It is important to attempt to eliminate some of these causes in order to complete a thorough, accurate study. In future projects, this study could go about researching the issue in different ways. Perhaps using a larger sample size would be conducive for accurate results. A larger sample size helps reduce and even out any possible errors caused by those who do not answer truthfully. Also, keeping the surveys mainly anonymous would help to receive more truthful and accurate responses from participants. Participants may be fearful of judgments on open interviews or phone interviews, which could affect responses. In order to obtain as accurate results as possible, a future study would need to find ways to survey participants in a confidential way that feels comfortable.
Rainer, K., & Cegielski, C. (2011). Introduction to Information Systems. (4th ed.). Danvers, MA: John Wiley & Sons.
Nicholas, D., Huntington, P., Jamali, H. R. & Tenopir, C. (2006). Finding information in (very large) digital libraries: A deep log approach to determining differences in use according to method of access. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 32 (2), 119-126.
...6. Fisher Center for Information Technology & Management, University of California in Berkeley. June 1995
Different styles of research are employed in research to safeguard that the facts are acquired to permit examiners to find resolution to the principal queries for the study correctly, therefore, evading uncertainty ( ). Acquiring relevant proof encompasses stipulating the type of proof mandatory in answering the query. Methodological designs encompass logical complications; therefore, matters of sampling, information gathering methods, and queries are secondary to the type of method used in research. Strategies are often compared with quantitative and qualitative research methods. Research and collective studies are often observed as principal specimens of quantitative research and are evaluated compared to the flaws and strong point of numerical, examination, and quantitative research methods ( ).
Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2007). Trends and issues in instructional design. (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Smith, J.D. (2012). Single-case experimental designs: A systematic review of published research and current standards. Psychological Methods, 17(4), 510-550. Doi:10. 1037la0029312
The articles, published after 1996, contain varied methods of research attainment, but share similarities such as being a self-survey, having a small sample size, and being
Experimental designs are viewed as the most accurate, and most demanding of research designs, requiring strict attention to rules and procedures. Researchers use these research designs to manipulate and control testing procedures as a way to understand a cause and effect relationship. Commonly, independent variables are manipulated to judge or decide their effect on a dependent variable (Trochim & Donnelly, 2008).
“[A] research method or research methods are needed to collect data” (Bryman, 2012, p. 46). Examples for research methods are content analysis, focus groups, structured interviews, self-completion
Katsirikou,A. and Skiadas,H,C. (ed)(2009) Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries: Theory and Applications. London: World scientific publishing.
As a health care provider, I should invest in educational opportunities that give me up to date knowledge and skills, in order to provide the best patient care. Currently, there are various educational resources including, self-training modules, information about advanced degree courses, research and fellowship opportunities, and links to various conferences and meetings. Each of these tools for continuing education has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example while online tools provide the benefits of a self-paced environment for learning, conferences allow discussion and generation of new
The Delphi technique is a tool that is used in many areas of study. According to (Nworie, 2011) the Delphi Technique is a research methodology which is used to extract, collect, and determine the opinions of a panel of experts from a given field. This tool is used to seek consensus from the experts and then be able to make predictions or decisions based on the experts’ opinions of the panelists involved in the study. This research methodology is considered to be of importance as it is based on the premise that the collective opinions of efforts panelists are of richer quality than the limited view of an individual. The Delphi Technique was developed by Helmer and Dalkey at Rand Corporation during the early 1950s so as to be able to explore the trends in technology and science.
Despite the origins of metadata it has become common in the majority of academic libraries to apply metadata practices while cataloging electronic and digital resources. A study conducted by Laurie Lopatin on the metadata behaviors of academic and non-academic libraries showed that a 38% majority of academic libraries have been using metadata as part of their daily workflow for five to eight years while some academic libraries have been participating in metadata practices for as long as seventeen to twenty years.
...tions are made in the light of the findings from the study survey outlined in these articles.