This process is as foundational as the thesis itself, as it provides the researcher an entry into the conversation already being had surrounding the topic, allowing them to advance the dialogue with their findings in other sections of the research process. One such process that we have yet to mention here is the literature review process, wherein the researcher critically assesses and synthesizes research findings from other studies. With this competency, then, I am being asked to display my understanding and technical prowess with the predominant research methods and processes of our profession. The position of a public librarian is beneficial to the performing of this research in that the librarian has access to a sizable and diverse array of patrons who want to make themselves useful to the community-at-large. Using qualitative methods, the public librarian can gain understanding of user preferences, feelings toward the library service levels, ID practices that are working and those that aren’t by comparison, and explore the history of the library and where it may be headed. Collection interaction, circulation numbers, and demographics are other useful points of data mined from quantitative research. Even in public libraries, librarians use quantitative methods to understand users’ patterns of attendance and develop programming and service changes accordingly. When compared to quantitative research methods, the qualitative approach allows for more variation and less rigidity in the research, aiming to be more descriptive with the data.Īn information professional that is competent in these research methods will be able to apply them extensively in their field. Focus groups, field studies, surveys, and historical analysis are prime examples of this method of research. By using qualitative methods, researchers can understand the behavior of people, groups and places. Qualitative research methods are more broad than quantitative and focus on interpretation of actions, perceptions, and positions of a population rather than sheer numbers, statistics or percentages. While not all LIS areas of research require the proverbial numbers to back up the researchers’ findings, they help when exploring the behavior of users and circulation data in a broad or focused location. The quantitative approach provides specificity of conclusion by design, which is useful if the researcher’s main goal is confirmation of a distinct thesis or hypothesis. Quantitative research methods emphasize the use of objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys or by manipulating already existing statistical data using computational techniques. There are two dominant methods of research used by LIS professionals today: quantitative and qualitative. To perform their research, librarians and information professionals use several research methodologies that are common across many fields to collect data about library users, their needs, new technologies, library programming, and evaluate it with the end goal in mind of arriving at some viable conclusion to present their findings. They analyze data like circulation statistics and demographics, they devise plans to bring their libraries, their communities, and themselves into the future, and provide thorough research evidence when it comes time to ask for more funding through proposals and grant writing. Information professionals perform research to study and evaluate facets of the information profession they wish to improve upon and understand more thoroughly. By clicking on the header of all web pages you will be routed back to this Welcome Home Page.Demonstrate understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, the ability to design a research project, and the ability to evaluate and synthesize research literature. You can use the links above to navigate the site as well as use the sliding menu on the top right hand corner to navigate the site. I invite you to browse and comment on the content of this website. This website was developed to showcase mastery of the various competencies through my MLIS education at SJSU enrolled as a student in the School of Information. Hello and welcome to my MLIS e-Portfolio Culminating Experience, my name is Santiago Avila and I am a current graduate student at San Jose State University (SJSU) in California. Introduction – Philosophy – Competency A: Ethics & Values – Competency B: Settings – Competency C: Diversity – Competency D: Management – Competency E: Information Retrieval – Competency F: Collections – Competency G: Cataloging & Classification – Competency H: Technology – Competency I: Reference – Competency J: Information Seeking – Competency K: Instruction – Competency L: Research – Competency M: Communication – Competency N: Evaluation – Conclusion – Affirmation
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