L. Research
L. understand the nature of research, research methods and research findings; retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scholarly and professional literature for informed decision-making by specific client groups;
Introduction
The purpose of research is to understand current problems and to seek ways to solve them (Haycock and Sheldon, 2008). The process of research also may uncover and illuminate ideas that are unknown or unclear. Understanding the purpose of research, its methods, and the evaluation of the literature is vital to the library and information professional.
I understand this competency to mean that I comprehend the research process. I understand that I should know how to find research and evaluate those findings in order to “achieve effective results and produce the best possible research paper or project” (Presnell, 2007, p. 86). Problems in library and information science can be solved when one understands the key points of this competency. Another key part of this competency is to understand that a part of the research in this field includes human beings. Therefore, it is important that I know how the review boards work in conducting research with human subjects.
I define this competency to mean that not only do I know the nature of research but I also know the different types of research such as action or evaluation research; the approaches to use such as quantitative or qualitative; and the different methods of gathering data such as surveys, histories, or case studies (Haycock and Sheldon, 2008, p.169-172). I also define this competency to mean that I can not only evaluate research findings for their merits but I can also create my own ideas and hypotheses.
It important for a person that is learning library and information sciences to understand how and why research is conducted. This understanding is important because it encourages new ideas within the profession and it also improves the profession as a whole (Haycock and Sheldon, 2008). For example, if a public library conducts a survey to find out which programs are being utilized the most, once the data has returned it can change its programing to better fit the needs of the community. As mentioned earlier, because this field includes humans, it is important for the information professional to be educated in conducting research involving humans. The knowledge and understanding of correct interview and survey questions is extremely important.
It is important to me to have the ability and knowledge to conduct research and to evaluate sources and studies. The data that is gleaned from reading, writing, and conducting research will not only improve my knowledge and understanding of a topic but it will also improve the organization for which I work. Without comprehension of the fundamentals of research, I may never have the opportunity to improve community programs or create new digital archives. Research is the foundation for putting ideas into action.
Conducting and evaluating research and research sources has been part of my education since I started my undergraduate career. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in history and anthropology required that I write many research papers. Throughout my undergraduate career, I gained knowledge and understanding of good and bad sources of information. I also learned how to interpret previous findings and apply them towards my own theories. This continued in my career at SJSU. Many of my classes contained research components. From LIBR 200 where I wrote a paper on controversial archives to LIBR 285 where I learned how to write a research proposal for library and information sciences, I investigated a variety of research topics. Each paper and source helped me to evaluate and synthesize ideas towards studies in library and information sciences.
The following pieces of evidence are from two sources, LIBR 284, Photographic Preservation and LIBR 285, Research Methods.
Evidence
The first piece of evidence for this competency is a paper I wrote for LIBR 284, Photographic Preservation. For this paper I was required to pick a topic in photographic preservation. I chose to write my paper on vinegar syndrome in cellulose acetate photograph negatives. I chose this topic because I was about to begin a project at my work involving negatives with vinegar syndrome.. I did not know much about this issue and so this paper was the perfect opportunity for me to gain more knowledge and understanding of this topic. I learned about the causes of vinegar syndrome, the ways to prevent the spread of it, and finally, the ways to prevent it all together. Once I completed the paper, I was able to apply my knowledge to the project. This knowledge of the research studies for vinegar syndrome allowed me to make wise choices in caring for the photographs. The negatives are now in a safer environment and I have hopefully contained the vinegar syndrome for a period of time. Due to the choices that I made, the head of the department recently thanked me for working on this project because it now smells much nicer in the photographs collection.
The second piece of evidence for this competency is a group project for LIBR 285, Research Methods for which I contributed to. For this project, our group was required to create with 15 or more different survey questions that reflected the subject we were given. Our subject for this assignment was “library programing for a public library”. Each group member proposed at least three questions and then together we edited and added questions in order to finalize the document. Understanding and having the knowledge of creating do survey questions is important for an information professional because “survey research methods continue to be among the most frequently used methods in LIS research” (Haycock and Sheldon, 2008, p. 171).
The third piece of evidence for this competency is the research proposal I wrote for LIBR 285, Research Methods. For this paper I was required to write a 12 page research proposal. This proposal included an introduction which stated the topic and plan of the research, a literature review, and a discussion of methodology, among other things. I built the ideas for this proposal on a paper I conducted previously written for LIBR 220 on the musical Rent. In addition to the research that I did for that paper, my proposal was to specifically look at the impact of the show on the world outside of the theatre community. My proposal included a literature review, where I looked at several major books and/or chapters that had been written about the show. These reviews were important to show that there were both positive and negative reactions by researchers to the show. I also included the next step in research, which was data collection. For this proposal I conducted a series of written interviews with women, ages 23 to 28. I chose this age range because these women would have been teenagers when Rent opened on Broadway. Due to the fact that my proposal was not an actual study, analyzing the data and conducting future data gathering sessions was not planned, although that would have been the next logical step.
This research proposal is important for my proof of competency because it shows that I understand the steps necessary in writing a proposal. From gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing literature to data collection, this proposal shows that I have taken the necessary steps to understand and perform those duties.
The fourth and final piece of evidence that I am providing for this competency is a screen capture of my completion of IRB certification for LIBR 285, Research Methods. I was required to read the materials provided by the website and then take the quiz at the end of each section. Each quiz had to be passed with an 80% or better in order to move on to the next section. Having completed this IRB certification is important for understanding research in the LIS field because I now know how and where data from human subjects can be used. This certification allows me to do research with data gathering which will be useful in my future career.
Conclusion
The evidence provided here proves that I am competent in understanding the nature of research, research methods and research findings. It also proves that I can retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scholarly and professional literature for informed decision-making by specific client groups. Armed with this knowledge I am better prepared to do research to improve the field of Library and Information Sciences as well as any future employment that I may have.
Reference
Haycock, K. and B. Sheldon. (2008). The portable MLIS: insights from the experts. Westport: Libraries Unlimited.
Presnell, J. L. (2007). The information-literate historian: A guide to research for history students. New York: Oxford University Press.
Introduction
The purpose of research is to understand current problems and to seek ways to solve them (Haycock and Sheldon, 2008). The process of research also may uncover and illuminate ideas that are unknown or unclear. Understanding the purpose of research, its methods, and the evaluation of the literature is vital to the library and information professional.
I understand this competency to mean that I comprehend the research process. I understand that I should know how to find research and evaluate those findings in order to “achieve effective results and produce the best possible research paper or project” (Presnell, 2007, p. 86). Problems in library and information science can be solved when one understands the key points of this competency. Another key part of this competency is to understand that a part of the research in this field includes human beings. Therefore, it is important that I know how the review boards work in conducting research with human subjects.
I define this competency to mean that not only do I know the nature of research but I also know the different types of research such as action or evaluation research; the approaches to use such as quantitative or qualitative; and the different methods of gathering data such as surveys, histories, or case studies (Haycock and Sheldon, 2008, p.169-172). I also define this competency to mean that I can not only evaluate research findings for their merits but I can also create my own ideas and hypotheses.
It important for a person that is learning library and information sciences to understand how and why research is conducted. This understanding is important because it encourages new ideas within the profession and it also improves the profession as a whole (Haycock and Sheldon, 2008). For example, if a public library conducts a survey to find out which programs are being utilized the most, once the data has returned it can change its programing to better fit the needs of the community. As mentioned earlier, because this field includes humans, it is important for the information professional to be educated in conducting research involving humans. The knowledge and understanding of correct interview and survey questions is extremely important.
It is important to me to have the ability and knowledge to conduct research and to evaluate sources and studies. The data that is gleaned from reading, writing, and conducting research will not only improve my knowledge and understanding of a topic but it will also improve the organization for which I work. Without comprehension of the fundamentals of research, I may never have the opportunity to improve community programs or create new digital archives. Research is the foundation for putting ideas into action.
Conducting and evaluating research and research sources has been part of my education since I started my undergraduate career. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in history and anthropology required that I write many research papers. Throughout my undergraduate career, I gained knowledge and understanding of good and bad sources of information. I also learned how to interpret previous findings and apply them towards my own theories. This continued in my career at SJSU. Many of my classes contained research components. From LIBR 200 where I wrote a paper on controversial archives to LIBR 285 where I learned how to write a research proposal for library and information sciences, I investigated a variety of research topics. Each paper and source helped me to evaluate and synthesize ideas towards studies in library and information sciences.
The following pieces of evidence are from two sources, LIBR 284, Photographic Preservation and LIBR 285, Research Methods.
Evidence
The first piece of evidence for this competency is a paper I wrote for LIBR 284, Photographic Preservation. For this paper I was required to pick a topic in photographic preservation. I chose to write my paper on vinegar syndrome in cellulose acetate photograph negatives. I chose this topic because I was about to begin a project at my work involving negatives with vinegar syndrome.. I did not know much about this issue and so this paper was the perfect opportunity for me to gain more knowledge and understanding of this topic. I learned about the causes of vinegar syndrome, the ways to prevent the spread of it, and finally, the ways to prevent it all together. Once I completed the paper, I was able to apply my knowledge to the project. This knowledge of the research studies for vinegar syndrome allowed me to make wise choices in caring for the photographs. The negatives are now in a safer environment and I have hopefully contained the vinegar syndrome for a period of time. Due to the choices that I made, the head of the department recently thanked me for working on this project because it now smells much nicer in the photographs collection.
The second piece of evidence for this competency is a group project for LIBR 285, Research Methods for which I contributed to. For this project, our group was required to create with 15 or more different survey questions that reflected the subject we were given. Our subject for this assignment was “library programing for a public library”. Each group member proposed at least three questions and then together we edited and added questions in order to finalize the document. Understanding and having the knowledge of creating do survey questions is important for an information professional because “survey research methods continue to be among the most frequently used methods in LIS research” (Haycock and Sheldon, 2008, p. 171).
The third piece of evidence for this competency is the research proposal I wrote for LIBR 285, Research Methods. For this paper I was required to write a 12 page research proposal. This proposal included an introduction which stated the topic and plan of the research, a literature review, and a discussion of methodology, among other things. I built the ideas for this proposal on a paper I conducted previously written for LIBR 220 on the musical Rent. In addition to the research that I did for that paper, my proposal was to specifically look at the impact of the show on the world outside of the theatre community. My proposal included a literature review, where I looked at several major books and/or chapters that had been written about the show. These reviews were important to show that there were both positive and negative reactions by researchers to the show. I also included the next step in research, which was data collection. For this proposal I conducted a series of written interviews with women, ages 23 to 28. I chose this age range because these women would have been teenagers when Rent opened on Broadway. Due to the fact that my proposal was not an actual study, analyzing the data and conducting future data gathering sessions was not planned, although that would have been the next logical step.
This research proposal is important for my proof of competency because it shows that I understand the steps necessary in writing a proposal. From gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing literature to data collection, this proposal shows that I have taken the necessary steps to understand and perform those duties.
The fourth and final piece of evidence that I am providing for this competency is a screen capture of my completion of IRB certification for LIBR 285, Research Methods. I was required to read the materials provided by the website and then take the quiz at the end of each section. Each quiz had to be passed with an 80% or better in order to move on to the next section. Having completed this IRB certification is important for understanding research in the LIS field because I now know how and where data from human subjects can be used. This certification allows me to do research with data gathering which will be useful in my future career.
Conclusion
The evidence provided here proves that I am competent in understanding the nature of research, research methods and research findings. It also proves that I can retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scholarly and professional literature for informed decision-making by specific client groups. Armed with this knowledge I am better prepared to do research to improve the field of Library and Information Sciences as well as any future employment that I may have.
Reference
Haycock, K. and B. Sheldon. (2008). The portable MLIS: insights from the experts. Westport: Libraries Unlimited.
Presnell, J. L. (2007). The information-literate historian: A guide to research for history students. New York: Oxford University Press.
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