MLIS 7700 Research Methods
Course Syllabus
Valdosta
State University
Instructor: Wallace
C. Koehler, PhD
Email:wkoehler@valdosta.edu
Voice:229
245-3732
Fax:229
259-5055
Address:MLIS
Program, Odum Library
Valdosta
State University
1500
N. Patterson St.
Valdosta,
GA 31698
This course is a Web based course.
I
have scheduled one weekend laboratory session in Macon -- July 12 and 13.
This laboratory will be used to cover (1) SPSS and related matters, (2)
statistics in general, and (3) anything else you might wish to cover.
The course consists of sixteen
modules, each addressing aspects of research methods for the library and
information science disciplines.
We will use WebCT to facilitate
course discussions and other course related communications. Please post
ALL discussion in WebCT.
Office Hours
Because this is a Web-based course, I will post no
formal office hours. I can be reached by phone during normal business hours,
by e-mail 24-7, and appointments
can be made as needed.
Course
Calendar
Specific assignments and readings are provided on
the
course
calendar page.
Purpose
MLIS7700
introduces library school students to social science research methods.
Student will be exposed to the various approaches to social science research
qualitative the case study and quantitative approaches. Students will
perform small-scale research projects. They will also develop skills in
the research uses of libraries and the needs of patrons they may serve
in the future.
Course
Objectives
I
have several objectives I wish to achieve with this course. These are:
To
quiet the fears and anxieties many students have with quantitative and
qualitative research methodologies. If we achieve nothing more than a comfort
level with the use and interpretation of research methods, we will have
reached a level of success.
Most
students in schools of library and information sciences will not pursue
research careers where these methodologies will be used as tools of the
trade. It is, however, almost certain that working librarians and other
information professionals will need to prepare periodic reports. And even
more of you will read and interpret the work of others. In order to interpret
the work of others, it is necessary that you have the skills to evaluate
their research methodologies. Good results derived from bad research are
garbage. This is the more abstract and generalized form of GIGO.
A
few of you will become researchers. There are many career opportunities
ranging from information brokerage through academic research and teaching
where research skills are required.
Finally,
different kinds of research problems are "solved" using different qualitative
and quantitative approaches. We will address these different strategies
and learn to select the "best" research design to meet our particular needs.
Be Warned: I am very picky about this. Given very friendly computer software,
there is NO excuse (where once ease of calculation was used) for sloppy
statistical choices. I can only accept two excuses for less than full rigor
in methodological choices: time constraints and limited financial resources.
Computer Equipment
Needs
In
order to successfully complete this class, students should have access
at minimum to a 486 PC or equivalent, 56K Internet connection, an email
client, a Word compatible word processor, an Excel compatible spreadsheet,
Adobe Acrobat Reader (free from Adobe), and RealPlayer (free from Real).
There are two hardware needs:speakers and a CD.
You will need to have access
to a computer loaded with SPSS. There are several choices open to you.
You may buy SPSS or you may use SPSS products at a University System of
Georgia school near you.
Text
Books
Earl Babbie, The Practice
of Social Research, 10ed.
Thomas Mann, The Oxford Guide
to Library Research
This Mann text is an excellent discussion
of the hows and whys of library research, use of facilities, and so forth.
To be read early. I suggest you keep it and reread it from time to time.
Required Reading:
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Thomas Kuhn, The Structure
of Scientific Revolutions (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1962
or subsequent editions)
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C.P. Snow, Two Cultures
and the Scientific Revolution, 1959
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Martha Williams, "The State
of Databases Today" see most recent edition of Gale Directory of Databases
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T. Matthew Ciolek, The six
quests for the electronic grail: Current approaches to information quality
in WWW resources. Revue Informatique et Statistique dans les Sciences
Humaines (1-4), 45-71, 1996. Also on line: http://www.ciolek.com/PAPERS/six-quests1996.html
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D. Shaw, "The Human-Computer
Interface for Information Retrieval," Annual Review of Information Science
and Technology, 26, 1991.
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American National Standards
Institute, American National Standard for the Preparation of Scientific
Papers for Written or Oral Presentation, ANSI Z39.16-1979
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Assignments are indicated in the
course calendar
Graded
Course Requirements
Discussion
10% of Final Grade
Research
Exercises
Research Exercises 1, 2, and 4 are not to exceed
five pages each. For exercise 2, tabular appendices, if used, are not included
in the page count. Each of the three statistical exercises assigned under
research exercise 3 is not to exceed two (2) pages, including tables.Assignments
are defined further here.
(1)
Case
Study. --25% Final
Grade
(2)
Bibliometric
Exercise. -- 20% Final
Grade
(4)
Critical
Thinking -- 10% Final Grade
Practical
Exercises Several practical exercises in the use of SPSS and in research
observation are planned toward the end of the semester. These are not graded,
EXCEPT that a good faith effort and participation is required. Work sheets,
printouts, and other working papers are to be turned in. Failure to participate
will cost two (2) percentage points from the final grade average each.
Literature Review
20 %
Final Grade
In addition to two required
texts, I have asked you to read eight additional works. I require you to
follow ANSI standard Z39.16-1979 in preparation of papers for this course.
Keeping that requirement in mind, prepare reviews of the literature of
the seven other works listed. Each review should not exceed five page pages
and can be significantly shorter than that. Reviews of articles
should be shorter still. For models of good reviews, take a look at various
professional journals.
Research Speak
For
a little research humor click
here. There is more truth to this than you know.
Grades
Individual
assignment weights are provided above. Final grades will be assigned as
follows:
A
91-100
B
81-90
C
71-80
D
60-70
F
0-69
University Policy
Please become aware of and
be guided by these VSU policies.
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