Research Methods in Information

The long-awaited 2nd edition of this best-selling research methods handbook is fully updated and includes brand new coverage of online research methods and techniques, mixed methodology and qualitative analysis. This edition includes two new contributed chapters: Professor Julie McLeod, Sue Childs and Elizabeth Lomas focus on research data management, applying evidence from the recent JISC funded ‘DATUM’ project; Dr Andrew Shenton examines strategies for analysing existing documents. The first to focus entirely on the needs of the information and communications community, this handbook guides the would-be researcher through the variety of possibilities open to them under the heading ‘research’ and provides students with the confidence to embark on their dissertations. The focus here is on the ‘doing’ and although the philosophy and theory of research is explored to provide context, this is essentially a practical exploration of the whole research process with each chapter fully supported by examples and exercises tried and tested over a whole teaching career. Readership: Students of information and communications studies and archives and records management, and practitioners beginning a piece of research.

Table of Contents:
PART 1: STARTING THE RESEARCH PROCESS1. Major research paradigms Introduction Positivist research Postpositivism and mixed methods research (MMR) Interpretivist research Qualitative or quantitative methodology? Qualitative research design Quantitative research design Mixed methods research Criteria for judging research Establishing trustworthiness in qualitative research Establishing rigour in quantitative research Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 2. Reviewing literature Introduction Information searching and retrieval Evaluation Critical analysis Synthesizing the research: developing a theoretical framework Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 3. Defining the research Introduction Designing a conceptual framework The research hypothesis Research aims and objectives Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 4. The research proposal Why write a proposal? Structure of a research proposal The proposal as a research framework Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 5. Sampling Why sample? Population and sample Probability sampling Purposive sampling Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 6. Research Data Management - Julie McLeod, Sue Childs and Elizabeth Lomas Introduction – research data and its management challenges Why is research data management important? The research process, data lifecycles and research data management How do I manage my research data? Summary Practical exercise Websites referred to in this chapter Suggested further reading 7. Ethics in research Introduction Gaining access to the field Informed consent Anonymity or confidentiality? Protecting participants Ethics online Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 8. Case studies Introduction Phases in case study research Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 9. Surveys Introduction Descriptive surveys Explanatory surveys The survey process Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 10. Experimental research Introduction The nature of causality The true experiment Quasi-experimental design: the ‘effects study’ Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 11. Usability testing Introduction Quasi-experimental usability studies Cognitive walkthroughs Heuristic evaluation Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 12. Ethnography Introduction Components of ethnographic study Virtual ethnography – ‘netnography’ Ethics in ethnography Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 13. Delphi study Introduction The Delphi process Rules of a Delphi study Modifying a Delphi study Delphi studies and new technologies Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 14. Action research Introduction The action research cycle Trustworthiness in action research Action research as reflective practice Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 15. Historical research Introduction The research process Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 16. Grounded theory: method or analysis? Introduction Defining grounded theory Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading PART 3: DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES 17. Interviews Introduction What is the purpose of an interview? The seven stages of the interview process Online interviewing Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 18. Questionnaires Introduction Designing questionnaires Developing questions Scale items Forms of questionnaire Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 19. Observation Introduction The role of the observer Recording what you see; going in with signposts Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 20. Diaries Introduction The purpose of diaries in research Participant diaries The researcher’s log Structure and recording Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 21. Focus groups Introduction Purpose of a focus group Organizing a focus group Online focus groups Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 22. Analysis of existing, externally created material - Andrew K. Shenton Introduction The different supporting roles of documents LIS research principally based on documents Citation analysis Logs associated with computer software and the use of ICT Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading PART 4: DATA ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH PRESENTATION23. Qualitative analysis Introduction Phenomenological strategies Ethnographic methods Narrative and discourse analysis Constant comparative analysis Memo writing Presenting qualitative findings Software for qualitative analysis Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 24. Quantitative analysis Introduction Levels of measurement Frequency distribution Cross-tabulation Measures of central tendency Measures of dispersion Correlation Displaying data Testing for statistical significance Software for quantitative analysis Summary Practical exercise Suggested further reading 25. Presenting the research Introduction Planning the final report Form and structure Summary Suggested further reading PART 5: GLOSSARY AND REFERENCES Glossary of research terms References

About the Author :
Dr Alison Jane Pickard is Head of Information and Communication Management and Director of Quality and Student Experience in the School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences at the University of Northumbria, where she is also Programme Leader for the new Professional Doctorate in Information Sciences. She teaches Research Methods in Information and Communication Management, Information Sciences, as well as other subject areas, and has project managed a number of JISC and AHRB research projects.

Review :
About the last edition: 'Finally, I have found what I was looking for, since I started working with research students! A book that makes it clear - I find her answers professional, knowledgeable, and useful for doing actual research - this book should be read by all doctoral students in LIS who have embarked on their first big research project. I would also propose it as a textbook for research methods courses at Master's level.' INFORMATION RESEARCH 'sensibly and logically written and - highly useful for both potential and practising researchers - both students and professionals. This book will be of practical value to LIS students and to those studying archives and records management as well as to beginning research in practice. One of Pickard's aims in writing the book was to share the joy of research - she conveys these aspects extremely well and I finished this book excitedly anticipating my next research adventure.' JOUNAL OF LIBRARIANSHIP AND INFORMATION SCIENCE