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ILS 680: Evaluation and Research
(Fall 2008)
Tuesday, September 2 - Friday, December 5
Research is increasingly becoming an expected job skill for all information professionals, whether you are an information science specialist, an instructional technology specialist, or a library science specialist.
The purpose of this course is to give you 1) basic research skills so that you can conduct competent research and 2) an opportunity to make a contribution to the field based on the knowledge you have gained in your master's program. [For an example of a project from one of my earlier Evaluation and Research classes, see the published version of Lisa Hack and Sue Smey's work: Hack, S., & Smey, S. (1997). A survey of Internet use by teachers in three urban Connecticut schools. School Library Media Quarterly, 25 (3), 151-155. Abstract: "Discusses the results of a survey which revealed that the Internet can be an effective tool for the teaching process, when its use is integrated in the school curriculum. Increase in the use of the Internet; Lack of hardware, software and phone lines for the smooth accessibility of the Internet; Analysis of the survey's results; Reference information provided."
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For those of you who have not yet warmed to the term "Statistics", let me assure you that statistics (at least basic statistics such as we will cover) is not difficult, can actually be fun, and will include a step-by-step recipe for you to follow.
You will be learning by doing (plan and conduct research) as well as by studying (text, journal articles, and lecture notes). There will be times when the learning-by-doing will be ahead of the learning-by-studying. I will fill in these gaps on an as-needed basis.
For those times when frustration should take over, stop and ask yourself these questions: What exactly am I feeling right now? Why am I feeling this way? What do I need to appease this feeling? Once you get to the third answer, devise an action plan and carry it out.
I hope you enjoy this course. It is not an easy one. It requires you to read extensively in the literature and to synthesis what you have read, translate it for the non-researcher, and apply it to problems in your profession. It requires problem-solving and, at times a bit of imagination. You will need to manage your time and resources closely. And you will need to plan on spending hours revising and revising again draft after draft until your final paper emerges, to use the metaphor, like a butterfly from its cocoon.
I have tried to do two major things in the course: 1) to introduce you to empirical research, and 2) to make this a capstone experience in your graduate work in the MLS and IT programs, an experience that may result in publication and an experience that may add to your attractability as a prospective employee.
Happy researching!
Lets get started.
On this class site, every effort has been made to acknowledge the work of others. Any omission is unintentional. If anyone finds an oversight, please contact me at brownm6@southernct.edu immediately so that any error can be corrected.
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