Mary E. Brown, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chairperson
Information Science
Brown@SouthernCT.edu
Resources for Students:
(self-study module)
(self-study module)
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ILS 680 Syllabus
Spring 2003
NOTE: Please print a copy of this page and keep it nearby for ready reference.
REQUIRED TEXT
Required:
Powell, R. R. (1999). Basic research methods for librarians (3rd ed.) Greenwich, CT: Ablex. ISBN: 1-56750-338-1. Recommended:
Hernon, P. (1994). Statistics: A component of the research process (rev. ed.). Norwood, NJ: Ablex. ISBN: 1-56750-093-5
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Principles and methods of evaluation and research are systematically reviewed. Major research undertakings are considered, as well as landmark studies. This is a capstone course. [Formerly LSC 580] This course fulfills one of the requirements for the Master of Library Science degree at SCSU. Enrollment in this course is limited to 20 students.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able: - Understand the importance of research in the creation of new knowledge.
- Understand the components of the research cycle.
- Analyze and critically evaluate existing research.
- Identify an area of study, conduct exploratory research and analyze data.
- Prepare a research proposal.
PRE-REQUISITES & REQUIREMENTS
24 credits in library science or instructional technology or permission from the instructor.
COURSE CALENDAR
- Unit I [1/21-1/27]
- Topic: Nature of research;
Role of research in library and information science
- Read: Powell, pp. xi-xii, 1-55
[Optional: Hernon, pp. xiii-45]
- Due: Formulate initial research question(s)
- Unit II [1/28-2/3]
- Topic: Survey Research
- Read Powell, pp. 57-87
[Optional: Hernon, pp. 47-70]
- Due: Conduct initial review(s) of the literature
- Unit III [2/4-2/10]
- Topic: Data Collection
- Read Powell, pp. 89-122
[Optional: Hernon, pp. 71-126; 225-227]
- Due: Finalize research question
Extend review of the literature to cognate area(s)
- Unit IV [2/11-2/24]
- Topic: Types of Research
- Read Powell pp. 123-178
[Optional: Hernon, pp. 127-213 (skim); 215-224]
- Due: Complete plans for pilot
- Unit V [2/25-3/10]
- Topic: Data Analysis
- Read Powell pp. 179-202
[Optional: Hernon, pp. 127-213 (skim)]
- Due: Conduct initial and pilot studies
- Unit VI [3/11-3/17]
- Topic: The Research Proposal
- Read Powell, pp. 203-221
[Optional: Hernon, pp. 127-213 (skim)]
- Due: Complete initial analysis of data
- Unit VII [3/18-4/7]
- Topic: The Research Report
- Read: Powell, pp. 223-233
[Optional: Hernon, review as needed.]
- Due: Complete draft of work
- Unit VIII [4/8-4/14]
- Topic: Research and Philosophy
- Read: Powell, pp. 235-253
- Due: Finalize and post research paper (and informative abstract)
- Unit IX [4/15-4/22]
- Due: Critique of posted research papers
Final Exam
GENERAL POLICIES
Each student will
- assume responsibility for your learning
- use the provided learning guides and resources; conduct data
searches when necessary
- manage your time effectively (plan a schedule and practice
time management)
- ask for assistance when you need it; avoid unnecessary frustration
and confusion
- remain active in the Message Center, Email, threaded discussions and
other activities
- prepare all work at graduate performance levels
- follow good online etiquette
The instructor will
- provide assistance/knowledge in facilitating understanding of the
course content
- guide students through the course
- facilitate discussion through questioning, probing, examples, etc.
- provide feedback
- maintain records
- mark exams/assignments and maintain records within 15 working days
- respond to messages on Tuesdays and Thursdays
GRADING POLICIES
Each student will prepare a research proposal, conduct a pilot study, analyze and
present your findings. [The course project will comprise 50% of your final
grade.]
General knowledge of course content (50% of final grade) will be measured as
follows:
- one quarter determined by participation in threaded discussions;
- one half determined by submission of reviews of research articles to shared documents;
- one quarter determined by end-of-unit exercises and exams.
All students will take a final examination (online), which will be held during
Southern's final exam week. The final exam will cover research principles and methods, including statistics.
Each student is expected to participate in weekly online discussions and
activities. Each student will be responsible for leading a number of online
discussions based on assigned and supplementary readings (and shared summaries
of these readings).
Attendance is automatically monitored and recorded by the OnlineCSU courseware.
While it is expected that every student will participate regularly, there may be times when illness, official university activities, etc., force a student to miss a day(s) of online activity. Final course grades may be lowered for each unexcused absence from online activity. Attendance for the purpose of this course is defined as a combination of frequency and duration of activity in any given week. A student who does not participate--or participates only marginally--in any one week can expect to have their final grade lowered by 10% for each week of "absence" from the course. For example, a student does not participate for a week and has not received written permission from the instructor for the absence; if the student's grade would otherwise be an "A" (4.0), it is now a B+ (3.6) and if the student's grade would otherwise be an "A-" (3.7), it is now a B+ (3.3). [A=4.0; A-=3.7-3.9; B+=3.3=3.6; B=3.0-3.2; any average below 3.0 (B) is below expected graduate level performance.]
PRE-COURSE READING/ASSIGNMENT/EXERCISE
Prior to beginning this course, please read carefully all materials on Protecting Human Subjects by completing the training module for extramural researchers, "Human Participant Protections Education for Research Teams." After passing the training module, print the certificate of completion and submit a copy of the certificate to Dr. Brown (Dr. M.E. Brown, ILS Department - Buley 416, Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven CT 06515). A copy of this certificate is also required to be filed with all IRB forms prior to obtaining permission to begin research.
Please review university and department requirements for a graduate degree. You will find each student is required to complete a thesis, pass a qualifying exam, or submit a special project. Many students' work in the research class qualifies as the special project. The special project will be documented in a portfolio.
Please review the department's policies on Behavior in Electronic Communication and Academic Honesty
Be sure to explore and become familiar with the various links under "Resources for Students" on the left side of each webpage.
FACULTY BIO
Professor Brown received the Ph.D. in Information Studies from Drexel University. Her major area of concentration is information systems and her minor area of concentration is management of organizations, including course work in social systems sciences (Wharton, University of Pennsylvania) and additional work in cognitive psychology, intelligent tutoring systems and statistics (Princeton University). She also holds a ALA-accredited Master of Science in Library and Information Science (Drexel University) and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (West Chester University). Her current research interests are in categorization and naming of thematic information, electronically offered courses, information-seeking behavior, and usability testing.She is published in leading journals in psychology and in information science, and has been a presenter at conferences and workshops on Distance Education, Digital Libraries, Web-Based Testing, Grantsmanship, and Managing a WebSite for Classroom Support. She is a successful grantwriter (federal, state, local levels) and has served as a reviewer for federal and local funding agencies.
NOTICE
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 brown@southernct.edu immediately so that any error can be corrected.
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