The Movement of Mixed Methods Research and the Role of Information Science Professionals

2022 ◽  
pp. 258-288
Author(s):  
Patrick Ngulube
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Role Of Information

Mixed methods research integrates qualitative and quantitative research approaches in many or all phases of a study to comprehensively address a research problem by collecting quantitative and qualitative data concurrently or in phases with the aim to maximizing their inherent advantages while minimizing their disadvantages. Many disciplines are embracing mixed methods research. Library and information science research is lagging behind in the adoption and use of mixed methods research. That might be due to limited access to the literature on the subject or difficulties in dealing with the relative lack of consistency and incomplete coherence among mixed methods researchers. This chapter traces the common characteristics and designs of mixed methods research, its growth, and application in research. It provides a framework to design, execute, and evaluate mixed methods research studies so that library and information science researchers and researchers from other fields may play a role in its development and application.

The Movement of Mixed Methods Research and the Role of Information Science Professionals

2020 ◽  
pp. 425-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Ngulube
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Role Of Information

Mixed methods research integrates qualitative and quantitative research approaches in many or all phases of a study to comprehensively address a research problem by collecting quantitative and qualitative data concurrently or in phases with the aim to maximizing their inherent advantages while minimizing their disadvantages. Many disciplines are embracing mixed methods research. Library and information science research is lagging behind in the adoption and use of mixed methods research. That might be due to limited access to the literature on the subject or difficulties in dealing with the relative lack of consistency and incomplete coherence among mixed methods researchers. This chapter traces the common characteristics and designs of mixed methods research, its growth, and application in research. It provides a framework to design, execute, and evaluate mixed methods research studies so that library and information science researchers and researchers from other fields may play a role in its development and application.

scholarly journals Faceted classification in support of diversity: the role of concepts and terms in representing religion

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-270
Author(s):  
Vanda Broughton
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Knowledge Structure ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Categorical Analysis ◽  
Facet Analysis ◽  
University College London ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Faceted Classification

The paper examines the development of facet analysis as a methodology and the role it plays in building classifications and other knowledge-organization tools. The use of categorical analysis in areas other than library and information science is also considered. The suitability of the faceted approach for humanities documentation is explored through a critical description of the FATKS (Facet Analytical Theory in Managing Knowledge Structure for Humanities) project carried out at University College London. This research focused on building a conceptual model for the subject of religion together with a relational database and search-and-browse interfaces that would support some degree of automatic classification. The paper concludes with a discussion of the differences between the conceptual model and the vocabulary used to populate it, and how, in the case of religion, the choice of terminology can create an apparent bias in the system.

scholarly journals Mixed Methods Research in Library and Information Science: A Methodological Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-125
Author(s):  
Richard Hayman ◽  
Erika E Smith
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Methodological Review ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Health Related Research ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Objective - To review mixed methods research trends in the field of library and information science (LIS). In particular, we examine the extent to which research about or using mixed methods has been occurring in library and information science over the past decade (2008-2018), and how much of that mixed methods research is done in health contexts. Methods - We conducted a methodological review and analysis of mixed methods research (MMR) in LIS for published articles indexed in LISTA and Web of Science. After deduplication and verification for inclusion, we coded 417 articles to identify contributions using or about MMR. Given the connections between evidence based practice in health and LIS, we also identified whether articles about or using mixed methods were health-focused. Results - We found MMR to be a tiny proportion (less than 0.5%) of the overall LIS research literature. In terms of observable trends, while contributions about MMR remain fairly static, there has been an increase in articles using mixed methods. Of the 417 included articles, 373 (89.5%) primarily used mixed methods and 44 (10.5%) were primarily about MMR. Results also demonstrated that health-related research both using and about mixed methods has a strong presence in the LIS literature, with 136 published articles (32.6% of the total). Conclusion - Confirming findings of prior analyses of research methods in LIS, our methodological review shows current opportunities to adopt and expand the use of mixed methods research processes. Further contributions about mixed methods research, and ideally connecting research and practice in LIS, are needed. Despite the small proportion of MMR in LIS research, there is an observable increase in the number of publications using mixed methods during this timeframe. The LIS research community can promote additional growth by leveraging this momentum around using mixed methods, and look to translate lessons learned about mixed methods research and practice in health contexts to other LIS settings. Recommendations include developing educational opportunities and learning resources that facilitate wider engagement with MMR in LIS contexts.

Moving from Tension to Texture

2016 ◽  
pp. 28-38
Author(s):  
Preston B. Cosgrove ◽  
Peter M. Jonas
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Research Paradigm ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Research Paradigms ◽  
Puzzle Box

Much like a jigsaw puzzle box top guides one in how to connect the pieces, an individual's research paradigm operates as a conscious or subconscious influence in conducting a research project. This chapter starts by making the argument for the critical role of research paradigms before moving into a thorough investigation of the paradigmatic origins of the qualitative-quantitative “debate.” While mixed-methods research is often seen as the mediator in the dispute, the authors then articulate four broad ways in which mixed methods research addresses the paradigm divide at the heart of qualitative and quantitative research. The result is paradigmatically complex, but offers researchers flexibility as they seek to address their research question.

Is the Indian Library and Information Science Research Interdisciplinary?

2020 ◽  
pp. 169-188
Author(s):  
Swapan Kumar Patra ◽  
Anup Kumar Das
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Citation Network ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Citation Pattern ◽  
Related Field ◽  
Interdisciplinary Nature ◽  
The Subject

This chapter is an attempt to map the interdisciplinary nature of Indian library and information science (LIS) research. For this purpose, citation information of 28 Indian LIS journals is considered from Indian Citation Index (ICI) database. ICI is a bibliographic and citation database of research journals published from India. In order to understand the anatomical pattern of citations, social networking software UCINET is used to map the citation network. The result shows that self-citations (about 23%) are the prevalent pattern of citations among Indian LIS journals. Beside this, citation pattern at large is confined to the subject of LIS (about 93%) area. Further, the analysis also shows that about 7% of articles are cited from non-LIS journals. However, citations of non-LIS fields are from a closely related field, for example, general science and technology, computer science, and so on. Thus, it can be concluded that Indian LIS research does not show true interdisciplinary nature.

Integration in Mixed Methods Research Designs by Graduate Students at the University of Science and Technology

2022 ◽  
pp. 289-311
Author(s):  
Notice Pasipamire
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Synthesis Method ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Master's Degrees ◽  
Research Designs ◽  
The University

This chapter reports on a study that investigated how graduate students in the Faculty of Communication and Information Science at NUST were approaching integration in their mixed-methods research dissertations. There has been a concern that lack of expertise of what mixed-methods research is restricts the integrative capacity. Using a research synthesis method, the study investigated three graduate programmes, namely Master's degrees in Library and Information Science, Records and Archives Management, and Journalism and Media Studies from 2016 up to 2018. A total of 95 dissertations were reviewed, and 40 employed mixed-methods research design. It was discovered that integration was commonly done at methods and interpretation levels. Integration of qualitative and quantitative data sets resulted in confirmation (83), expanding understanding (27), and discordance (31). Graduate students dealt with discordant findings by either ignoring the discordance (20), seek corroboration with existing literature (7), or give priority to the quantitative strand (4).

The use of librarians as occupational study populations in social science research

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 2-14
Author(s):  
Julie Still ◽  
Zara Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
The Body ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Occupational Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Population ◽  
The Subject

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the use of librarians as a study population in social science research outside of the field of library and information science. Additionally, it aims to make general claims about how frequently librarians have been studied compared to other occupations, as well as to identify and describe existing research that has used librarians as a study population. Design/methodology/approach – The described study had two parts. Two social science databases were searched using the subject headings “librarians” and eight additional occupations, and the results for all nine occupations were analyzed. The peer-reviewed results for “librarians” were then coded by content. The articles that used librarians as a study population were identified, reviewed and described. Findings – Although librarians, as an occupational group, possess many characteristics that should make them an ideal choice for social science research, they seem to be studied less frequently than other occupations. Research limitations/implications – Other occupational groups, such as mathematicians, were also studied infrequently. Further research might consider, more broadly, why some occupations are studied more frequently than others. Future studies might also compare librarianship to other female-dominated professions, such as nursing and education. Additionally, the subject heading “librarians” was applied to articles that studied non-professional library employees, making it difficult to isolate only articles with a focus on degreed librarians. Originality/value – Few other studies have examined social science research in which librarians are used as the study population. By focusing on how librarians are studied and written about in other fields, this paper will add to the body of literature on the professional image of librarians.

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