Students have a critical grounding in theoretical perspectives that draw on research in LIS as well as other fields of knowledge, that inform their professional practices including research, organization, management, and access to information.

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IV.a. Students will describe applications of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies in library and information science.

 

Microcomputer Applications for Library & Information Centers - LIS5268: An Evaluation of Open Source Archival Software: Archivematica & Collective Access:

Engaging in scientific study as a professional in the LIS field is vital to the growth of knowledge for better user experience, increased accessibility, greater preservation, and professional engagement. Community sharing, open source software, and digital access are all norms for the LIS field and will continue to grow in the future. It is vital that LIS professionals are able to critically review qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies and case studies, then identify how the findings can relate to their institution and apply as necessary. This is especially the case in the constant evolution of technology, such as open source software. The culminating assignment in the technology elective course was a research paper and presentation relating technology to the LIS field. Through this assignment, I was able to critically review scientific case studies by field professionals in the implementation of open source archiving software to identify how they can benefit a variety of institutions. Possibly most importantly I gained insight on methods to engage in quantitative and qualitative studies in the future while implementing new technology applications in my role as a LIS professional to share the benefits of this knowledge with others.

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IV.b. Students will identify opportunities for research and develop plans for research in applied settings in library and information science.

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Research Methods in Library & Information Science - LIS6271: Research Grant Proposal:

An important aspect of librarianship and for professionals in the LIS field is promoting information literacy and providing information literacy instruction, especially for the success of students in post-secondary education. With this understanding of information literacy being vital, my team engaged in writing a research grant proposal to showcase the benefits of information literacy instruction within post-secondary education. As a semester-long project, an evaluation of information literacy techniques and their commonality was performed. From here identification of the research needs, best research methodology, and sampling options led to designing a research strategy, identifying a timeline and budget, then developing pre-post survey questionnaires. As many LIS institutions rely on a variety of funding options, including often multiple grants, being able to locate grant opportunities, identify the best practice research methods, then write grant proposals, create proposal presentations, and engage in the research is a necessity for all LIS professionals.