Waters: Key Concepts on Research

MODULE 3

INFO 5345Emily Waters

The Role of Research in the Development Cycle

06/10/18

The Teacher Librarian as Action ReaderBy: Janet Martin and Julie Tallman

Using Action Research to face workplace issues.

01

Using action resrach will be of great importance to me especially when just beginning as a teacher-librarian. When just starting out, I will not have any sort of metaphorical "gut" to rely when facing problems. Additionally, relying on one's "gut" alone is neither reliable nor effiecient. Rather, pinpointing a problem and developing a guiding will allow me to focus on one problem, collecting and analyzing data will allow me to clarify the issue, and examining literature will allow me to learn from others will better quip me to take action. I could see completing action research on good research models to use or strategies to encourage reading.

Application:

Teacher-librarians need to find answers to real life problems in the library. Action research provides a path to gather information related to the problem rather than relying on trial and error or a "sixth sense." Martin and Tullman describe action research as "practical inquiry." Action research is an uncomplicated way to document problems and create solutions.

Action Research can be used to face workplace issues.

Chapter 5: Data Collection TechniquesConnaway & Powell

Basic Research Methods for Librarians: Chapter 5

02

When in need of frank and unbiased data, that can be collected in large amounts easily, I would employ a questionnaire. If I have time, interviews can provide better response rates and reveal complex information. Focus group interviews can be used to develop needs assessments and analyze a community of learners. Observations allows one to collect data without asking and can be applied to quantitative and qualitative research. With observations, behavior can be recorded in the moment.

Application:

In order to complete actionable research, on must collect data to analyze in relation to the problem. Quantitative data collection does not have to be difficult. One can pick from a several data collection options (questionnaires, interviews, and observations) that best fit one's information needs. Data collection techniques are not research, but the data collection guides research. Data collection techniques can also be chosen to best fit with time restrictions and participants.

There are simple ways to collect important data to meet library research needs:

Chapter 9: Analysis of DataConnaway & Powell

Basic Research Methods for Librarians: Chapter 9

03

To find answers to the problem questions one must have effectively analyzed data to interpret. The type of answers needed will determine the type of data collected and how it is analyzed. To analyze data the basic steps of statiscal analysis will be applied. Data will be categorized, coded, and calculated.

Application:

Data analysis and interpretation are not the same thing. Describing and analyzing data is necessary to make decisions or inferences represented and to connect results to other available knowledge. In order to find answers through action research, data analysis is necessary. Anticipating the analysis of data will direct the kind of data collected. Systematic, statistical methods of analyzing data increases effectiveness.

Effective data analysis is key for interpretaion:

Martin, J., & Tallman, J. (2001, 12). The teacher-librarian as action researcher. Teacher Librarian, 29, 8-10. https://libproxy.library.unt.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/magazines/teacher-librarian-as-action-researcher/docview/224880121/se-2Connaway, L. S., & Powell, R. R. (2010). Basic research methods for librarians, fifth edition. ABC-CLIO.Connaway, L., & Powell, R. R. (2010). Chapter 5: Data collection techniques (pp. 145-184)Links to an external site.. Basic research methods for librarians (5th ed., Library and information science text series). Santa Barbara, Calif.: Libraries Unlimited.Connaway, L., & Powell, R. R. (2010). Chapter 9: Analysis of data (pp. 261-285)Links to an external site.. Basic research methods for librarians (5th ed., Library and information science text series). Santa Barbara, Calif.: Libraries Unlimited.

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