LIBR 285-20
Research Methods in Library and Information Science
Spring 2012 Greensheet

Dr. Johanna Tunon
E-mail -- Use the D2L e-mail for the course
Home phone: (954)792-6814 (Eastern time zone) 
Office location: Fort Lauderdale, FL (Eastern time zone)
Office Hours: By appointment by phone or via Collaborate

D2L Information: Students will be automatically enrolled in the D2L site for this course. The course will be automatically available to students on January 25, 2012.

Course Description

LIBR 285 addresses research methods, covering fundamental principles, processes, values, and roles of research for professional application in information organizations. Students will become critical consumers of research products and learn the basic skills of planning, designing, executing and reporting research as well as evaluating and applying published research findings. Emphasis will concentrate on developing, planning, and producing a quality research proposal.

Course Prerequisites: LIBR200, LIBR202, LIBR204, and demonstrated writing proficiency required.

285 Waiver Option:
If a student has taken and passed a graduate level-research methods course AND completed a thesis or dissertation as part of a previous graduate degree (as documented by an official transcript), the student can petition the SLIS Graduate Advisor to waive the LIBR 285 requirement. A waiver, if granted, does not reduce the total units required for the MLIS degree. See Waiver option

Course Objectives

Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:

• Understand the difference between primary and secondary research
• Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental principles and processes of conducting research
• Articulate the research method(s) covered in the course, appropriately apply these research methods, and understand their strengths and liabilities
• Understand appropriate data collection/analysis tools and ethical concerns related to research

LIBR 285 supports the following MLIS Core Competency:

• Competency L: Understand the nature of research, research methods, and research findings; retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scholarly and professional literature for informed decision-making by specific client groups;

Top of Page

Course Requirements

Students' work will be evaluated according to the following specific criteria:
Identify a research problem, write a purpose statement, develop appropriate research questions and/or hypotheses, conduct critical literature review and analysis, address any ethical considerations in conducting research, understand the procedures in collecting data, and produce a substantial final written product containing a formalized research proposal using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods.

Semester Dates

• January 25 - May 15
• Spring recess - Mar. 26-30

Course Calendar 

(** Adjustments may be made subject to change with fair notice.

Class Assignments

• Participation (Part 1) 2% x 12 = 24%
  Part 1 of participation grade entails the initial discussion posting on weekly topic:
  Grading Criteria:
  • Demonstrated grasp of principles addressed in the textbook.
  • Well-written posts and clearly articulated
  • Grammatically correct and used APA formatting when appropriate.
  • Postings posted in a timely manner.
• Participation (Part 2) 1% x 9 = 9%
  Some weeks there is no peer feedback, but other weeks, Part 2 is included for peer feedback. When there is a Part 2, check because some weeks have assigned peer reviews, and some weeks people select the person they wish to review (first come, first serve). The schedule is posted in the Course Content folder.
  Grading Criteria:
  
  • Feedback demonstrated a firm grasp of principles addressed in the textbook and class lectures.
  • Peer feedback provided substantive/detailed feedback that articulated the original posting successfully addressed the question asked or how it failed to do so.
  • Feedback was well-written, and any suggestions and criticisms were provided in a constructive manner.
  • The writing was grammatically correct, and APA formatting was used correctly when appropriate.
• CITI  (online course) 5% Successful completion of the CITI certification is required by San Jose State University’s Institutional Review Board for all people working with human subjects. Information about CITI training is provided on the IRB page:  http://www.sjsu.edu/gradstudies/Research/irb.html  Submit the CITI completion certificate in the provided dropbox. This is a pass/no pass activity.
• Article Critique (17%)
  For this assignment, each student will be asked to review:  

Roselle, A. (2009). Preparing the underprepared: Current academic library practices in developmental education. College and Research Libraries, 70(2), 142-156.

 OR

Griffin, K. L. (2011). Starting from ground zero: Establishing a collection for a new doctoral program. Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian, 33, 223-245.

Write at least a 5-page paper (double spaced, 12-pt font) The five pages does not include the cover page and reference list.
See the video on formatting class assignments.
The paper should  have a brief introduction or overview and then discuss the methods, analysis, and findings, and identify any missing or weak components.
Grading criteria:

- Research question or problem
- Theory, conceptual framework, or model
- Research design or approach followed
- Sample and participant recruitment procedures
- Methods of data analysis
- Procedures for establishing trustworthiness of study
- Any limitations
- Relevant ethical issues
- Research findings
- Identify any weaknesses or missing elements in the research design of the study
- APA formatting

Prerecorded Presentation (10%)
Students can deliver their presentations using Elluminate, Collaborate, or another technology such as PowerPoint with voiceovers, YouTube video, or Jing video to create a prerecorded presentation. The presentation should be 10-12 minutes long. Presentations provide an introduction/overview of the research project and should include information on the research problem, purpose statement, research question(s), theory or conceptual framework, and methods to gather data to answer the research questions. Participants, instruments, and the design for collecting and analyzing data should be addressed briefly. Additional information can be included as time permits.
Grading Criteria:

• The presenter used the technology selected effectively to provide a presentation that helped clarify the research project being discussed.
• Presentation is well organized and covered the major steps in the research process as time permits.
• The presentation provides a clear statement of the problem, purpose, theory/model/conceptual framework, and research questions.
• The research process is described clearly and succinctly, and the topic is clearly defined and relevant.
• The participants, instruments, and design for collecting and analyzing data are clearly identified and briefly described. 
• Good delivery style (well paced and clear speaking style) 

Proposal (35%)
Write a 20-page research proposal (double spaced using 12pt font) using the template provided in the Course Content folder.  
Grading Criteria:
 The research proposal will be graded on the following:

• Chapter 1 includes introduction, research problem, purpose statement, and definition of key terms. -- 10 points
• Chapter 2 includes primary resources including key research studies, theory/conceptual framework, and research questions.  -- 10 points
• Chapter 3 includes the participants, instruments, and procedures/design for collecting and analyzing data, limitations, ethical considerations, etc. -- 10 points
• Alignment of research elements in the study, well written, appropriate grammar, use of template, APA formatting --5  points

0.5% SOTES extra credit upon completion of the SOTES course evaluation. 

Course Grading
All work is due by the date listed. If you are unable to complete the work by the assigned date, you should email me to make alternative arrangements. No work will be accepted after the last day of class unless arrangements have been made in writing and approved for an incomplete.

**** Check the grading criteria with class assignments before submitting assignments to be sure that you are addressing all of the elements that should be included in the assignments.

Textbooks and Readings

Optional Textbook: American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Required Textbooks:

• Creswell, J. W. (2008). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods (3rd ed.). SAGE. Available through Amazon: 1412965578.

Grading Scale

The standard SJSU School of Information Grading Scale is utilized for all iSchool courses:

In order to provide consistent guidelines for assessment for graduate level work in the School, these terms are applied to letter grades:

• C represents Adequate work; a grade of "C" counts for credit for the course;
• B represents Good work; a grade of "B" clearly meets the standards for graduate level work;
  For core courses in the MLIS program (not MARA) — INFO 200, INFO 202, INFO 204 — the iSchool requires that students earn a B in the course. If the grade is less than B (B- or lower) after the first attempt you will be placed on administrative probation.  You must repeat the class the following semester. If -on the second attempt- you do not pass the class with a grade of B or better (not B- but B) you will be disqualified.
  
• A represents Exceptional work; a grade of "A" will be assigned for outstanding work only.

Students are advised that it is their responsibility to maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).

University Policies

General Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities of the Student

As members of the academic community, students accept both the rights and responsibilities incumbent upon all members of the institution. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with SJSU's policies and practices pertaining to the procedures to follow if and when questions or concerns about a class arises. See University Policy S90-5 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S90-5.pdf. More detailed information on a variety of related topics is available in the SJSU catalog at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/catalog/departments/LIS.html. In general, it is recommended that students begin by seeking clarification or discussing concerns with their instructor. If such conversation is not possible, or if it does not serve to address the issue, it is recommended that the student contact the Department Chair as a next step.

Dropping and Adding

Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drop, grade forgiveness, etc. Refer to the current semester's Catalog Policies section at http://info.sjsu.edu/static/catalog/policies.html. Add/drop deadlines can be found on the current academic year calendars document on the Academic Calendars webpage at http://www.sjsu.edu/provost/services/academic_calendars/. The Late Drop Policy is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/aars/policies/latedrops/policy/. Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for dropping classes.

Information about the latest changes and news is available at the Advising Hub at http://www.sjsu.edu/advising/.

Consent for Recording of Class and Public Sharing of Instructor Material

University Policy S12-7, http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S12-7.pdf, requires students to obtain instructor's permission to record the course and the following items to be included in the syllabus:

• "Common courtesy and professional behavior dictate that you notify someone when you are recording him/her. You must obtain the instructor's permission to make audio or video recordings in this class. Such permission allows the recordings to be used for your private, study purposes only. The recordings are the intellectual property of the instructor; you have not been given any rights to reproduce or distribute the material."
  • It is suggested that the syllabus include the instructor's process for granting permission, whether in writing or orally and whether for the whole semester or on a class by class basis.
  • In classes where active participation of students or guests may be on the recording, permission of those students or guests should be obtained as well.
• "Course material developed by the instructor is the intellectual property of the instructor and cannot be shared publicly without his/her approval. You may not publicly share or upload instructor generated material for this course such as exam questions, lecture notes, or homework solutions without instructor consent."

Academic integrity

Your commitment, as a student, to learning is evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University. The University Academic Integrity Policy F15-7 at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/F15-7.pdf requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The Student Conduct and Ethical Development website is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/studentconduct/.

Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 at http://www.sjsu.edu/president/docs/directives/PD_1997-03.pdf requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the Accessible Education Center (AEC) at http://www.sjsu.edu/aec to establish a record of their disability.

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to access PDF files.

More accessibility resources.