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University of Calgary
People In Space 134
Resources on Research Methods
Research in the information sciences often follows social science methodology. However, many types of research methods are appropriate and the best one should be decided upon based on the question or problem to be solved.
Print Resources
- Basic research methods for librarians by Ronald R. Powell
- Evidence-based practice for information professionals: a handbook
- The foundations of social research: meaning and perspective in the research process by Michael Crotty
- How to conduct surveys: a step-by-step guide by Arlene Fink and Jacqueline Kosecoff
- Interviewing as qualitative research: a guide for researchers in education and the social sciences by Irving Seidman
- Introduction to the practice of statistics by David S. Moore
- Naturalistic inquiry by Yvonna Lincoln and Egon Guba
- Practical research: planning and design by Paul D. Leedy and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod
- Qualitative research for the information professional: a practical handbook by G. E. Gorman
- The Sage encyclopedia of social science research methods by Michael S. Lewis-Beck
- Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches by John W. Cresswell
- Research methods in information by Alison Jane Pickard
Online resources
- A bibliography of research methods texts. (2006) ACRL Instruction Section Research and Scholarship Committee. This is an annotated bibliography of research methods texts. (The library owns many of these and will be acquiring others.)
- Inventory of research methods for librarianship and informatics by Jonathan D. Eldredge
- Harris, M. R. (2005) The Librarian's roles in the systematic review process: a case study. Journal of the Medical Library Association. 93. 81-87.
- Powell, R. R. (1999) Recent trends in research: a methodological essay. Library & Information Science Research. 21. 91-119.
- Action Research This site provides links to various action research resources. Action research or reflective practice seems to resemble more closely the way we solve problems.
- University of British Columbia, School of Library, Archival and Information Studies. Research Methods Resources on the WWW (no longer being updated as of June 2007)
- Engage in Research (http://www.engageinresearch.ac.uk) is a new, interactive website for biosciences undergraduates. It covers the basic areas of research, including how and where to search for scientific papers, how to structure a literature review, basic statistics and more.