Course Syllabus LI810XS Research in Library and Information Science Spring Semester 2017 Faculty: Andrew Smith, Ph.D. E-mail: asmith37@emporia.edu Primary Phone: (620) 341-5790 Online Course Login: canvas.emporia.edu Credit Hours: 3 Meetings: Internet begins 1/18 Weekends 2/3-4; 3/17-18 Important Dates for Spring 2017 1/18 First Day of Class 1/31 Last Day to Add/Drop 4/5 Last Day to Withdraw 5/5 Last Day of Classes 5/13 Commencement 5/16 Final Grades Due Program Goal The goal of the SLIM Master of Library Science program is to prepare creative problem solvers who will provide proactive client-centered services in information agencies. Catalog Description This course provides an introduction to qualitative and quantitative research methods and their applications in library and information science. Principles and procedures for analyzing and evaluating research are introduced and students learn to be better consumers and critics of published research literature. (Required) Prerequisite: LI 801 or concurrent enrollment. (Approved 8/12/2015) Course Learning Outcomes By the end of the course, students will be able to: Program Outcomes Professional Values ALA Core Competence(s) 1 Describe the importance of research to the practice of library and information science. 6, 7 1 6C, 7D 2 Discuss ethical issues involved in conducting research. 6 3 6C 3 Explain the stages of the research process. 6 6A 4 Define the characteristics of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. 6 6A 5 Analyze, critique, and evaluate methods and findings from current library and information science literature. 6, 7 2 6B, 7D Approved 11/30/11 Course Overview This is a course about research or, to put it more simply, about finding things out, which is all that research is. We will learn about its purpose, about the different types of research, and about the correct terminology to use. We’ll also discuss what constitutes good research, as well as learning how to read research articles and how to use research to answer questions in the library world with answers derived from best practice. The purpose of this course is to help you be a better consumer of research. It will not prepare you to be a top-flight researcher, but it will enable you to understand the research process in detail and to use your knowledge to evaluate the credibility and worth of the research you come across. This makes it easier for you to help others identify credible research and understand the findings, and also enables you to evaluate the library science literature to identify best practices in the library world, or to answer specific questions you may have. Instructor Contact Information I will be available every Tuesday morning from 10 to noon as official office hours for this class, which means that I should be available immediately in person, on the phone or through email to respond to your questions. There may be occasional weeks when this is not possible due to conference or travel commitments, but I’ll let you know in advance if I will not be available at this time any week. I’m usually in the office Tuesday through Friday, but I have many other responsibilities and may not be immediately available. However, while I should always be available on Tuesdays, don’t wait until then if you have a problem – phone or email right away. You can contact me through Canvas, by email, Zoom, or phone if you have questions and I will respond as quickly as I can. (However, please note that I endeavor to maintain a healthy lifestyle, so I am not constantly checking email late into the evenings or on weekends. And, because we do much of our teaching in blended classes on Friday and Saturday, our weekends are officially Sunday and Monday.) We will communicate significantly throughout the course on Canvas and I am always happy to schedule an appointment with you if you would like to discuss any aspect of the course on the phone or through Zoom. Ask for help earlier rather than later if you need it - for both your benefit and for mine. Required Readings American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (Note: the first printing of the 6th edition was full of errors, so you must use a second or later printing. You will use APA style in all your courses at SLIM, so this book will be useful throughout your SLIM career.) Beck, S. E., & Manuel, K. (2008). Practical research methods for librarians. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman. Pyrczak, F. (2014). Evaluating research in academic journals: A practical guide to realistic evaluation. (6th ed.). Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing. (Note: the 6th edition states that the main difference between it and the 5th edition is the inclusion of a free report on standards for reporting research. As this free report is a reprint of material available elsewhere, you may find the 5th edition just as useful.) Recommended Readings There will be additional readings as we go along. These will either be freely available through the ESU library databases, or will be made available through Canvas. Learning Activities Each assignment has its own instructions and evaluation document located in the various modules in Canvas. Instructions not only indicate what to do, but also act as a guide to learning based on the content of the course. You should also check the available rubrics to see exactly what is expected from each assignment. Make sure you read the complete instructions for each assignment – you will not be able to achieve satisfactory results by relying on the brief descriptions below. Note that the Tentative Course Outline suggests a reading plan that allows students the opportunity to digest readings before corresponding assignments are due, so you are strongly advised to complete the suggested readings before embarking on the following assignments. Assignments Evaluation #1 - Participation in class and online (30 points) Online and in-class discussion and participation are important aspects of the assessment process in the course. Through guided and independent discussion and participation, students will share with colleagues their experiences and ideas. Students should be prepared to discuss a variety of issues based on the assigned readings. Canvas discussion topics related to the readings and assignments will be posted periodically; it is the student’s responsibility to post meaningful responses in each online discussion. Weekend intensive activities will also form part of the participation grade, so it is essential students come to the weekends prepared to participate in all activities. Full details will be provided in Canvas. Evaluation #2 – Quizzes (21 points) There will be 3 short quizzes spaced throughout the semester. Each quiz will feature multiple choice or short-answer questions. Full details of the topics covered in each quiz will be available in Canvas. Evaluation # 3 – Research Article Review 1 – Introduction, Literature Review & Method (12 points) Prepare a review of the introduction, literature review and methods sections of a research article. A template for the review will be provided for you to follow. Your review should demonstrate your understanding of the research process. A list of suitable review articles will be provided from which you may choose the subject of your review. Further details will be provided in Canvas. Evaluation #4 – Research Article Review 2 – Findings, Discussion & Conclusion (12 points) Using the same article as in Evaluation 2, prepare a review of the findings, discussion, and conclusion sections of your research article. Again, your review should demonstrate understanding of the research process. Further details will be provided in Canvas. Evaluation #5 – Evidence-based Practice Report (25 points) Prepare a research-based report on a specific topic or question in library science. Using 7 – 10 research articles, review the literature to provide guidance on best practice for that particular topic or question. Your topic must be approved by the instructor in advance. Further details will be provided in Canvas. Assignment Course Outcome(s) Met Due Date Points Participation 1 - 5 Throughout semester 30 Quizzes x 3 1 – 5 2/4, 2/26, & 4/16 21 Article Review 1 3 -5 3/12 12 Article Review 2 3 - 5 4/9 12 Evidence-based Practice Report 1 - 5 4/30 25 Tentative Course Outline Session Topics Readings Activities and Due Dates Week 1: 1/18-1/22 Introductions What is research? Beck & Manuel Preface & Ch. 1 1/22 - video introduction Week 2: 1/23-1/29 The Research Process Beck & Manuel Ch. 2 Pyrczak Introduction Week 3: 1/30-2/5 Content Analysis APA style and effective writing APA Manual Ch. 1 Beck & Manuel Ch. 3 2/3-4 1st weekend 2/4 Quiz 1 in class Week 4: 2/6-2/12 Interviews & Focus Groups Beck & Manuel Ch. 4 Pyrczak Ch. 1 Week 5: 2/13-2/19 Observation & Usability Beck & Manuel Ch. 5 Pyrczak Chs. 2 & 3 Week 6: 2/20-2/26 Experimental Research Beck & Manuel Ch. 6 Pyrczak Chs. 4 & 5 2/26 Quiz 2 due Week 7: 2/27-3/5 Bibliometrics Beck & Manuel Ch. 7 Pyrczak Chs. 6 & 7 Week 8: 3/6-3/12 Action Research Beck & Manuel Ch. 8 Pyrczak Chs. 8 & 9 3/12 Article Review 1 due Session Topics Readings Activities and Due Dates Week 9: 3/13-3/19 Classroom Research Beck & Manuel Ch. 9 Pyrczak Ch 10 3/17-18 2nd weekend Week 10: 3/20-3/26 Spring Break Week 11: 3/27-4/2 Systematic Review APA Manual Ch. 3 Pyrczak Ch. 11 Week 12: 4/3-4/9 Systematic Review Pyrczak Ch. 12 4/9 Article Review 2 due Week 13: 4/10-4/16 Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Research Beck & Manuel Ch. 10 4/16 Quiz 3 due Week 14: 4/17-4/23 Writing Research reports Beck & Manuel Ch. 11 Week 15: 4/24-4/30 Evidence-based practice Pyrczak Ch. 13 4/30 - Evidence-based Practice Report due Week 16: 5/1-5/5 Bringing it all together SLIM Technology Requirements SLIM has specific hardware, software and network requirements for all students that are specified on the SLIM website at http://tinyurl.com/SLIMtechnology Computer technology is integrated throughout the curriculum, including the use of Canvas, ESU’s learning management system, and use of video-conferencing software. All students must have devices, high-speed Internet access, and current software for home use that makes possible full participation in extensive course assignments. The ESU financial aid office provides details about possible funding for purchase of computer equipment at https://www.emporia.edu/finaid/ Grading Criteria Rubrics for all assignments are available in Canvas. Please refer to these for guidance on the criteria used to grade each assignment. Note that each category on the rubric includes a description of that category, so you can better understand what is expected. The points rating indicate the degree to which the expectations for that category have been met. SLIM Grading Scale 96 -100 A 77 - 79 C+ 90 - 95 A- 74 - 76 C 87 - 89 B+ 70 - 73 D 84 - 86 B 0 - 69 F 80 - 83 B- SLIM Grade Policy All graduate courses required in the university-approved curricula of SLIM’s master’s programs, certificate programs, academic concentrations, and doctoral program–or their approved substitutions–must be passed with a final grade of B- or better to receive academic credit. If a student does not receive a final grade of B- or better in any or all of SLIM’s required courses, then the student will be given an academic warning and the student will be notified by SLIM administration that he or she must retake that course or those courses. In addition, if a student has a semester GPA of less than 3.0 he or she will be given an academic warning. When a student has been given an academic warning, an administrative hold will be placed on the student’s record to block future enrollment, and the student will be removed from any registered courses for the upcoming semester. Before the student can be enrolled, he or she is required to meet with the student’s academic advisor with the goal of developing an academic improvement plan. The administrative hold can only be released by the student’s academic advisor or by the SLIM dean upon satisfactory completion of the academic improvement plan. If the student fails to complete the terms set forth in the academic improvement plan, then the student’s academic progress will be reviewed by the student’s academic advisor and the SLIM dean, and a decision will be made regarding whether the student should be academically dismissed from SLIM’s graduate program. This SLIM Grade Policy applies to all students in SLIM’s master’s degree programs, certificate programs, the doctoral program, and academic concentrations. It also applies to all those who have passed into MLS or doctoral degree candidacy. SLIM Attendance Policy Students must attend all face-to-face classes. Class hours for weekend face-to-face meetings are 6pm-9pm on Friday and 9am-5pm on Saturday. In cases of emergency, go to http://www.emporia.edu/slim/studentresources/policies.html for more information. SLIM Incomplete Grade Policy SLIM’s Incomplete Grade Policy upholds the Emporia State University Incomplete Grade Policy (for full policy, go to: http://www.emporia.edu/regist/trnscpt/grades.html). SLIM’s Incomplete Grade Policy further stipulates that an incomplete request will not be considered approved without an Incomplete Request Form having been submitted by the instructor and approved by the SLIM dean within two weeks after the issuance of the incomplete. If the incomplete grade is being requested for reasons of health, then documentation must be submitted to the SLIM dean’s office before the final grade change is made. If a SLIM student’s request for a single incomplete grade is approved by the instructor and dean, then the student will be limited to enrolling in six credit hours in the immediately succeeding semester. If a SLIM student requests more than one incomplete grade to be issued at the conclusion of a semester, then an administrative hold will be placed on the student’s record to block future enrollment until all incomplete grades are finished and the final grade changes have been submitted by the instructor(s), signed by the SLIM dean, and accepted by the ESU Registrar’s Office. SLIM Netiquette Policy This course will involve the exchange of ideas, questions, and comments in an online and/or blended learning community. In all of your class communications, please use the same tact and respect that you would if you were talking to classmates face to face. Remember that in online communication the visual and auditory aspects are missing, so be especially careful to ensure your emails and discussion postings accurately convey your meaning and are not open to misconstruction. Humor is especially difficult to convey in this environment, so take extra care with your writing. Please maintain your professionalism and courtesy at all times when interacting with others in the class. Course Evaluations Course evaluation is an important part of the process of teaching and learning. SLIM uses the IDEA evaluation instrument to gather feedback from students on the effectiveness of each and every course. The resulting data is reviewed by the instructors and the Dean, who work together to improve teaching and learning across the whole of SLIM. Evaluation surveys are made available to students toward the end of each semester, and periodic email reminders are sent to encourage participation. The surveys are administered by The IDEA Center through the Campus Labs platform, and student responses are anonymous (unless students share any identifying information in their comments). Nobody in SLIM has access to individual student surveys at any time, and aggregated data is only made available to instructors at least one week after final grades have been submitted. Faculty-initiated Student Withdrawal Procedure SLIM instructors follow the university’s policy of faculty-initiated student withdrawal which states: If a student's absences from class, disruptive behavior, lack of prerequisites, or academic dishonesty become detrimental to the student's progress or that of other students in the class, the faculty member may advise the student to withdraw from the class. Withdrawal may also be advised if the student is inappropriately enrolled in the class. If the faculty member chooses to withdraw the student, he/she shall attempt to notify the student in writing that a faculty initiated withdrawal is in progress. This notification will be copied to the department chair and Academic Affairs office to serve as the request for withdrawal. If efforts to contact the student have been unsuccessful, or unacknowledged, the faculty member shall then seek the aid of the Academic Affairs office in contacting the student. The Academic Affairs office shall provide the student with information about the existing appeals procedures. Upon receiving a written request for withdrawal from the faculty member, the Academic Affairs office may initiate a student withdrawal from the class. None of the above implies or states that faculty members are required to initiate any student withdrawal. [Policy and Procedures Manual 4E.13] Academic Dishonesty At Emporia State University, academic dishonesty is a basis for disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to activities such as cheating and plagiarism (presenting as one's own the intellectual or creative accomplishments of another without giving credit to the source or sources.) The faculty member in whose course or under whose tutelage an act of academic dishonesty occurs has the option of failing the student for the academic hours in question and may refer the case to other academic personnel for further action. Emporia State University may impose penalties for academic dishonesty up to and including expulsion from the university. Disabilities Policy Emporia State University will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students need to contact the Director of Disability Services and the professor as early in the semester as possible to ensure that classroom and academic accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. All communication between students, the Office of Disability Services, and the professor will be strictly confidential. Contact information for the Office of Disability Services: Office of Disability Services 106 Plumb Hall Emporia State University 1 Kellogg Circle / Box 4023 Emporia, KS 66801 Phone: 620/341-6637 TTY: 620/341-6646 Email: disabser@emporia.edu
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