Research Methods in Information

Knowledge and experience of research is a fundamental part of what makes an information professional, and the possession of research skills is an essential tool for achieving success in the information environment. With the increasing need for accountability in enhancing service delivery and provision in the information workplace, research can be used to carry out benchmarking exercises, service planning and strategic development; to map user behaviour, plan operational changes, demonstrate value to stakeholders, and much more. Added to these practical benefits is the sometimes underestimated need to engage in the questioning process that allows the individual practitioner to grow, and to increase the body of knowledge that makes up the profession. This unique new handbook is the first to focus entirely on the research needs of the information and communications community. It provides a reference guide to the research process in the fields of information studies, communications, records management, knowledge management and related disciplines, and is designed to be of continuing use throughout the student and professional lives of its readers. The text explores the full range of research options, including the emerging field of internet communications research, and provides the student with sufficient knowledge of the research process to embark on their own empirical research. It has a primarily practical focus, taking the reader step by step through the whole research process, and is fully supported by examples and exercises that reinforce the text and provide practical guidelines. This essential book is of value not only to students of information and communications studies and archives and records management, but to those on a variety of courses across the disciplines, and can be used by all practitioners beginning a piece of research.

The long-awaited 2nd edition of this best-selling research methods handbook is fully updated and includes brand new coverage of online research methods and techniques, mixed methodology and qualitative analysis. The long-awaited 2nd edition of this best-selling research methods handbook is fully updated and includes brand new coverage of online research methods and techniques, mixed methodology and qualitative analysis. This edition includes two new contributed chapters: Professor Julie McLeod, Sue Childs and Elizabeth Lomas focus on research data management, applying evidence from the recent JISC funded ‘DATUM’ project; Dr Andrew Shenton examines strategies for analysing existing documents. The first to focus entirely on the needs of the information and communications community, this handbook guides the would-be researcher through the variety of possibilities open to them under the heading ‘research’ and provides students with the confidence to embark on their dissertations. The focus here is on the ‘doing’ and although the philosophy and theory of research is explored to provide context, this is essentially a practical exploration of the whole research process with each chapter fully supported by examples and exercises tried and tested over a whole teaching career. Readership: Students of information and communications studies and archives and records management, and practitioners beginning a piece of research.