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A Look at Qualitative Research Encounters with the OPAC: On-Line Searching in Public Libraries by Debra J. Slone

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." ~ Albert Einstein . Qualitative Research - Definition. Qualitative research is a loosely defined category of research designs or models, all of which elicit verbal, visual, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory data in the form of descriptive narratives like field notes, recordings, or other transcriptions from audio- and videotapes and other written records and pictures or films.".

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A Look at Qualitative Research Encounters with the OPAC: On-Line Searching in Public Libraries by Debra J. Slone

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    1. A Look at Qualitative Research “Encounters with the OPAC: On-Line Searching in Public Libraries” by Debra J. Slone

    2. “ Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” ~ Albert Einstein

    3. Qualitative Research - Definition “Qualitative research is a loosely defined category of research designs or models, all of which elicit verbal, visual, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory data in the form of descriptive narratives like field notes, recordings, or other transcriptions from audio- and videotapes and other written records and pictures or films.”

    4. Qualitative Research Accepts bias and realizes existing knowledge Attempts to minimize preconceived ideas about the outcomes Patterns emerge from collected data “Unlike conventional“Unlike conventional

    5. Rationale for Qualitative Research Preference and/or expertise of the researcher Nature of the research problem Gain understanding of underlying reasons and motivations Uncover prevalent trends in thought and opinion Provide insights into the setting of a problem, generating ideas and/or hypothesis for later quantitative research

    6. Encounters with the OPAC “This article reports on a qualitative study exploring: strategies and behaviors of public library users during interaction with an on-line public access catalog; and (2) users’ confidence in finding information on-line.” Verbal segue - - Tell everyone that the study is used to exemplify qualitative research. With each point we will look at how the article addresses each point.Verbal segue - - Tell everyone that the study is used to exemplify qualitative research. With each point we will look at how the article addresses each point.

    7. Introduction ~ Qualitative Study Researcher’s reason for doing the study Need for study in the field Intended audience Research product Literature Review Say first - - “Unlike conventional, positivist research, there is no single accepted outline for a qualitative research proposal or report (Morse, 1991).” We will be using the study as a guide while presenting the characteristics of Qualitative studies. Say first - - “Unlike conventional, positivist research, there is no single accepted outline for a qualitative research proposal or report (Morse, 1991).” We will be using the study as a guide while presenting the characteristics of Qualitative studies.

    8. Introduction ~ OPAC Study Analyze human interaction with a public library OPAC Known-item, unknown-item, & area searches and public library user confidence Public library professionals & academics Journal article & resource for OPAC designers Literature Review ~ very thorough

    9. Research Question ~ Qualitative Study Identify the type of research being used for those who do not work with qualitative research often. States the goals of study in the form of a question.

    10. Research Question ~ OPAC Study “As is typical of qualitative studies, this one allows room for participants to ‘tell their story.’” “The questions, therefore, served primarily as starting points for the researcher.”

    11. OPAC study research questions “(1) what behaviors and strategies do users employ to make use of the Dynix system at Wake County (Raleigh, NC) Library? (2) Are users confident in finding the information they want using an OPAC?”

    12. Methodology ~ Qualitative Study Describe the following: Participant selection and confidentiality procedures Researcher relationship to the participants Kinds of data to collect & collection procedures Potential for research procedure evolution

    13. Methodology ~ OPAC Study Library during busy hours, 32 out of 38 participated; confidentiality ensured through enumeration Researcher is mostly an observer, yet interaction does occur Types of data collection used: questionnaires, and interviews & observations recorded on a log sheet Slightly addressed within interview context

    14. Analysis & Results ~ Qualitative Study Non-statistical ~ language oriented Describing regularities Meanings of actions or text Reflective methods

    15. Analysis & Results ~ OPAC Study Participants OPAC experience – Table 1 Search types – Table 2 Feelings – Table 3 - Table 4 – Table 5 Strategies and behaviors – Table 6 Search patterns by search type

    16. Discussion ~ OPAC Study Strategies and behaviors Unknown-item searching Formulated query, searched, re-formulated Area searches Viewed a few records to assist browsing Known-item searches Knew what they wanted – searched for that item

    17. Discussion ~ OPAC Study Confidence and other feelings Unknown-item searching Least confident, most frustrated Area searches Most confident – several stood when searching Known-item searches Very confident

    18. Limitations of the Study ~ OPAC Study Small sample of users Questionnaire – Mixed results Subjectivity of the designations for emotions Obtrusive nature of the observational and interview methods Two reasons about the questionnaire – 1. Method of collection proved ineffective in soliciting info about length of time user thought about a problem in forming a search strategy. 2. Questions about user confidence was possibly biased or inaccurate of their performance behavior Two reasons about the questionnaire – 1. Method of collection proved ineffective in soliciting info about length of time user thought about a problem in forming a search strategy. 2. Questions about user confidence was possibly biased or inaccurate of their performance behavior

    19. Conclusions & Implications ~ OPAC Study More insight about “area searches” as a distinct type of search is needed Interfaces incorporating individual differences in searching by public library users should be considered Bibliographic instruction, indexing and cataloging methods may need to be altered Communication between people and information retrieval systems needs to be continually addressed

    20. Acknowledgements & References OPAC Study Study acknowledges those who had a great impact on the study and writing the paper. Paul Solomon Barbara Wildemuth Wake County Librarians Wake County Library Users Seminal works in the field Works include – Belkin, Dervin, Kuhlthau, Marchonini, Solomon, Taylor, Wildemuth, and othersWorks include – Belkin, Dervin, Kuhlthau, Marchonini, Solomon, Taylor, Wildemuth, and others

    21. Evaluation of OPAC Study Exemplary of qualitative research Clear methodology Good use of tables to present findings Usable data Characteristics of subjects were not made clear (computer experience, education, etc.) Sherbet dish???

    23. Log Sheet Back to slide

    24. Questionnaire Back to slide

    25. Table 1 Back to slide

    26. Table 2 Back to slide

    27. Table 3 Back to slide

    28. Table 4 Back to slide

    29. Table 5 Back to slide

    30. Table 6 Back to slide

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