Program: MACL, MAS, MLIS
Year: 2011-12, WT2
Day & Time: Thursday, 2:00-4:30
Location: Barber 260
Instructor: R. Kopak
Office location: Barber 495
Office phone:(604) 822-2898
Office hours: Monday, 1-2 pm; Thursday, 1-2 pm; or by appointment
E-mail address: r.kopak@ubc.ca


The purpose of this course is to introduce the theory and practice of social science research methods and how they can be usefully employed to address important issues within information organizations. The course provides a framework for problem solving that can be used to achieve solutions to challenges of many kinds in a variety of environments. Emphasis is on the techniques and knowledge required to carry out a research project, and also on acquiring skill in the critical consumption of relevant research literature. 

Upon completion of this course, students will:
  • Understand the role that research plays in the professions.
  • Understand why knowledge of research methods is important for practitioners.
  • Be knowledgable in an array of research methodologies and methods.
  • Have skill in the critique and use of published research studies.
  • Have knowledge and skill in the preparation of a detailed research plan including problem identification and selection, clear statement of research questions/hypotheses, writing of a literature review, choice of sampling method, development of data gathering instruments, and specification of data collection techniques.
  • Be aware of the various ethical issues relevant to the research process.

Course Topics:
  • The research process
  • Research Question design
  • Evaluation and evidence in practice based research
  • Sampling
  • Questionnaire design
  • Interviewing
  • Observing
  • Content analysis
  • Focus groups
  • Ethical research
  • Methods of Data Analysis


Prerequisites:
LIBR/ARST Core; permission of MACL program advisor, as appropriate.

Format:
One three-hour class per week, which may include lectures, guest speakers, and group discussions and activities.


Required and Recommended Reading:
Required:
  • Wildemuth, Barbara. (2009). Applications of Social Research Methods to Questions in Information and Library Science. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Highly Recommended:
  • Bryman, Alan. (2008). Social Research Methods, 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press. (copies are available for local use from the table in front of the instructor’s office, and from short-term loan at Koerner Library).

Recommended:

  • Powell, R., and Connaway, L. (2004). Basic Research Methods for Librarians. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited.
  • Walliman, Nicholas. Your Research Project: A Step-by-Step Guide for the First-time Researcher. London: Sage Publications, 2001.
  • Williamson, Kirsty. Research methods for students, academics and professionals: Information management and systems. 2 nd ed. Wagga Wagga, NSW: Charles Sturt University – Centre for Information Studies, 2002.
  • The Researching Librarian Website - http://www.researchinglibrarian.com/


Attendance:
The calendar states: “Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars, etc.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments may be excluded from the final examinations. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability should report to their instructors on return to classes.” It is good practice to inform the instructor prior to any class from which you will be absent.


Evaluation:
All assignments will be marked using the evaluative criteria given on the SLAIS web site.


Written & Spoken English Requirement:
Written and spoken work may receive a lower mark if it is, in the opinion of the instructor, deficient in English.


Access & Diversity:
Access & Diversity works with the University to create an inclusive living and learning environment in which all students can thrive. The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the Access and Diversity unit: [http://www.students.ubc.ca/access/drc.cfm]. You must register with the Disability Resource Centre to be granted special accommodations for any on-going conditions.


Religious Accommodation:
The University accommodates students whose religious obligations conflict with attendance, submitting assignments, or completing scheduled tests and examinations. Please let your instructor know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodation on these grounds. Students who plan to be absent for varsity athletics, family obligations, or other similar commitments, cannot assume they will be accommodated, and should discuss their commitments with the instructor before the course drop date. UBC policy on Religious Holidays: http://www.universitycounsel.ubc.ca/policies/policy65.pdf .


Academic Integrity

Plagiarism

The Faculty of Arts considers plagiarism to be the most serious academic offence that a student can commit. Regardless of whether or not it was committed intentionally, plagiarism has serious academic consequences and can result in expulsion from the university. Plagiarism involves the improper use of somebody else's words or ideas in one's work.

It is your responsibility to make sure you fully understand what plagiarism is. Many students who think they understand plagiarism do in fact commit what UBC calls "reckless plagiarism." Below is an excerpt on reckless plagiarism from UBC Faculty of Arts' leaflet, "Plagiarism Avoided: Taking Responsibility for Your Work," (http://www.arts.ubc.ca/arts-students/plagiarism-avoided.html).

“The bulk of plagiarism falls into this category. Reckless plagiarism is often the result of careless research, poor time management, and a lack of confidence in your own ability to think critically. Examples of reckless plagiarism include:

  • Taking phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or statistical findings from a variety of sources and piecing them together into an essay (piecemeal plagiarism);
  • Taking the words of another author and failing to note clearly that they are not your own. In other words, you have not put a direct quotation within quotation marks;
  • Using statistical findings without acknowledging your source;
  • Taking another author's idea, without your own critical analysis, and failing to acknowledge that this idea is not yours;
  • Paraphrasing (i.e. rewording or rearranging words so that your work resembles, but does not copy, the original) without acknowledging your source;
  • Using footnotes or material quoted in other sources as if they were the results of your own research; and
  • Submitting a piece of work with inaccurate text references, sloppy footnotes, or incomplete source (bibliographic) information."

Bear in mind that this is only one example of the different forms of plagiarism. Before preparing for their written assignments, students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the following sources on plagiarism: the Faculty of Art's online booklet on plagiarism at http://www.arts.ubc.ca/arts-students/plagiarism-avoided.html, the discussion of Academic Integrity on http://www.arts.ubc.ca/faculty-amp-staff/resources/academic-integrity.html, and the library's resources at http://learningcommons.ubc.ca/get-study-help/academic-integrity/#Research. This website includes helpful tutorials on how to avoid plagiarism.

If after reading these materials you still are unsure about how to properly use sources in your work, please ask me for clarification.

Students are held responsible for knowing and following all University regulations regarding academic dishonesty. If a student does not know how to properly cite a source or what constitutes proper use of a source it is the student's personal responsibility to obtain the needed information and to apply it within University guidelines and policies. If evidence of academic dishonesty is found in a course assignment, previously submitted work in this course may be reviewed for possible academic dishonesty and grades modified as appropriate. UBC policy requires that all suspected cases of academic dishonesty must be forwarded to the Dean for possible action.


Additional course information:

Course Discussion List: Each of you must sign-up for the class discussion list. From whatever email account you wish to use, send the following [leave the Subject lineblank]: address-- To: majordomo@interchange.ubc.ca message-- subscribe l-505k end This is the mechanism that I will use to make announcements to you outside class. You are also welcome to post comments/questions to the list if relevant to other students. For particular problems or questions you should e-mail me directly at r.kopak@ubc.ca, see me in my office, or call me.