Research Methods : Information, Systems and Contexts

Ideal for those undertaking research in the fields of librarianship and information management, Research Methods for Information Management and Systems: Techniques and Questions is a wide-ranging text that guides students through the literature so that they can pursue their own investigations efficiently and in greater detail. It is structured according to key topics and divided into four parts.
• Part I introduces the reader to the field of research methods, and includes Ethics.
• Part II deals with the broach categories of research, such as surveys, case studies, action research, and ethnography.
• Part III the focuses on techniques, including sampling, questionnaires and interview design, and focus groups.
• Part IV then deals with the analysis of data, both quantitative and qualitative, and the evaluation of published research. The final chapter then poses seven questions critical for good researchers.

Associate Professor Graeme Johanson worked as a librarian for 10 years before becoming an academic. His PhD thesis, on the history of British books published for the colonies, was published as A Study of Colonial Editions in Australia: 1843–1972. As Director of the Centre for Community Networking Research at Monash University, he has undertaken many research projects about the evaluation and use of information and communications technologies. Until recently he was Associate Dean Research Training, Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, and he has supervised many postgraduate students.

KIRSTY WILLIAMSON is Senior Research Fellow in the School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University in Australia. Her research focuses on human information behaviour, and the human and social aspects of ICT use. Over the past 20 years, Kirsty has been the Director of Information and Telecommunications Needs Research (ITNR), and has supervised many higher degree students. She also has a strong publishing record, both nationally and internationally.