Basic Research Methods for Librarians (Library and Information Science Text Series) [Paperback]

Ronald Powell (Author), Lynn Silipigni Connaway (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1591581125 | ISBN-13: 978-1591581123 | Publication Date: November 30, 2004 | Edition: 4

Most library post-graduate programs teach research methods using generic research methods textbooks. However, this ground-breaking textbook covers the basic research methodologies likely to be used by librarians with an orientation to library issues. It also includes basic instructions on writing the research proposal and the research report.

Most library post-graduate programs teach research methods_ using generic research methods textbooks. However, this ground-breaking textbook covers the basic research methodologies likely to be used by librarians with an orientation to library issues. It also includes basic instructions on writing the research proposal and the research reports.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Any library that does not have a copy of Basic Research Methods for Librarians ought to acquire this edition, and many library schools will want to put it on the list of required readings. It remains the best book on its subject." - The Australian Library Journal "Basic Research Methods for Librarians is well organized and thorough in discussing the many types and aspects of research....[a] solid book on library research." - Journal of the American Society for Information Science"

Book Description

Any library that does not have a copy of Basic Research Methods for Librarians ought to acquire this edition, and many library schools will want to put it on the list of required readings. It remains the best book on its subject.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited; 4 edition (November 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591581125
• ISBN-13: 978-1591581123
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #553,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Only if you must, January 5, 2006

By 

Shannon Wortham "Shongzah" (Saint Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Research Methods for Librarians (Library and Information Science Text Series) (Paperback)

The only reason you are reading this probably because it is a required text for your class. For this, I am sorry. This is a terrible text. The authors seem to have some sort of inferiority complex. They compensate for this by making the text unnecessarily complex and opaque. I thought that my difficulty was because of my background, B.A. History. I asked my wife to help me (she used to teach Quantitative Research for Communication majors). She intended to use the Powell Connaway text (this book) but after a few hours she put the book down and got one of her texts (Investigating Communication -Frey, Botan, and Kreps 2000). This text made sense. It is written clearly with a sense of humor. It includes cartoons (Powell and Connaway would be appalled). It is clear from reading the Powell and Connaway text that they have done a lot of reading (you can guarantee an average of two references/paragraph). They would do well to read the text mentioned above.

Powell and Connaway complain that more librarians aren't doing serious, quantitative, research ("According to Shera, Beals once categorized library literature into the tripartite classifications of Glad Tidings, Testimony, and Research, and noted that there was little of the last." p.3). I would argue that this shortage is precisely because of the way quantitative research is presented in books like theirs.

If you are serious about learning how to conduct quantitative research, find another book. This one is awful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Important value, October 18, 2007

By 

Kerry Caparco "Liberal Librarian" (rhode island) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Basic Research Methods for Librarians (Library and Information Science Text Series) (Paperback)

This book is an essential part of any librarians' tool kit - especially if you want to get published. All the elements of research are included - from planning the proposal to writing the report. Practical information such as data collection, historical resources, and the advantages and disadvantages of survey design are also included. Recommended for professionals and graduate students.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I found this text very helpful, January 11, 2006

By 

Sonya "shalimar_aurora" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic Research Methods for Librarians (Library and Information Science Text Series) (Paperback)

I used this book for a course in library research and found it clear, helpful, and detailed. I was very satisfied with the text and relied on it for developing a solid research proposal.