College of Arts and Social Sciences
[Department of Information Studies]
Course Portfolio
[Research Methods in Information Studies]
Info 4150
Period: [Semester – Spring 2015]
[2015]
Course File
I. COURSE FILE SUMMARY
1. COURSE INFORMATION
College/Institute/Centre
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Department
Department of Information Studies
Program Title
Information Studies
Semester\Year
Spring 2015
Program Code
Course Title
English
Arabic
Research Methods in Information
Studies
‫مناهج البحث في دراسات المعلومات‬
Course Code
Info 4150
Course Type
Core
Pre Requisites
PSYC3204 or INFO4270
Teaching Language
Arabic and English
Credit Hours
3
Teaching Hours
Teaching Weeks
Lecture
1.5 (Weekly)
Practical/Fieldwork 1.5 (Weekly)
15
Number of students
Lecture
Practical/Fieldwork
Number of Student dropped
1
Total
3
25
24
24
1
2. COURSE DESCRIPTION
ENGLISH COURSE DESCRIPTION
Introduce students to the fundamental concepts and
research methods in information studies. Enable
students to use both quantitative and qualitative
techniques. Educate students to select and analyze
an appropriate research problem. Enable students to
evaluate and review published literature. Enable
students to prepare a written research proposal.
Design quantitative and qualitative research; decide
on sampling and data collection techniques and
approaches; and perform data analysis and research
presentation. Evaluate and analyze literature and
published studies within library and information
science.
ARABIC COURSE DESCRIPTION
،‫ٌهذف هذا الوقزر إلى ذعزٌف الطلثح تالوفاهٍن األساسٍح‬
‫وهناهج وأدواخ الثحس العلوً فً ذخصص دراساخ‬
‫ وذوكٍنهن فً الرعزف على واسرخذام هناهج‬،‫الوعلىهاخ‬
‫ كذلك ٌزذثط ترعلٍن الطلثح ذحذٌذ‬.‫الثحس الكوٍح والنىعٍح‬
،‫واخرٍار هشكلح تحثٍح هناسثح ووصفها وذعزٌفها‬
‫تاإلضافح إلى ذعزٌفهن تكٍفٍح كراتح وذقذٌن هزاجعح‬
‫ كود ٌسعى إلى‬.‫للذراساخ الساتقح فً هىضىع الثحس‬
‫ذوكٍن الطلثح فً إعذاد الوقرزح الثحثً وذصوٍن الثحىز‬
‫الكوٍح والنىعٍح وها ٌزذثط تها هن ذقنٍاخ وأسالٍة جوع‬
‫تٍاناخ الذراسح؛ وإجزاءاخ ذحلٍل الثٍاناخ وعزض‬
.‫الثحىز فً ذخصص دراساخ الوعلىهاخ‬
3. COURSE OBJECTIVES
The main objective is to familiarize students with principles and practices of most
common research methods in information studies.
4. COURSE INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Along with achieving the ability to understand, prepare, design, conduct, and evaluate
research in library and information science, students, upon completion of this
course, will also be expected to be able to:





Understand the role and importance of research in library and information
science.
Understand the characteristics of well-defined research problem and
develop meaningful research questions.
Conduct a literature search and prepare a well-written literature review.
Understand the basics of developing the research design and selecting data
collection technique appropriate for a specific type of a research.
Develop understanding of a real research process by preparing a high
quality research proposal.
2
5. LECTURES SCHEDULE
WEEK
TOPIC
1
 Add and Drop
 Introduction and course overview
2
 The history of LIS (Discipline vs. Professionalism.
 Introduction to research in LIS
 The nature of inquiry and philosophy of science
3
 Highlights on the scholarly communication system
 Introduction to the Arabic system of scholarly communication
4
 Understanding Research
 Types of Research
 The Research Process
 Elements of the Research Proposal
5
 Quantitative Research
 Hypothesis, Questionnaire Design, Variables, Validity, Sampling, Data
Collection and Manipulation
6
 Quantitative Research
 Hypothesis, Questionnaire Designs, Variables, Validity, Sampling, Data
Collection and Manipulation
7
 Qualitative Research Methods
 Observation, Interview, Focus Group, and Content Analysis
8
 Sampling, Data Collection Process, and Validity and Reliability
9

Qualitative Data Interpretation
10
13








Historical Approach
Action Research
Experimental Research
Delphi Study
Case Study
Ethical Concerns
Getting Organized
Writing the Research Report
14

Reviewing Up and Evaluation
15

Classes Ends
11
12
Final Exams Start
3
6. TEACHING STRATEGIES AND TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION
Teaching Method
 DISCUSSIONS




Teaching Media
 Power Point Slides
 Videos
based on learnercentred approach (Online discussion
is also valued and encouraged).
Dynamic Groups
Discussions
Self-Learning
Learning through assignments and
research
7. GRADING AND ASSESSMENT
POINTS
100
WRITTEN
55
ORAL
15
TERM PAPER
15
CONTINUOUS
15
Assessment and Evaluation:
1. Lead Discussion (15%)
2. Literature Review (15%)
3. Design of a Data Collection Tool (15%)
4. Research Proposal (15%)
5. Final Examination 40%
8. COURSE RULES
Attendance
Attendance at class is mandatory. Course Instructors should keep attendance records. An
"absentee warning notice" will be issued if a student is absent for:
• More than 10% in courses with less than 75 total contact hours.
• More than 5% in courses with 75 or more total contact hours.
An "absentee withdrawal notice" will be issued and the student will be deemed to have
withdrawn from the course with an 'FW' grade if a student is absent for:
• More than 20% in courses with less than 75 total contact hours.
• More than 15% in courses with 75 to 150 total contact hours.
• More than 10% of total contact hours for courses with more than 150 total
contact hours.
9. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION
Beck, Susan E. and Manuel Kate. Practical
Research Methods for Librarians and Information
Professionals. Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2008.
English Reference Books
‫ طزق الثحس فً علن‬.‫ سرٍفٍن‬،‫ ذشارلز و هارذز‬،‫تىشا‬
‫ ذزجوح دمحم الفٍرىري‬.‫ األسالٍة والرأوٌل‬:‫الوكرثاخ‬
.5002 ،‫ دار الكراب الجذٌذج الورحذج‬.‫عثذالجلٍل‬
Available Through the course management
system in a weekly base
http://moodle.squ.edu.om/course/view.ph
p?id=5940
Arabic Reference Books
Lecture Notes/Hand-outs
Electronic Materials, Web Sites etc.
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10. Additional Reading
Aronson, J. (1994). "A pragmatic view of thematic analysis". The Qualitative Report, 2
(1).
Attride-Stiring, J. (2001). "Thematic networks: an analytic tool for qualitative research".
Qualitative Research, 1, 385-405.
Berg, T., Pooley, R. & Queenan, J. (2011). "Achieving consensus within SSM".
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 1 (4), 231 – 239.
Betz, F. (2011). Managing Science: Methodology and organisation of research. New
York: Springer.
Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006). "Using thematic analysis in Psychlogy". Qualitative
Research in Psychology, 3, 77-101.
Bryman, A. (2008). Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Carroll, J. & Swatman, P. (2000). "Structured-case: a methodological framework for
building theory in information systems research". European Journal of Information
Systems 9, 235-242..
Checkland, P. (1981a). "Rethinking a systems approach". Journal of Applied Systems
Analysis, 8, 3 – 14.
Checkland, P. (1999a). Soft systems methodology: a 30 year retrospective. Chichester:
John Wiley & Sons, LTD.
Checkland, P. & Poulter, J. (2006). Learning for action: A short definitive account of soft
systems methodology and its use for practitioners, teachers and students. Chichester:
John wiley & Sons, LTD.
Creswell, J.W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
approaches. London: Sage Publications.
Creswell, J.W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: choosing among five
approaches. London: SAGE Publications.
Creswell, J.W. (2009). Qualitative inquiry and research design: choosing among five
approaches. London: SAGE Publications.
Delbridge, R. (2003). The application of Soft Systems Methodology to library
management system design: a case study of a law firm. Manchester Metropolitan
University
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Durant-Law, G. (2005). "Soft Systems Methodology and Grounded Theory Combined: A
Knowledge Management Research Approach?". actKM Online Journal, 2 (1),
http://www.durantlaw.info/sites/durantlaw.info/files/Soft%20Systems%20Methodology
%20and%20Grounded%20Theory%20Combined.pdf
Elliott, J. (1991). Action research for educational change. Philadelphia: Open University
Press.
Golafhani, N. (2003). "Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research".
The Qualitative Report, 8 (4), 597-607.
Hatch, J.A. (2002). Doing qualitative research in education settings. New York: State
University of New York Press.
Jackson, M. (2000). Systems approaches to management. New York: Springer.
McNabb, D.E. (2008). Research methods in public administration and nonprofit
management New York: M. E. Sharpe, Inc.
McNabb, D.E. (2010). Research methods for political science: quantitative and
qualitative approaches. New York: M. E. Shrpe.
McNiff, J. & Whitehead, J. (2000). Action research in organisations London: Routledge.
Myers, M.D. (2009). Qualitative research in business & management California: SAGE
Publications Inc.
Stringer, E.T. (2007). Action research. London: Sage Publications, Inc.
Walliman, N. (2011). Research methods: The Basics. Oxon: Routledge.
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