JCDL Workshop Report

Abstract

Theoretical approachUse of a particular type of technology or resource is notoriously difficult to study. There are many different dimensions to use, and this complexity cannot be captured using a single research method. We are using a multi-method approach that will allow us to triangulate our research methods and our sources of data. Our approach begins with qualitative focus groups of faculty. The protocol is designed to allow themes to emerge based on responses to questions regarding digital resource and digital library use. This will be followed by a large-scale quantitative survey to give us an over-arching picture and identify broad trends, but such an approach will give us few details of the mechanics of digital library use because answers will be limited by the nature of survey responses. The quantitative survey supplements the qualitative data from focus groups and interviews of faculty to describe the process whereby faculty come to use libraries and what they perceive the obstacles and opportunities to be. This can be correlated with observations on real behavior like those described in Manduca, et al. Methodological ApproachTo grasp the full complexity of the nature of faculty use of digital libraries and to counter any potential weaknesses in any individual methodology, we will employ three different, yet complementary, methods to gather the data for this study.