The article we're going to review

Please include the citation and abstract.
(best if you have tried to answer some of the Qs, of course :P)

Note: You may access to the ISI web of science here http://library.hku.hk/record=b2114471

The Qs we're going to answer:
1. What is the problem for the study?
2. What procedures did the experimenter use for the study?
3. What were the major conclusions for the study?
4. How would you classify the study, according to the six types of research studies we looked at in this lesson?

brainstorm & some prosposed questions

I suggest that we take the format something like small-scaled research. As far as I know, not sure good approach or not, the results can be analyzed both by qualitative and quantitative method.

For Andrew's proposed questions, Some questions always pop up in my mind to guess why students borrow less books , and I propose as follows:


1. How often do you borrow reading materials from the school library? Indicate your choice by putting a Ö .
( ) once a week or more frequently ( ) once every two weeks
( ) once a month ( ) less than once per month ( ) never

2. General speaking, how long do you usually spend on reading every day ?
( ) A. less than 15min. ( ) B. 15 – 30 min.
( ) C. 30 – 60 min. ( ) D. 60 – 120 min.
( ) E. more than 120 min.

3. Do you think that you have to spare more time to read ?
( ) Yes ( ) No

4. Under what circumstances, will you read less than usual / why don’t you borrow books
from the school library? ( You can choose more than one option.)
( ) A. when there is a test or an examination
( ) B. when there are much homework
( ) C. when there is a project to accomplish
( ) D. I have no interest in reading
( ) E. I think that the knowledge taught in school is sufficient
( ) F. it is not convenient to go to the library
( ) G. much time spent on musical activities
( ) H. much time spent on practicing sports
( ) I. there is not enough encouragement nor reward
( ) J. much time spent on internet or any other electronic devices
( ) K. much time spent on extra-curricular activities
( ) L. much time spent on audio visual entertainment (e.g. TV, movies, music, radio programs )
( ) M. difficulties are found in reading
( ) N. much time spent on talking with friends on phone
( ) O. I have got many books at home
( ) P. I would rather borrow books from the public libraries
( ) Q. others (please state) : ______________________________________

F. What is your opinion about the School library or the reading activities? Any suggestions ?
____________________________________________________________________________

Research topic (brainstorm 2)

Topic: The factors affect borrowing rate of lower form students

Possible research questions:
1. What kind of factors will affect students' reading habit?
(Personal habit, family background, teachers, library, & school policy...?)
2. What kind of factors will affect students' motivation to borrow books? (when they want to read a book why they choose to, or not to, borrow it from the library?)
3. Is there a correlation between book borrowing and computer usage? (suggested by Dr. Churchill)
4. How technology impacts use of traditional library resources (suggested by Dr. Churchill)
5. What can the library done to enhance reading habit and increase the borrowing rate?

Research type: Case-study??? or Causal-comparative???

Example of case study

By Lim, C.P. & Hang, D (2003). An activity theory approach to research of ICT integration in Singapore schools. Computers & Education, 41:49-63

"A case study approach was adopted ...... Multiple strategies were employed for data collection and analysis: observation of ICT-mediated lessons, interviews with teachers, students, HODs (heads of dept.) and principal. The main advantages of using multiple sources of evidence are the development of converging lines of inquiry, and any finding or conclusion is likely to be more convincing and accurate if it is based on several different sources and perspectives of information. With multiple approaches within a single study, some extraneous influences may also be illuminated or nullified (Stake, 1995; Yin, 1994). In this study, such triangulation addresses the problems of validity and reliability."

"...... 15 ICT-mediated lessons were observed......in diferent subject areas......eight were conducted in the computer laboratories and the remaining seven in the classrooms...... An observation checklist was developed to guide the observation process......included the layout of the room, lesson objectives, lsson sequence, types of ICT tools and non-ICT tools used, rules and roles of participants."

"A total eight interviews were conducted; three with individual teachers, one with the principal, one with the HOD in charge of ICT, and three focus group interviews with students....... for approximately 45 min each......allowed participants to recount activities or incidences that were not observed. The interviews remained rather open-ended and conducted in a conversational manner following a set of topics that provided some form of guidinh structure......"

Therefore, if our project in conducted in case study, we may include the above essentials. e.g.:
- observe (how student choose books in library)
- interview
--student (readers vs. non-readers)
--teachers

research topic (brainstorm)

(let brainstorm!)

the question: the borrowing rate of our lower form students is dropped

topic: what can be done to rise the borrowing rate? / how to enhance students' reading habit?

research type: action research???

Our group members

Vickie Lo Yin Ling
Stella Yiu Hang Lan
Andrew Fong Fu Yun
(requested by one of our members to remove her name)