Causal comparative research

MITE 6025 Methods of Research and Enquiry


Research topic (brainstorming 3)
Question: The borrowing rate of our lower form students is dropped
Topic: What can be done to raise the borrowing rate? / How to enhance students’
reading habit?


Causal comparative research

- ex-post facto research
- cause and effect, non-experimental
- presumed cause is independent variable (a variable that is hypothesized to cause an observed difference is called an independent variable) :
- presumed effect is dependent variable (the difference is observed is called dependent variable)
- Exploratory, do not manipulate the independent variable
- searching and prove the relationships by comparing groups classified by existing differences
- Strong inference


Research question

Is there any relationship between computer usage and book borrowing? (suggested by Dr. Churchill)

Independent variable - time and frequency use on computer usage
Dependent variable - book borrowing rate

Other questions?

1. Why the borrowing rate dropped? Is there any specific reasons or factors occurred?
(eg. old fashioned books, no project or assignment during this period, increased use of computer to read or conduct their research, any human reason such as the attitude of the librarian)

2. How to enhance students’ reading habit / increase the usage of the library?
(eg. to acquire new books or attractive popular materials, novels, films, CDs, etc.; introduce research or project to students by teachers; book talk; book fair, etc.)

Review of literature

Plan - Literature review

I choose ProQuest, ERIC and electronic resources on HKU’s web portal as professional information databases or resources for searching the literature or articles about my research in the field of "secondary school library use"

First, I use keyword to search, eg. "student behavior use library”; “computer library and secondary school", "library use and secondary school", “ promote secondary school library”

Then, I found some articles and some of the titles seem related to my research topic. I choose some texts to browse it. I read some articles about study behavior, library environment, collections and any promotions. (causes or reasons) as the starting research points.

Afterwards, I choose the following article for my literature review.

Meyers, E. "From activity to learning: using cultural historical activity theory to model school library programmes and practices ": INFORMATION RESEARCH-AN INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC JOURNAL 12(3). http://informationr.net/ir/12-3/paper313.html (record from ISI Web Science)

Levy, P. (2003). "Educational informatics: an emerging research agenda." JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SCIENCE 29(4): 398-310. http://jis.sagepub.com.eproxy3.lib.hku.hk/cgi/reprint/29/4/298 (record from ISI Web Science)


In addition, I used WWW as my search tool and read related articles about casual-comparative research or students use secondary library.

Jason D. Schenker and Phillip D. Rumrill, J. (2004). "Perspectives on Scientific Inquiry : Causal-comparative research designs." Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation 21: 117-121.

For the discussion of literature review, I will choose article of Meyers. The article has related research concept for my research.

Study based on Quatitative Research

Collect data

Types of students

eg. We divided all Form 2 students (assume 30 students) into 3 groups (Group A. Seldom go to library; Group B. Go to library randomly; Group C. Often go to library)


Group A students may go to library
- if there are examinations, tests or assignments, or,
- they still reject to go to library and believe using computer to do research more effectively than reading printed materials

Group B students randomly go to library for research, browse, read or borrow books when they have materials or topics to be viewed (printed format or computer)

Group C students often go to library no matter to use any research tools (printed format or computer) for reading, research and assignment

Methods: Interview / Questionnaire

1. By observation

- consider information needed associating with the task; consider alternatives; request permission from the organization.
- the population usage of library before and after the installation of computer
- the population usage of library before and after new materials introduced, etc.

2. Questionnaires were distributed to students
- design questions
- analysis results
- verbal questions and answers written on separate sheets and conduct informal interview by face to face which the results could be used to analysis the topic later on



How to improve the usage of library / increase book borrowing

1. install computers in library for students to use
2. buy attractive books, novels, CDs, VCDs and DVDs (music, films and electronic books, etc.)
3. book talk
4. book fair
5. teachers assign students to do some projects, researches and book reviews
6. improve customer services (including school librarian to teachers, school librarian to students and school librarian to parents)
7. exhibition
8. present prizes to those students who always use library and read the greatest amount of books, etc.
9. working with parents (build a volunteer team approach to library service, provide ideas, tutoring and research assistance, fund raising, etc.)


After improving the captioned factors or measures, borrowing rate and library use have been increased.

Limitation

- budget
- policy
- sponsor organization
- opening hours

Outcomes

Analysis and discussion
Write a report to conclude the process, findings and conclusions
Results could lead further research


References:-


Bell, J. (1993). Doing your research project : a guide for first-time researchers in education and social science. Buckingham, Open University Press.
If you are a beginner researcher, the problems facing you are much the same whether you are producing a small project, an MEd dissertation or a PhD thesis. You will need to select a topic; identify the objectives of your study; plan and design a suitable methodology; devise research instruments; negotiate access to institutions, material and people; collect, analyse and present information; and finally, produce a well-written report or dissertation. Whatever the scale of the undertaking, you will have to master techniques and devise a plan of action which does not attempt more than the limitations of expertise, time and access permit. We all learn to do research by actually doing it, but a great deal of time can be wasted and goodwill dissipated by inadequate preparation. This book aims to provide you with the tools to do the job, to help you avoid some of the pitfalls and time-wasting false trails that can eat into your time, and to establish good research habits. It takes you from the stage of choosing a topic through to the production of a well-planned, methodologically sound and well-written final report or dissertation on time. Doing Your Research Project serves as a source of reference and guide to good practice for all beginner researchers, whether undergraduate and postgraduate students or professionals such as teachers or social workers undertaking investigations in Education and the Social Sciences. This second edition retains the basic structure of the very successful first edition whilst incorporating some important new material.

Farmer, L. S. J. (2001). "Teaming with technology: Providing library services to parents." School Libraries Worldwide 7(2): 49.

Hider, P. (2008). "USE AND NONUSE OF AN AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARY." APLIS 21(1): 33-40.
A report on a survey of use and nonuse of the Wagga Wagga City Library in regional New South Wales, Australia. Over three hundred residents in and around the city completed the survey questionnaire. Their responses indicate that most people in the community visit the library from time to time, and that all its core services and collections are widely used and valued. Home internet is having some impact on public library use, but the chief reason for nonuse appears to be the modern lifestyle and lack of time. Libraries cannot make more time for people but they can encourage people to make more time for libraries. The library is still mainly perceived as a physical space. It should continue to promote this space but, at the same time, work on its online services, so that some people use the library more frequently. Many members of the public are still unaware that they can visit their library without leaving their homes. This needs to change [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of APLIS is the property of Auslib Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts)

Jaeger, R. M. and American Educational Research Association. (1997). Complementary methods for research in education. Washington, D.C., American Educational Research Association.

Meyers, E. "From activity to learning: using cultural historical activity theory to model school library programmes and practices ": INFORMATION RESEARCH-AN INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC JOURNAL 12(3).

Levy, P. (2003). "Educational informatics: an emerging research agenda." JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SCIENCE 29(4): 398-310.