Empowering Librarians by creating a Research Culture

Jayatunga AmaraweeraFormer Librarian

Buddhist & Pali University of Sri Lanka

What is Culture ?• The word culture has many different

meanings: Culture is the full range of learned human behaviour patterns.

• Culture is "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."  (Edward B. Tylor , 1871)

What is Research ?

• A detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding. (Cambridge Dictionaries Online, 2003.)

• Systematic investigation to establish facts or principles or to collect information on a subject (www.thefreedictionary.com)

• Organized study: methodical investigation into a subject in order to discover facts, to establish or revise a theory, or to develop a plan of action based on the facts discovered (www.bing.com/Dictionary)

What is research?

• “A careful, systematic , patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or princilpes” (Grinnell, 1993:4)

• It is a discovery (Rediscovery); A voyage from the known to the unknown

• An effort to be closer to the truth

Steps of Research process

• 1. Formulation a of a research problem• 2. Creation of a research design• 3. Constructing instruments for data collection• 4. Selecting a sample• 5.Writing the research proposal• 6. Collecting data• 7. Analysing / Processing data• 8. Writing the report or thesis / dissertation

What is Research Culture ?

• Research is a learned behaviour; it is started the days in secondary school and is enhanced as we progress through our degrees and careers.

• The research culture is the structure which gives that behaviour significance and that allows us to understand and evaluate the research activity.

• In an university, the cultural structure based around the behaviour of the staff and students that allows us to transfer the knowledge gained through this systematic process to our students and to the community.

a need of Research Culture because:

• Research is the basis of how a university education and learning works

• It is the intellectual life blood of our Academic staff including librarians

• It should be the fundamental support of our teaching, learning , knowledge development and instruction

• It is a basis of our support for the university and learning community.

Three basic components of a Research Culture

The first strand is research, embracing the systematic generation of new knowledge, development of new ideas and experiment with new techniques.

The second strand is Learning and Teaching. It explicates a body of ideas, is informed by available research, and instills, habits of inquiry that reflect the available nature of knowledge

The final strand is knowledge transfer. It encompasses many dimensions of interaction between academia and the wider society and community

Who are they ?

Developing research capacity in health librarians

Health Information & Libraries JournalVolume 25, Issue 3, pages 159-174, 11 AUG 2008 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2008.00788.xhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2008.00788.x/full#f1

Developing research capacity in health librarians

Health Information & Libraries JournalVolume 25, Issue 3, pages 159-174, 11 AUG 2008 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2008.00788.xhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2008.00788.x/full#f3

Implications for Practice in a research culture

• Begin to give greater consideration to personal research capability and begin developing this through the learning of appropriate skills.

• Where possible become more involved with research collaborations and networks such as online discussion forums to help develop research skills and to actively encourage and support engagement with research activities.

• Where possible work closely with experienced professional and academic researchers and ask to be involved in more than just literature searches. (Hannah Rossall et.al., 2008)

A member of Res. Cult. should be :

•A good planner and a designer•A good observer•An active reader •An evaluator and an analyst•A critic •A competent interpreter•A able presenter•A profound reporter /writer

How to do research

(From Internet )

www.au.af.mil/au/awc/study/grant-research.ppt

www.eecis.udel.edu/~elloyd/signew.d/Research.ppt

www.powershow.com/view/146b09-OGRjZ/Why_do_research

From Slideshare

http://www.slideshare.net/mssridhar/introduction-to-research-methodology-presentation

http://www.slideshare.net/sladner/week03-qualitative-vs-quantitative-presentation-605574

http://www.slideshare.net/m9821735856/research-design-plan

http://www.slideshare.net/omkarnn/research-methodology-10685682

From YouTube (VDOs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFoSDPRaLOk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGRE0acAjjU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd2XkcoMNT8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeKbBW5xvNU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4l0s0lrDl8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3aBWEWBlGQ

Questions &

Answers

Thank You