Explains the origins of technology assessment and defines the term. The method is discussed in general and with particular attention to use of the Delphi technique as a data-gathering tool for technology assessment studies. The method is suggested for considering the likely impacts of new information technologies on library and information…

Review of research methodologies used in studies of online public access catalog (OPAC) users finds that a variety of research methodologies--e.g., surveys, transaction log analysis, interviews--have been used with varying degrees of expertise. It is concluded that poor research methodology resulting from limited training and resources limits the…

Examines 855 documents relevant to library and information science (LIS) and categorizes them according to whether they were written by persons inside or outside LIS and whether they were published inside or outside the LIS literature. Author affiliation, document type, audience, and subject content are covered. (50 references) (KRN)

An analysis of the Journal of the American Society for Information Science (1970-84) examined (1) the nature of information science; (2) the relationship between information and library science; (3) whether information science is a new branch of science; (4) the relationship between information science and scientific information; and (5) whether a…

This study compared the content categories listed in the ANSI/ISO (American National Standards Institute/International Organization for Standardization) abstracting standards to actual content found in 120 abstracts from the chemistry, psychology, and history literature. A lack of correlation between the standards and history literature was found.…

Four models for conceptualizing a circulation matrix containing the number of books borrowed according to subject and majors of student borrowers compare (1) majors; (2) subjects; (3) disciplines, suppressing the distinction between majors and subjects; and (4) majors with subjects. Results of multidimensional scaling analysis of the models are…

A survey of library school students examined: (1) preferences influencing career choice; (2) reasons for getting an MLS; (3) comparisons with alternative occupations; (4) accuracy of expectations about salaries and placement; (5) comparison of expectations of students with and without previous library experience; and (6) differences between male…

Causal regression and time series models were developed using six years of data for home borrowing, average readership, and books consulted at a university library. The models were tested for efficacy in producing short-term planning and control data. Combined models were tested in establishing evaluation measures. (10 references) (Author/MES)

Examines library availability studies for the past 50 years as a measure of library effectiveness and looks at their differing sources of study samples, methods for gathering data, categories of nonavailability, and data analysis. The Kantor branching technique developed in 1976 is described as the standard analysis method. (Author/EM)

Reports results of a survey of 300 minority (i.e., African-American, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American) librarians conducted to determine factors that influence minority librarians to choose a career in librarianship and to ascertain effective recruiting techniques to attract minorities to librarianship. A copy of the questionnaire is appended.…

Describes a citation analysis of public library journal articles which shows that the public library literature functions as an interactive communication system between public librarians and library and information science educators. Prior research on communication in public librarianship, the role of journals, authorship, and citation patterns is…

Reviews the literature on qualitative methods in information retrieval research. Qualitative research is shown to be noncontrolling, holistic and case oriented, about processes, open and flexible, diverse in methods, humanistic, inductive, and scientific. Relevance to library and information science and sources of information on qualitative…

Presents a methodology for construction of location modeling for public library facilities in diverse urban environments. Historical and current research in library location is reviewed; and data collected from a survey of six library systems are analyzed according to population, spatial, library use, and library attractiveness variables. (48…

Reviews studies done on academic library growth in attempt to clarify three reasons for failure of these analyses to result in usable projections of library size. Highlights include patterns in library growth (hypothetical exponential and arithmetic growth), Fremont Rider's studies of growth, and literature on growth after Rider. (28 references)…

Presents results of investigation into nature of 98 library administration doctoral dissertations produced in library science from 1928 to 1980, including number of dissertations per library school, research methodologies used, and characteristics of doctoral student advisors. Relevant literature, data gathering, and hypothesis testing are…