Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. Answer: Introduction From the time of mans existence, the desire for greater knowledge and more information has been that without a doubt a fascinating issue. The information seeking desires that man exhibits is very much comparable to the thirst for water in the middle of a desert- unquenchable. Information seeking is simply defined as the process of attempting to gain information and this could be in both human and technological contexts. However, it should not be confused with information retrieval, which is getting access to information that is relevant to the issue or topic in question. Information seeking behavior, on the other hand, is defined as the human behavior and attraction towards sources and channels of information and this includes both active and passive information seeking and use (Wilson, 1981). In his book, Wilson (1981) further describes it saying that it is a way people search and utilize information- it is purposive and aims to satisfy the individuals goal(s). With the introduction of modern technology as well as its vast growth, information seeking as well as other sectors of the world as we know it has been impacted enormously. The scope of information that is readily and easily available today is that to be commended. The integration of systems and development of technology has changed the education system in particular. We no longer search for information but also try to understand it as well as its importance and its use in our lives. This research paper will seek to understand the relationship between technology and information seeking and how the evolvement of technology has affected information seeking habits. The research will also seek to know how technology can be used to enhance information seeking especially in education systems like universities and colleges. This research will focus its findings on Holmes Community College, an education institution established in 1963. The institution has three campuses with its headquarters in Goodman, Mississippi. Over the years, the institution has grown and developed from one level to another through changes in technology that has influenced information seeking habits among its students. The research, on its quest for understanding the impact of technological change(s) on information seeking habits of the students at Holmes Community College, will seek out to understand the factors that result in a student perception of need of information. It will also bring into perspective the factors that affect the individuals perception for need and eventually come to understand the processes involved in that response. With technological advancements such as the e-library, students at Holmes Community College have easy and unlimited access to whatever information they might be looking for and in the process, developing a skill for information seeking. However, information-seeking habits of the students vary from one to another as each student has different information seeking habits depending on their need in their different disciplines. Information seeking habits is deeply rooted in the technological changes that have been achieved over the years. With more technological advancements, there is an increased need for more and more information. Information seeking is a personal journey for every individual and each person exhibits a different behavior from the other. It is a process where the individual forms a personal view by trying to make sense of whatever information they are acquiring (Dervin, 1999). This then brings in the term information need as behavior related to information seeking is heavily reliant on an individuals need. For example, a science student has very different needs from an art student regarding the information they seek out. Information need is the motivation people think and feel to seek information and is fueled by the desire or the aim of finding an answer(s) (Cole, 2012). When an individual recognizes a gap in their state of knowledge, it results to an anomaly state of knowledge and this pushes the individual to seek to resolve that disproportion (Belkin Cool, 1993). In the case of Holmes Community College, the desire for information by the students created a behavior of going to the library to find information based on their need. This information they would get from journals, newspaper articles, periodicals, academic books among other publications. The introduction of networked computer systems in Holmes Community College was because of an increased need of information by the students. The materials available in the traditional library were not enough to fulfill the information seeking needs of the students who wanted more information. This and together with the need to maintain an everyday increasing data material contributed to the institution providing computers which would link to an unlimited supply of information. Information needs are brought about by the desire to fulfil one, if not all, of the three basic human needs. Nicholas and Herman divided these needs into: physiological needs; psychological needs and cognitive needs (Nicholas Herman, 2010). The second technological change was the development of an online database system where students can log in and search whatever material they need. While searching, the student has a vague understanding of their information problem and need (Cool, 1993) - this is the first step in information seeking strategy, which also comprises of other steps. These steps include a method of interaction (how individual gets the information they are seeking); the goal of interaction (what the individual is trying to achieve through the seeking out of that specific information); mode of retrieval (what tool the individual uses to get the information); and resource considered (the information itself). The third technological change is introduction of the internet and the search engine that connects computers, the World Wide Web. This is undoubtedly the focal point when it comes to technology and information seeking. The internet has enabled the students to not only retrieve information but also share it. Studies in India reveals that most students and scholars are greatly influenced by the internet as a tool for information seeking(Manikandan, et al., 2013). These new technological changes have changed how, in this case, students seek for information as well as their retrieval methods. The internet and telecommunications technology such as computers, smart phones, tablets, and laptops are very important mediums for retrieval of information at any given time or place. However, the researcher should be able to break down the research processes further giving a clear description of understanding as to why information-seeking habits are personalized. Even students within the same discipline have different information-seeking habits. Are information-seeking habits related to an individuals perspective of life? Alternatively, has something to do with their social, political, and cultural backgrounds? Could it also be related to the ability of an individual to grasp information and break it down to what they can understand? It is also important to highlight whether or not the new technology or different types of technology have any influence on an individuals interest towards information seeking. Research Design and Methodology Qualitative research is also known as exploratory research. This type of research seeks to give an deeper understanding of the fundamental reasons, opinions, as well as incentives for a certain phenomenon. It focuses on the how and why part of the research in trying to understand human behavior and the reasons for such behavior (Denzin Lincoln, 2005). The process of qualitative research starts with data collection. This can be through conducting interviews or organizing focus group discussions. The researcher needs to draft down suitable questions related to the research topic. These questions can be either closed-ended, open questions or multiple-choice questions (Patton, 2015). The next step would be analyzing the collected data, which is then followed by a write-up of the findings and the conclusion. For a good data analysis, it is important for the researcher to have a well-defined research topic (Silverman, 2016) which also translates to the conclusion of the research. Quantitative research methods are slightly different from qualitative methods. These methods emphasize on statistics and mathematical or numerical analysis of data collected during research. These data can be collected through questionnaires that are mostly close-ended or multiple choices. In addition, it can be through surveys or previously acquire statistical data (Given, 2008). This type of research narrows down to more specific kind of questions with clear-cut objectives that can be translated statistically in representations of graphs, charts, etc. Quantitative research process starts with identifying a problem area once that is done the researcher must review and evaluate the literature. Before conducting any data collection, the researcher must be aware of ethical and cultural issues that might arise. The researcher must then carefully formulate data research questions based on the research questions. These research questions and objectives will guide the researcher to what data-collecting tool is most appropriate. After collecting data, it must be analyzed and its conclusions to be recorded (Benz, et al., 1998). Reliability and validity of research help test its soundness and authenticity. Reliability is the extent to which a research tool produces unchanging and consistent results (Phelan Julie Wren, 2005). According to Phelan and Wren, reliability can be checked by either doing a test-retest (this means conducting the same test twice on the same people over a given period) or doing a parallel form of reliability (that is administering different types of tools on the same group of people. To measure validity, the researcher can use sampling validity, which ensures that the researcher every sample area within the actual study area. Limitations of research can be defined as the aspects involved in the research design or methodology that had an impact or in one way or another influenced the interpretations of the findings in research. They are a consequence of the decisions the researcher chose to do during the conduction of the research study including the method they used to establish validity (Price, et al., 2004). The researcher might come across limitations such as time constrains as well as uncooperative respondents. Other limitation can be as the result of lack of proper or thorough research on the topic, lack of available or reliable data, language barrier, cultural constrictions and measure used to collect the data (Brutus, 2013). The schedule for the research is 4- 6 weeks. This time frame will allow the researcher to fully analyze the intended sample area and if need be do re-tests. Conclusion The impact of technology in the world today can be felt in most sectors if not all, including the education sector. The phrase Knowledge is Power has been enhanced by the drastic and dynamic technological changes that have seen the world move from a modern age to a postmodern information age. Information is now readily available for all to use and manipulate how they see fit, this has resulted in an even greater need for information seeking by individuals, and it is not just restricted to Universities and learning institutions. Information is being consumed like never before by all manner of people in different levels in life, academically and socially speaking. With even more advancement in technology, the information age and the need for more information will never end. Bibliography Belkin, N. Cool, C., 1993. The Concept of Information Seeking strategies and its Use in Design of Information Retrieval Systems, New Jersey: Rutgers University. Belkin, N. Vickery, A., 1989. Interaction in Information Systems: A review of Research from document retrieval to Knowledge-based Systems. London: British Library. Benz, C., Newman Isadore, 1998. Qualitative-quantitative research methodology: Exploring the interactive continuum. s.l.:SIU Press. Brutus, S. e. a., 2013. Self-Reported Limitations and Future Directions in Scholarly Reports: Analysis and Recommendation. In: Journal of Management. s.l.:s.n. Cole, C., 2012. Information needs: A Theory Connecting Information search to Knowledge Formation. s.l.:s.n. Denzin, N. K. Lincoln, Y. S., 2005. The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research. 3rd ed. CA: SAGE Publishers. Dervin, B., 1999. On studying information seeking methodologically: the implications of connecting metatheory to method. In: Information Processing Management. Ohio: s.n., pp. 727-750. Fischler, A. S., n.d. Quantitative Research Methods. [Online] Available at: https://education.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/arc_doc/quantitative_research_method.pdf [Accessed 22 September 2017]. Given, L. M., 2008. The Sage encyclopedia of qualitative research methods. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications. Manikandan, G., Esmail, S. M. Nagarajan, M., 2013. Impact of Information Technology on Information Seeking Behavior of the Users: An Empirical Study, Annamalai Nagar, India: Journal of Advances in Library and Information Science. Nicholas, D. Herman, E., 2010. Assessing Information Needs in the Age of the Digital Consumer. 3rd ed. London: Routledge, 2010. Patton, M. Q., 2015. Qualitative Research Evaluation Methods: Integrating Theory and Practice. 4th ed. s.l.:SAGE Publications. Phelan, E. Julie Wren, 2005. Exploring Reliability in Academic Assessment. [Online] Available at: https://chfasoa.uni.edu/reliabilityandvalidity.htm [Accessed 22 September 2017]. Price, H., J. Murnan, J., 2004. Research Limitations and the Necessity of Reporting Them. In: American Journal of Health Education. s.l.:s.n., pp. 66-67. Silverman, D., 2016. Qualitative Research. 4th ed. London: SAGE Publishers. Wilson, T. D., 1981. ON USER STUDIES AND INFORMATION NEEDS. In: Journal of Documentation. South Yorkshire: MCB UP Ltd, pp. 3-15.