Roberts, A., Madden, A. and Corrall, S. (2013) Putting Research into Practice: An Exploration of Sheffield iSchool Approaches to Connecting Research with Practice. Library Trends, 61 (3). pp. 479-512. ISSN 0024-2594
Abstract
The relationship between research and practice in the work of members of the University of Sheffield’s Information School (iSchool) was examined through a mixed-methods study carried out in two stages. Two focus groups with doctoral students and faculty members explored motivations for undertaking research, views about the impact of research, and the role of social media in its dissemination. Personal enjoyment and pursuit of knowledge for its own sake emerged as strong motivators but were also linked with expressing professional identity and contributing something useful to practice in the field. Differing stakeholder definitions of research impact were perceived as problematic, and multiple channels of communication were advocated, including judicious use of professional and social networks. A content analysis of journal articles written by iSchool faculty collected qualitative and quantitative data on the subject matter, methodology, references, and other dimensions of published output, including statements relating the research to practice. Published outputs highlighted diversity in the methods used, demonstrated collaboration with practitioners in conducting and communicating research, and identified five distinct ways of connecting research with practice. The study concludes with ten recommendations for strengthening the research–practice relationship in library and information studies.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | Copyright © 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. This article first appeared in Library Trends, Volume 61, Issue 2, Fall 2012, pages 479-512. |
Keywords: | Librarianship; library and information studies; research and practice |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Information School (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Angharad Roberts |
Date Deposited: | 24 Jul 2013 13:24 |
Last Modified: | 24 Jul 2013 13:24 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/lib.2013.0006 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Johns Hopkins University Press |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1353/lib.2013.0006 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:75906 |