An introduction to the applicability of qualitative research methodologies to the field of Library and Information Sciences

Muela-Meza, Zapopan Martín An introduction to the applicability of qualitative research methodologies to the field of Library and Information Sciences., 2003 [Preprint]

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English abstract

This is the original pre-print written on the 17 November 2003 which eventually got published in 2006 –see its history of publication inside the actual document--, and since the article got originally reduced by the editors of Liber of the Mexican Association of Librarians then this original pre-print includes many examples excluded there by Liber's editors. This is an introductory work to the qualitative research methodologies and methods aplied to the Library and Information Studies (LIS) field, as a way to expand the horizons of librarians so they might be able to explore different roads to improve the common telology of LIS which is basically to fuse the library (informational - cognitive) services with the needs and issues, wishes and dreams of society in its respective communities. It argues for the demystification of LIS research which is impregnated with an halo and cult almost mystical that far from motivating librarians both practical and teorethical to carry out research work in a daily basis, it plays an inhibitor role affecting not only the development of LIS research, but the LIS profession itself; this demystification implies that research could be for everyone who wants it to. It also argues that it is necessary to study in depth the epistemological debate in LIS to promote LIS research as a sub-discipline and the education and training of LIS researchers in order to transform such a plausible activity into an attractive one that becomes even a fun thing to do. The author considers that the examples of applicabilities of qualitative research in LIS given here, but which they could not be included in the published version due to the barriers impossed by the editors of Liber the journal of the Mexican Association of Librarians, are worthwhile to be known by the community interested in these methodologies and it is for them that this original draft is open to the public, thanks to the request of a colleague. This draft, after many unexplained acts of negligence and censorship by the Chairs of the Mexican Association of Librarians and the other editors of their association journal Liber, during the period of 2004-2005, finally was partly published by this Peruvian journal: Muela-Meza, Zapopan Martín (2006) Una introducción a las metodologías de investigación cualitativa aplicadas a la bibliotecología. BiblioDocencia : Revista de Profesores de Bibliotecología 2(12):pp. 4-12. http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00006732/

Spanish abstract

Este borrador es el documento originalmente escrito el 17 de noviembre de 2003 el cual eventualmente fue publicado en 2006 –vease su historial dentro del documento--, y dado que éste fue reducido orginalmente por los editores de Liber la revista de la Asociación Mexicana de Bibliotecología, A.C., éste original incluye muchos ejemplos que fueron excluidos por los editores de Liber. Éste es un trabajo introductorio a las metodologías de investigación cualitativa aplicadas a la bibliotecología, como una forma de expandir los horizontes de las bibliotecarias y bibliotecarios a que conozcan otras vías para mejorar la teleología común de la bibliotecología que es básicamente fusionar los servicios bibliotecarios (informacionales-cognitivos) con las necesidades y problemas, deseos, sueños y anhelos de la sociedad en sus determinadas comunidades. Invita a la desmitificación de la investigación bibliotecológica la cual está impregnada de un halo y culto casi místico que lejos de motivar los bibliotecarios tanto prácticos como teóricos a realizar trabajo de investigación en forma cotidiana funge un papel inhibidor afectando no sólo el desarrollo de la investigación bibliotecológica, sino a la bibliotecología misma; esta desmitificación implica que la investigación es para todos no sólo para unos cuantos. También argumenta que se debe profundizar en el debate epistemológico en la bibliotecología como una forma de promover más la investigación y la formación de investigadores, para transformar tan loable actividad en una tal que resulte hasta divertido practicarla. El autor considera que los ejemplos que aquí se dan pero que no pudieron incluirse por las barreras que presentaron los editores de la revista Liber son valiosos para que los conozca la comunidad que se interese en estas metodologías y es por ellos que se da a conocer este borrador original a petición de una colega. Este borrador, después de muchos actos inexplicables de negligencia y censura por parte de los Presidentes de la Asociación Mexicana de Bibliotecarios, AC y otros de sus editores de la revista Liber de su asociación durante el periodo 2004-2005, finalmente fue parcialmente publicado por esta revista peruana: Muela-Meza, Zapopan Martín (2006) Una introducción a las metodologías de investigación cualitativa aplicadas a la bibliotecología. BiblioDocencia : Revista de Profesores de Bibliotecología 2(12):pp. 4-12. http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00006732/

Item type: Preprint
Keywords: Library and Information Studies - Epistemology. Research methodologies and methods. Qualitative research. Naturalistic inquiry. Qualitative methodologies. Qualitative research methods. Bibliotecología - epistemología. Métodologías, métodos de investigación. Investigación cualitativa. Investigación naturalística. Metodologías cualitativas. Métodos cualitativos de investigación.
Subjects: G. Industry, profession and education. > GI. Training.
A. Theoretical and general aspects of libraries and information. > AB. Information theory and library theory.
G. Industry, profession and education. > GH. Education.
Depositing user: Zapopan Martín Muela-Meza
Date deposited: 16 Jan 2007
Last modified: 02 Oct 2014 12:06
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/8835

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