Getting Started with Research (Recording)

Do you want to pursue research but don’t know how to get started? Have you tried doing research and became discouraged? No grant money, freedom from regular responsibilities, or knowledge of statistics? This webinar is for you! It will help you translate your desire into practical, attainable steps toward doing research. Through examples of applied, practical studies drawn from collection development, reference, public services, education, and administration, you will learn how to identify research-worthy questions, match questions to research methods, identify colleagues who can help you, and more. You will develop confidence and learn that even the gold standard of studies, a randomized clinical trial (RCT), is within your grasp! Participants are invited to complete a brief needs assessment prior to the webinar. #mlaresearch17

Objectives

By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

• feel more comfortable with becoming involved in or initiating an applied research project;
• recognize situations that might lead to an applied research project;
• begin to develop skill in formulating research questions;
• match your questions with appropriate methods for conducting research; and
• identify local colleagues who might be able to help librarians with their research projects.

Presenter

Jonathan Eldredge, AHIP, never thought he would become a researcher when he graduated from the University of Michigan’s School of Information, but his career led him to identify problems and use applied research methods to find workable solutions. Along the way, Eldredge authored over fifty peer-reviewed articles and over twenty book chapters. Eldredge focuses most of his efforts on research that will yield results for others to use in their own professional practices. He has mentored aspiring researchers, including hospital librarians.