A. Researcher’s Epistemological and Methodological Orientation/Stance (in the search for rigor)

1. Positivism (logical empiricism), Phenomenology, Phenomenology (Fall 2009), Symbolic Interactionists, Social Epistemologists, Douglas Waples and Social Epistemology, Social Action Research (Fall 2008 and Fall 2009), Structuralism/Functionalism, Ethnomethodologists

2. Induction versus Deduction (top down versus bottom up approach)

3. Quals versus Quants (quals' origins in 19th century enumerative bibliography ala Bowers)

4. Mixed Methods (see Creswell and Clark)

5. Advice from F. Stuart Chapin (ASR)

B. Validity and Reliability (aka Trustworthiness) of Measurements and Claims to Legitimacy

1. Credibility—logical; no internal inconsistencies (qualitative concern)

2. Confirmability—audit trail: debriefings, memos, and (bound laboratory) notebooks (qualitative concern)

3. Dependability / Reliability / Consistency (aka Cronbach’s alpha) (qualitative and quantitative concern)

4. Transferability—meaning and significance elsewhere (qualitative concern)

5. Generalization—external validity (quantitative concern)

6. Construct Validity (i.e., Content, Face, and Quantitative Validity)

C. Qualitative Alternatives: power and influence; adequacy and efficiency; and suitability and accountability?

D. Key Concepts: Determinism and Deterministic Models; Ethnomethodology; Positivism; Phenomenology; Symbolic Interaction; Social Action Research; Quals versus Quants; Reductionism; Verstehen

E. Key Readings:

1. Fred Kerlinger, Foundations of Behavioral Research (New York: Holt Rinehart Winston, 19**), chapters 26 and 27 on “Reliability” and “Validity” for quantitative concerns.

2. John M. Budd, Knowledge and Knowing in Library and Information Science: A Philosophical Framework (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2001).

3. John W. Creswell and Vicki L. Plano Clark, Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (New York: Sage, 2007).

4. Ellen Altman, "Differences in Ideology" within "Whither LIS Research: Ideology, Funding, and Educational Standards," In Library and Information Science Research, edited by Charles R. McClure and Peter Hernon (New York: Ablex, 1991), pp. 114-117.

5. Mark T. Kinnucan, Michael J. Nelson and Bryce L. Allen, "Statistical Methods in Information Science Research," In ARIST, volume 22 (New York: Elsevier, 1987), p. 147-178.

6. Nahid Golafshani, "Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research," The Qualitative Report 8 (no. 4, 2003): 597-607.

7. Laura Colosi, "Reliability and Validity: What's the Difference?" Social Research Methods, 1997 (online).

8. Trosow, Samuel E., “Standpoint Epistemology,” Library Quarterly 71 (July 2001): 360-382.

Updated: 23 January 2013