Abstract
Although universities have different models for their Master's degrees, most programmes consists of course-work and research-based components. The Master's degree of the University of Botswana's (UB) Department of Library and Information Studies requires students to carry out research and write a dissertation in the final year. Research methodology is an integral component of research, including in postgraduate research. Using the descriptive content analysis technique from a census of dissertations, this chapter examines the Master's dissertations submitted in the field of library and information studies at UB between 2008 and 2018 in order to determine the trends in the research methodologies used. The findings of the study showed that although DLIS Master's degree dissertations generally conformed to globally accepted research methods in humanities; most of them did not specify the research philosophy adopted for the studies. This study found that the most dominant research approach was combined qualitative and quantitative approaches.
TopIntroduction
Undertaking research on trends in library and information science (LIS) is ever current and topical amongst the LIS research community and practitioners (Kawalec, 2013; Ngulube & Ukwoma, 2019). As an aspect of scholarly communication, research involving theses, dissertation, conference proceedings, books, patents, and journal articles has become significant. It is important to undertake the analysis of the research output in the discipline (Chakravarty & Sharma, 2016). Research trends in LIS have taken different forms. Some studies have analysed international and national trends in LIS research based on journal articles. Studies conducted in China, Finland, Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain and Turkey have compared topic distribution, subtopics, approaches and methods in national LIS research studies (Rochester & Vakkari, 2003). Some scholars have also conducted studies on trends in research methodologies in Africa. Ngulube (2005) investigated research procedures used by Master of Information Studies students at the University of Natal between 1982 and 2002 with special reference to their sampling techniques and survey response rates. Ocholla et al. (2012) conducted an informetrics study in eastern and southern Africa using content analysis. Similarly, Onyancha, Ngoepe and Maluleka (2015) undertook an informetrics analysis of the nature, patterns and trends of archival science research, including records management and training in sub-Saharan Africa. This chapter sought to describe the methodological trends from the masters’ dissertation in Archives and Records Management, and Library and Information Studies, at the University of Botswana covering the years 2008 to 2018.
The Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS) is one of the eleven (11) departments under the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Botswana. Having been set up in 1979, DLIS has made exceptional contribution to the education and training of library and information personnel in Botswana and the Southern, Central, West and East African regions (Jain & Jorosi, 2015). Although the Department initially started by training paraprofessional up to the diploma level, it currently provides the following programmes:
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Diploma in Archives/ Records Management
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Bachelor’s Degree in Library and Information Studies (Single major)
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Bachelor’s Degree in Library and Information Studies (Double major)
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BA (Library & Information Studies- double major)
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Bachelor of Information Systems (Information Management –single major).
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Masters’ in Library and Information Studies (MLIS)
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Masters’ in Archives and Records Management (MARM)
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A PhD. in Library and Information Studies
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A Ph.D. in Archives and Records Management (Jain & Jorosi, 2015)
Key Terms in this Chapter
Research Philosophy: The larger world view from whose lens researchers hold views about how data about a phenomenon should be collected, analysed, and used.
Research Design: This refers to the plan that outlines how a study is to be conducted, including the blue print for data collection methods and procedures as well as data analysis.
Data Collection Instruments: The tools used by researchers to actually collect data in the research process. The common data collection instruments in research include interviews, questionnaires, documentary analysis and observation.
Research: Methods used to seek answers for problems arising from both natural and social causes.
Sampling Strategy: It refers to the different ways in which participants or respondents in a study can be selected from the study population.
Research Approach: The research plan and procedure made up of steps of broad assumptions to detailed method of data collection, analysis and interpretation. It is therefore, based on the nature of the research problem being addressed and the reasoning behind the choice.
Data Analysis: This refers to the act of making sense out of the raw collected data from research, for purposes of resolving the research problem. Without data analysis, the data collected will remain data, and will not make sense and thus not provide answers to the research question.