Research, Evaluation and Audit: Key Steps in Demonstrating Your Value

This is the Essential Guide for any librarian or information worker who wants to undertake a research, evaluation or audit activity in the workplace in order to inform their own practice and contribute to the wider evidence base for library and information science. Its accessible tone means it is also a useful guide for undergraduate and postgraduate LIS students undertaking their final year project. The text is divided into three sections which guide you through each stage of the research process: Part 1: Getting started introduces the concepts, ethics and planning stages. Part 2: Doing research, evaluation and audit explores the fundamentals of projects, including the literature review, qualitative and quantitative research methods, data analysis and research tools. Part 3: Impact of research, evaluation and audit guides you through writing up your project, putting the results of your project findings into practice and dissemination to the wider community. Written by academics and practitioners from a diverse range of sectors and geographical locations to offer a thorough but common sense approach, the narrative gives a step-by-step guide. Case studies drawn from practice are interwoven with opportunities for reflection to make the learning process more meaningful. Whether you are a novice practitioner or have more experience, this book will support your project development and explain how evidence-based library and information practice is relevant to you.