Chapter 3. Introduction to Quantitative Research and Data
Abstract
Chapter 3 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 53, no. 4), "Applying Quantitative Methods to E-book Collections"
The foundation of any e-book analysis framework rests on knowledge of quantitative data and metrics. Chapter 3 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 53, no. 4), “Applying Quantitative Methods to E-book Collections,” discusses key characteristics of quantitative data and the various types of research questions it can answer. It also lists various performance measures and indicators that can be used in information management environments to support conclusions and provide evidence for e-book collection development decisions. Finally, it provides a research framework that can be used to plan and define collection analysis projects.
References
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Based on information provided by Stephen A. Roberts, Financial and Cost Management for Libraries and Information Management Services (London: Bowker-Saur, 1998), 140–41.
Darby Orcutt, Library Data: Empowering Practice and Persuasion (Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, 2009), 106.
Northwestern University Libraries, “DataBank: How to Interpret Your Data: Financial Support,” LibGuide, last updated December 8 2015, http://libguides.northwestern.edu/c.php?g=115065&p=748741.
Nisa Bakkalbasi, Donna Sundre, and Kenton Fulcher, “Assessing Assessment: A Framework to Evaluate Assessment Practices and Progress for Library Collections and Services,” in Proceedings of the 2012 Library Assessment Conference: Building Effective, Sustainable, Practical Assessment, October 29–31, 2012, Charlottesville, VA, ed. Steve Hiller, Martha Kyrillidou, Angela Pappalardo, Jim Self, and Amy Yeager (Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, 2013), 538-545.
