[Hum-DIS] Focus Group Invitation Request: please participate in LIS focus group

[Paul Genoni]

REMINDER

 

Invitation to LIS Students and Recent Graduates to participate in Focus
Groups for important national study

  


________________________________

Dear Current Students and Recent Graduates

 

We invite you to participate in current research about education for the
library and information professions.

 

To expand on the findings from our recent online surveys, we are now
asking for your participation in a focus group, where you and a small
group of people from similar LIS courses as yourself will be asked to
respond to some open-ended questions about your experience of LIS
education. Participation in our online survey is not requisite.

 

The focus group will be conducted via teleconference at a time that
suits you. It will run for about 1 hour, but we ask that you commit a
little extra time for administration and potential delays. The
teleconference uses ALIA facilities which means that you only have to
dial the cost of a local call from a landline in Australia. 

 

We would like to complete all focus groups by the 1st October. Your
privacy will be respected by not identifying you in any reporting of the
results. For further information please refer to the participant
information sheet at the bottom of this email message.

 

Please be involved and have your 'voice' in the future of LIS education
in Australia. 

 

If you are able to participate please email our project officer, James
Whittle (james.whittle at qut.edu.au)

 

Many thanks in advance for your participation in this study.

 

About the ALTC study:

 

The Australian Teaching and Learning Council has initiated a national
study into education for the Information Professions (Examples of
information professions include librarians and library technicians,
teacher librarians, records managers and archivists, and information and
knowledge managers). The outcomes from the project will have a
significant bearing on education for the information professions in
Australia and on the quality of Australia's future information
professionals. Details of the study can be found at: 
www.liseducation.org.au






PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

Information for Prospective Participants

The following research activity has been reviewed via QUT arrangements
for the conduct of research involving human participation. If you choose
to participate, you will be provided with more detailed participant
information, including who you can contact if you have any concerns.

 

Re-conceptualising and re-positioning Australian library and information
science education for the twenty-first century

 

Research Team Contacts

Hilary Hughes - Coordinator/Lecturer
James Whittle - Team Manager

Master of Education (Teacher-Librarianship) - QUT                Faculty
of Science and Technology -- QUT

07 3138 3266
07 31381134

h.hughes at qut.edu.au
james.whittle at qut.edu.au

 

Please contact the research team members to have any questions answered
or if you require further information about the project.

 

 

 

 

 

What is the purpose of the research?

The aim of the project is to respond to the question: "How can
Australian library and information science (LIS) education produce, in a
sustainable manner, the diverse supply of graduates with the appropriate
attributes to develop and maintain high quality professional practice in
the rapidly changing 21st century? The project will establish a
Framework for the Education of the Information Profession in Australia. 

The Student Consideration (SC) is one of three sub-studies that will be
undertaken as part of the project. The sub-study will focus on creating
an overview of the students who are currently studying, and have
recently completed studying LIS in Australia, their experiences with
their course and their experiences when entering the workforce. The
project team includes Dr Hilary Hughes (QUT), Barbara Combes (Edith
Cowan University), Dr Jo Hanisch (University of South Australia) and Dr
Mary Carroll (University of Victoria). QUT is the lead institution on
the project and is responsible for managing all project funds. James
Whittle will be reponsible for conducting and mediating the focus groups
as a QUT employee.

Who is funding this research?

The project is funded by the Australian Teaching and Learning Council.
The funding body will not have access to personally identifying
information about you that may be obtained during the project.

Are you looking for people like me?

The research team is looking for current students and those who have
graduated for the information professional since January, 2009

What will you ask me to do?

We are asking for your participation in a focus group. The focus groups
will be conducted by teleconference at a time that suits you and will
take approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. Your participation will initially
involve providing some details of your LIS qualifications and times you
will be available to participate. You will also be required to provide a
completed consent form prior to the focus group.

Are there any risks for me in taking part?

As the focus groups will be an honest exchange of ideas about LIS
education with colleagues and peers, there is the potential for peer
pressure and anxiety. The moderator will endeavour to minimise this risk
by ensuring that the focus group session is conducted in a friendly and
welcoming environment, that the session does not become dominated by any
one individual and that the ground rules including establishing what
behaviour are unacceptable is clearly outlined at the commencement of
the session.

Are there any benefits for me in taking part?

It is expected that this project will not directly benefit you. However,
it may have indirect benefits through improving the status of LIS
generally and the quality of LIS education in Australia. The outcomes
from the project will have a significant bearing on education for the
information professions in Australia and on the quality of Australia's
future information professionals.  Outcomes for the project are likely
to include enhanced provision of LIS education in Australia,
repositioning Australia as a national leader of LIS education, and
enhancing the profile of the LIS professions.

 

Will I be compensated for my time?

As the study is aiming at including such a wide range and number of
people, the study is not able to offer compensation for your time.

I am interested - what should I do next?

If you would like to participate in this study, please send an email to
the project officer (james.whittle at qut.edu.au) indicating your
willingness to take part.

 

 

Thank You!

RM Reference Number:

 

					

 

 

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