Qualitative Research Approach in LIS Education: Comparative Methodology Study

Abstract

Libraries transformed in the past decade to focus on community needs. Accordingly, the library business model has been shifted from a service centered model that focuses on services for all users to a customer centered model that focuses on the patron's needs. Thus, studies in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS) have become focusing more on subjectivity rather than objectivity. Qualitative inquiry focuses on subjectivity to investigate human perceptions, feelings, thoughts regarding to either services they deliver or services they obtain. In contrast, quantitative inquiry focuses on objectivity to test hypotheses and measure services statistically.This comparative methodology study aims to differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research methods. Further, the research provided a comparison between phenomenological, case study, and grounded theory qualitative designs in which are mostly used in LIS education. The discussion in this research provided the LIS qualitative researchers with a clear guideline needed to measure and evaluate the trustworthiness of each qualitative research design.