LIS-S 690 Information Science Research Seminar I
3 credits
- Prerequisite(s): None
- Delivery: Online
Description
Information Science Research Seminar I is an engaging course designed to cultivate advanced research skills and foster a deep understanding of historical and contemporary issues in information science. This introductory course provides an overview of major subareas within information science, encompassing information organization, curation and management of information, information services, information needs and seeking, information retrieval, human–computer interaction, bibliometrics, information sharing and reuse, and more. Each week focuses on a distinct topic with paired readings, exploring historical, foundational, and modern papers. Students will learn to discern various contributions, understand problem selection, research execution, evaluation implementation, and the reporting of results through critical discussions in weekly sessions. Through the discussion and the assignments, students will further develop their interests in the field of information and library science.
Rationale and relationship to the current curriculum. Students must take LIS-S 690 in the first semester of their doctoral studies. Seminar discussions will help students identify research questions of particular interest to them and provide a context for initial explorations.
Topics
Course introduction
- How to succeed as a doctoral student
- Topics for the semester
History and scope of information science
- Evolution of information science
- Information science pioneers
- Interdisciplinarity
Research methods and theory
- Naturalistic and experimental design
Information retrieval, seeking, and user services
- Development of information retrieval systems
- Information access and its impact
Information organization and representation
- Classification systems and metadata
- Visualization techniques
- Knowledge graphs and social tagging
Library and information science (LIS) and profession
- Key issues in LIS research
- Translational impact of research
Human-computer interaction (HCI), computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW), and user support
- Research issues
Information science education
- Educational approaches within information science
Science, technology, and society (STS), information and social interaction
- The social construction of technology
- Science policy considerations
- Citizen science and surveillance studies
Curation and preservation
- Data curation practices
- Open science movement
- Cultural preservation techniques
Data science, natural language processing (NLP), and artificial intelligence (AI)
- Data science as a discipline and technique
- Ethical considerations in AI adoption
Informal learning and teaching
- The role of learning sciences and technology
- Collaborative learning dynamics
Information policy and ethics
- Ethical considerations in information science
- Information policy related to privacy, censorship, and intellectual property
Future directions in information science research
Program Learning Goals Supported
Instructors map their courses to specific LIS Program Goals. Mapped program goals drive the design of each course and what students can expect to generally learn.
The Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program prepares students to become reflective practitioners who connect people and communities with information. The program goals (PGs) were adjusted to the following effective fall 2023:
- Connect core values and professional ethics to practice
- Facilitate engagement in the information ecosystem
- Curate collections for designated communities
- Lead and manage libraries, archives, and other information organizations
- Organize and represent information
- Conduct systematic research to inform decisions
- Innovate professional practice with information services and technology
- Examine systemic inequalities to improve library and information practices through equitable and socially just interventions
Each student should read the assigned material and arrive at a competent understanding of it prior to discussions and assessments. These measures will be used to assess student learning outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
Instructors develop learning outcomes for their courses. Students can expect to be able to achieve the learning outcomes for a given course after successfully completing the course.
- Critical Analysis of Literature: Evaluate and synthesize critically existing literature, identifying gaps and opportunities for making original contributions to the field.
- Advanced Research Exploration: Conduct innovative information science research while mastering advanced research methods, both quantitative and qualitative.
- Theoretical Frameworks: Evaluate theoretical frameworks relevant to information science to situate research within broader disciplinary contexts.
- Interdisciplinary Perspectives: Examine how information science intersects with other fields to develop a holistic approach to research.
Policies and Procedures
Please be aware of the following linked policies and procedures. Note that in individual courses instructors will have stipulations specific to their course.