The Personal Networks of Novice Librarian

Researchers Marie R. Kennedy David P. Kennedy

Kristine Brancolini

Agenda

Background on IRDL IRDL goals Assessment plan

(highlighting social network analysis)

Background on IRDL Grew out of a December 2010 survey

conducted by Brancolini and Kennedy * Surveyed academic librarians regarding their

research experience, research confidence, and perceived barriers to conducting research

*Kennedy, Marie R. & Brancolini, Kristine R. (2012). “Academic librarian research: A survey of attitudes, involvement, and perceived capabilities.” College & Research Libraries 73(5): 431-448.

IMLS grant funds IRDL

Funded by IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, 2013-2016

To create a learning experience and support network for academic and research librarians

IRDL Summer Workshop

Centerpiece of the program is a nine-day summer research “boot camp” for academic and research librarians

Convened on the LMU|LA campus June 15-26, 2014

IRDL goal

Increase the number of academic librarians with specific research skills in conducting and disseminating the results of research

Assessment plan for IRDL

Four-part assessment plan: ◦ Scoring of research proposals ◦ Social network analysis ◦Mastery of curriculum content ◦ Confidence

Assessment plan for IRDL

Four-part assessment plan: ◦ Scoring of research proposals

◦Social network analysis ◦Mastery of curriculum content ◦ Confidence

Research question

Does participating in IRDL have an effect on the persistence (or loss) and social support of people in the personal networks of the Scholars?

Methods

Survey using EgoWeb 2.0 Repeated: ◦ before the summer workshop ◦ after the summer workshop ◦ six months after the workshop ◦ one year after the workshop

Methods (continued)

Design Population Instrument

EgoWeb 2.0 Open-source survey software Easily create social network data collection instruments ◦ Generate lists of network members “Who is in the network?” ◦ Ask questions about network members “What are the characteristics of these people?” ◦ Ask about connections among network

members “How are they connected to each other?”

EgoWeb 2.0: Network Elicitation

Generate a list of collaborators

EgoWeb 2.0: Network Composition

How do they impact the respondent’s research?

EgoWeb 2.0: Network Structure

Are they connected to each other?

EgoWeb 2.0: Data Processing

Visually analyze each interview within EgoWeb or export raw data to other analysis software

Adjust display settings

Preliminary results

Time 1 to Time 3 comparisons Number of people with whom the Scholars had research interactions

average range

T1 (pre-IRDL) 11.26 5-20

T2 (post-IRDL) 24.78 8-40

T3 (6 months post-IRDL)

16.13 5-42

Stability in the network

Observe those network members identified in only one wave, in two waves, or all three waves. Purpose: Did participation in IRDL affect

their network composition?

Stability of total network composition

T1 T2 T3

abs. % abs. % abs. % only one mention 255 54% 570 63% 371 58%

only T1 and T2 72 15% 72 8%

only T1 and T3 7 1% 7 1%

only T2 and T3 116 13% 116 18%

all T 141 30% 141 16% 141 22%

Total 475 100% 899 100% 635 100%

Support Personal friend Professional

colleague Both friend and

colleague

abs. % abs. % abs. % I'm usually asking this person for advice or help

12 67% 31 55% 25 37%

I'm usually giving this person advice or help

0 0% 1 2% 5 7%

It's pretty even; I ask for help but also give help in equal amounts

6 33% 24 43% 37 55%

Total 18 100% 56 100% 67 100%

Visualization of the IRDL networks

Time 1, pre-IRDL Density = 0.321 Max Degree = 4

Visualization of the IRDL networks

Time 2, post-IRDL Density = 0.608 Max Degree = 27

Visualization of the IRDL networks

Time 3, 6 months post-IRDL Density = 0.267 Max Degree = 6

Benefits of using EgoWeb 2.0

Web-based Intuitive to program Easy for the respondent to use (UI)

Future research

T4 of cohort 1 T1 of cohort 2 Is the network composition a predictor of

an IRDL Scholar disseminating results of research?

Questions, comments, suggestions?

For additional information about IRDL: http://irdlonline.org For additional information about EgoWeb: http://egoweb.info

Background article: Kennedy, Marie R. & Brancolini, Kristine R. (2012). “Academic librarian research: A survey of attitudes, involvement, and perceived capabilities.” College & Research Libraries 73(5): 431-448.

Contact us: ◦ Marie Kennedy (marie.kennedy@lmu.edu) ◦ David P. Kennedy (davidk@rand.org) ◦ Kristine Brancolini (brancoli@lmu.edu)