University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Encounters with the Library: Understanding Experience Using the Life History Method

Labaree, Robert V.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/3663

Description

Title
Encounters with the Library: Understanding Experience Using the Life History Method
Author(s)
Labaree, Robert V.
Issue Date
2006
Keyword(s)
  • Research methods
  • Life histories
Abstract
Drawing on the author’s own research, this article explores the use of life histories as method and the ways in which this research can contribute to new understandings about the experiential relationships between libraries and users. The article is divided into four parts. Part one defines the essential elements of a life history research study. Part two describes how to design a life history research study. Part three examines ethical, methodological, and interpretive issues related to issues of organizational insiderness and internal validity and textual authority. The author concludes by outlining the potential benefits and pitfalls of using life histories and discusses how life history research, and qualitative research in general, can enrich and broaden our understanding of library science theory and practice.
Publisher
Graduate School of Library and Information Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
ISSN
0024-2594
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/3663
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2006 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Owning Collections

Library Trends 55 (1) Summer 2006: Research Methods PRIMARY
Library Trends 55 (1) Summer 2006: Research Methods. Edited by Lynda M. Baker.