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Data Gathering Instruments
To adequately address the research questions a variety of data collection
methods and instruments will be used. These methods and instruments are
not specific to any one question but provide data that when used in combinations
will address the research questions. Examples of each of these instruments,
with a description of data fields and administration, are available in
The data gathering instruments are:
- User Request Survey: a series of questions to be answered by
users who ask to use an Experimental Title in storage. This instrument
accompanies all Study Titles or copies of articles from Study Titles
requested from Storage Locations.
- Return Request Forms: copies of standard forms completed by
library staff or users when making a request for returns or copies from
experimental Study Titles.
- Experimental Use Worksheets: quarterly activity reports from
Storage Facilities summarizing, by Study Title, return requests and
- Control Use Worksheets: quarterly activity reports from Control
Sites summarizing, by Study Title, the number of uses as measured by
- Control Use Data Slips: slips, inserted in each piece of a
Study Title, for staff at Control Sites to record all reshelving instances
- Digital Use Reports: transaction data from Providers for electronic
access to Digital Study Titles from Experimental and Control Sites.
- Phase I Cost Worksheets: Financial reports from campuses and
storage facilities on actual costs and staff effort in establishing
the Experimental and Control Treatment.
- Phase II Special Cost Studies: a series of campus focused examinations
of cost increases or decreases in subscriptions, licensing fees, binding,
copying, handling, or other areas that may be impacted by the Experimental
Treatment when applied over an extended time.
- Formative Interviews: interviews with select users to inform
the design of a system wide survey on user preferences and behaviors.
- Structured Interviews: interviews with a broad range of users
and library staff familiar with the Study Titles to examine preferences
and behaviors with in the specific context of a particular Study Title.
- User Preference Surveys: a widely administered survey to users
of both print and digital forms of journals, incorporating questions
developed in the Formative Interviews on characteristics of journals,
users, purpose of use and the user environment that influence the acceptability
of digital or print.
- Comment Cards: cards at service locations in Control and Experimental
Sites and a web site comment function offering users and staff a vehicle
to contribute reactions, suggestions and ideas on the Experimental Treatment.
- Storage Reports: reports from storage facilities with measurements
of volumes and linear feet used by each Study Title.
- Study Title Characteristics Worksheet: an examination of each
Study Title in both digital and print form against a standard list of
typography and content features drawn from literature and tested in
the Formative Interviews.
- Consultation Process Survey: a survey administered to CMI Campus
Liaisons on the effectiveness of the consultation and decision making
processes needed to achieve the experimental condition.
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