Two documents for critiquing Research

I came across these two PDFs on the "Lancashire Care Library & Information Service" blog re: critiquing research.

I thought they might be useful.

Quantitative

Qualitative

Proposed Assignment Due Dates

Feb 10th -> Assignment 1.5 Quantitative analysis
Feb 24th -> Assignment 1.4 (First Draught)

My "proposal" for a study (GPowell)

Here is my attempt at writing an outline for my proposal. Feedback welcome!

Click here.

What article do we have to read for this week

Hi everyone,
I was just wondering what article we had to read for this week's readings? I know that we have to read the chapter in the text, but she also told us to read someone's article. I think it was Al's and I read Al's but I am still unsure who's we were suppose to read. Does anyone know which one or who's we had to read?

Do we have to read Al's article for this week's readings?

Do we have to read Al's article for this week? I just wanted to double check. Thank you

1.3: Determinants of success for online communities: An empirical study.

Study
Lin, H., & Lee, G. (2006). Determinants of success for online communities: An empirical study. Behaviour & Information Technology, 25(6), 479-488. doi:10.1080/01449290500330422

Design
Survey based design (N=165, within group), using a six-factor structural equation based on the updated DeLone and McLean information systems success model.

Type
Quantitative

Problem
There has been little empirical research on the factors that make online communities a success. What research has been done is based on models that have not been thoroughly validated.

Purpose
This study aims to add weight to the validity of the DeLone and McLean information systems success model while at the same time seeking to clarify the factors that make online communities a success.

Questions
What are the relationships between the various factors (system quality, information quality, service quality, user satisfaction, behavioral intention / engagement, and member loyalty) that constitute an online community?
Do these factors fit the model proposed by DeLone and McLean?

Hypothesis (if stated)
Not stated, but the model itself hypothesizes that there are relationships between these factors and that they are reliable determinants of the success of an online community.

"Virtual learning environments: Enhancing the learning experience for students with disabilities "

Assignment 1.3
(Blog-Post):
(Gordon Powell)



Study Title:
"Virtual learning environments: Enhancing the learning experience for
students with disabilities "

Author/Date: Catherine Gerrard (2007)

Research Design:
This study is essentially a case study, based on interviews with a focus group of students with disabilities.

Type of Research: Qualitative

Problem:
Some of the features of typical “face-to-face” teaching environments do not meet the needs of some students living with a disability.

Purpose:
This study’s purpose is to investigate the impact of virtual learning environments (specifically, “Blackboard”, the environment being used by the University of Paisley, Scotland), on the learning experience of a specific group of students, with the goal of identifying “good e-learning practice to enhance the quality of the learning experience for students with disabilities”.

Questions:
The study looked at three areas of possible benefits or enhancements:
a) pedagogical, b) practical and c) strategic.

• A) Pedagogical: Does the use of a VLE enhance the quality of the students’ face-to-face learning experiences?
• B) Practical: Does uniformity and simplicity of presentation in the VLE context provide ease of navigation and access for students with disabilities?
• C) Strategic: How important is the concept of an “extended community” for these students? (i.e. one that would provide “recreational, academic and pastoral services and groups” in one central interface or umbrella?)

Hypothesis:
When the university adopted the use of Blackboard in 2002, there was an assumption that this VLE would address many of the issues students with disabilities were having as they accessed the curriculum. This study proceeds from the point of view that the VLE will be a benefit to these students and therefore all students with disabilities.


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References:
Gerrard, C. (2007). Virtual learning environments: Enhancing the learning experience for students with disabilities. Campus-Wide Information Systems, 24(3), 199-206.