LIS Research Methodology

[Shyamal Ghosh]

What are the basic difference between Survey Method and Case Study Method of research in LIS ? Is there any similarity if yes pl. describe little? What are the step of the above both  methodology give step/point only?

[Kishor Singarkar]

As per my opinion,

 A Case study is carried out to get more knowledge about a subject; sources for a study can range from reviews of previous studies or information, to primary research.Two tyes of methods are most popular in case stuides

a) clinical methof (b) Biographical method

Case studies are complex because, It involve multiple sources of data, may include multiple cases within a study, and produce large amounts of data for analysis. Researchers from many disciplines use the case study method to build upon theory, to produce new theory, to dispute or challenge theory, to explain a situation, to provide a basis to apply solutions to situations, to explore, or to describe an object or phenomenon. 

A survey method is one tool available to undertake a case study. A survey method may cover opinions (an opinion poll), behaviors, or observable or measurable data. Questionnaire & interview techniques are always useful to collect the data.  Thus the library survey is defined as a systematic collection of data concerning a library its, activities, operations,personnal working in the library & its users.The major feature of a survey is that it should take this data from a sample of a given population, in order to make assumptions about that population. There are various ways to choose this sample to ensure that it is random (not biased towards certain groups), and that it is representative of the rest of the population of interest. The purpose of thiss type of studies is to determine the frequency of occurrence of a particular event.

For more details you read following book to get concept clare.

Descriptive Question in Library & information Science by Lal & Kumar 3rd edition page no 444 to 491

[Mrs.K Kavita Rao]

The following paper discusses about the strengths and weaknesses of the Case Study and Survey Methods of research.

 Gable, Guy G (1994) Integrating case study and survey research methods: an example in information systems. European Journal of Information Systems 3(2):pp. 112-126 available in fulltext at the following link:

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/5853/1/5853.pdf

 Also, In the above paper, Table 1, summarizes (pointwise) the 'relative' strengths of the case study and survey methods along the several dimensions discussed. From the discussion and Table 1 it is observed that many of the strengths of one method compensate for weaknesses in the other.

[Dr Sonal Singh]

Case study is a detailed examination of an event or a series of related events.Case studies emphasize detailed contextual analysis of a limited number of events or conditions and their relationships.Rather than using large samples, Case study methods involve an in-depth,longitudinal examination of a single instance or event.Case study is an intensive,detailed description and analysis of a particular individual,group or event.
Survey are concerned with the collection of information from a specified target population ie. a defind group of people in whom interest is expressed.The information is collected from a small subset (sample) of the population,and a researcher usually wishes to generalize the results obtained from the sample to the whole population.

[Shyamal Ghosh]

Thanks all.