Reflecting on Critical Research Methods and Experiences Bharat Mehra School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee URL:

Agenda Select Critical Research considerations that are important in my work Select Critical Research considerations that are important in my work Past Research Past Research Examples of Current Projects Examples of Current Projects

Critical Research Assumes that social reality is historically constituted and that it is produced and reproduced by people Assumes that social reality is historically constituted and that it is produced and reproduced by people Recognizes that people’s ability to consciously act to change their social and economic circumstances is constrained by various forms of social, cultural and political domination Recognizes that people’s ability to consciously act to change their social and economic circumstances is constrained by various forms of social, cultural and political domination Acknowledges that the main task of research is one of social critique, whereby the restrictive and alienating conditions of the status quo are brought to light, questioned, and changed Acknowledges that the main task of research is one of social critique, whereby the restrictive and alienating conditions of the status quo are brought to light, questioned, and changed Jurgen Habermas of the Frankfurt School

Critical Research Considerations Working with underserved populations: Critical theory recognizes perspectives of all stakeholders in different situations and this includes points of view of the under- represented in order to “do justice to a diversity of socially defined perspectives while providing a grounding for the evaluation of controversial problems” (Endres, 1996, ¶24). Working with underserved populations: Critical theory recognizes perspectives of all stakeholders in different situations and this includes points of view of the under- represented in order to “do justice to a diversity of socially defined perspectives while providing a grounding for the evaluation of controversial problems” (Endres, 1996, ¶24). Reflective process to question traditional understandings and scrutinize existing values, practices, ideological frameworks, and processes (Kellner, 1989; Habermas, 1993; Froomkin, 2003). Reflective process to question traditional understandings and scrutinize existing values, practices, ideological frameworks, and processes (Kellner, 1989; Habermas, 1993; Froomkin, 2003).

Past Research Under-represented Population Research Context Information Context Method of Research Minority residents East St. Louis Building geographic information systems Mapping city’s cultural and physical fabric Use of IT in community technology centers Participatory design Service learning Action research Community networking Low-income individuals Small Business Owners Prairienet Community Network in East- Central Illinois Technology training Building culturally relevant online content Action research Community networking Local African-American women SisterNet, a group of activist Black women Health information and services Participatory action research Community networking Sexual minorities Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Computer-mediated communication and use of online resources for action-oriented change in their everyday lives Content analysis Socially grounded methods Puerto Rican community Chicago’s Paseo Boricua neighborhood Development of a community library as a symbol of cultural identity Service learning Action research Community networking International teaching assistants UIUC “Glocal” use of the Internet to fulfill their ‘diasporic’ needs; “Glocal” use of the Internet to fulfill their ‘diasporic’ needs; Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods International doctoral students GSLIS, UIUC Building a model of their experiences for internationalizing implications in LIS education; Qualitative methods Participant observation Content analysis

Current Research 1. Campus Climate and Community Action for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Community at the University of Tennessee (with Donna Braquet, Librarian, UT Hodges Library) 2. How can the University of Tennessee Improve its Information Support Services for African-American Students to Increase Enrollment, Retention, and Develop Minority Student Leadership? Case Perspectives of African-American Graduate Students (with Cheryl Ann Lambert, Ph. D. Student, UT School of Advertising and Public Relations) 3. Information Support Services for International Graduate Students at the University of Tennessee (with Dania Bilal, Associate Professor, SIS)

Critical Research Considerations Change agency and empowerment: Elicit suggestions for improvements to make people’s experiences better; Bring a change in socio-economic and sociopolitical realties by “helping people help themselves” (Mehra, 2006a) Change agency and empowerment: Elicit suggestions for improvements to make people’s experiences better; Bring a change in socio-economic and sociopolitical realties by “helping people help themselves” (Mehra, 2006a) Example Study 2 Select Questions Example Study 2 Select Questions What were specific problems you faced and solutions you found? What were specific problems you faced and solutions you found? Suggest ways of improvements so that other African-American graduate students in the future may not face the same problems you faced. (PROMPT: How can the information support services on the UTK campus be improved to increase enrollment, retention, and develop minority student leadership?). Suggest ways of improvements so that other African-American graduate students in the future may not face the same problems you faced. (PROMPT: How can the information support services on the UTK campus be improved to increase enrollment, retention, and develop minority student leadership?).

Methods: Participatory Action Research Challenge traditional definitions of knowledge Democratization of the knowledge process in which the people who are usually considered “research subjects” become part of the research process as researchers analyzing their own experiences (Mehra, 2006b) Challenge traditional definitions of knowledge Democratization of the knowledge process in which the people who are usually considered “research subjects” become part of the research process as researchers analyzing their own experiences (Mehra, 2006b) Emphasis on social justice and social equity via action to change imbalances in distribution of resources, information, and power (Stoecker & Bonacich, 1992) Emphasis on social justice and social equity via action to change imbalances in distribution of resources, information, and power (Stoecker & Bonacich, 1992)

Qualitative Research Methods: Action Research AR aims to contribute both to the practical concerns of people in an immediate problematic situation and to the goals of social science by joint collaboration within a mutually acceptable ethical framework (Rapoport, 1970, p. 499) AR aims to contribute both to the practical concerns of people in an immediate problematic situation and to the goals of social science by joint collaboration within a mutually acceptable ethical framework (Rapoport, 1970, p. 499) AR is a valid research method in applied fields, provides outcome-based results, and suggests direction for change (Kemmis & McTaggart, 1988) AR is a valid research method in applied fields, provides outcome-based results, and suggests direction for change (Kemmis & McTaggart, 1988) AR is closely ties to interpretive inquiry; hence traditional criteria to evaluate rigor in experimental research— objectivity, reliability, validity, and generalizability—are inappropriate, and AR researchers may establish trustworthiness of their study by reporting on credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability (Stringer, 1999). AR is closely ties to interpretive inquiry; hence traditional criteria to evaluate rigor in experimental research— objectivity, reliability, validity, and generalizability—are inappropriate, and AR researchers may establish trustworthiness of their study by reporting on credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability (Stringer, 1999).

Example Study 1 Specific Community Actions + Outcomes 1. Using social/digital technologies to build connections between LGBTQ and allies Seeking institutional commitment for legal, political, and social protection Participating in political lobbying and building political support networks Developing “safe space” programs and sensitivity training Creating awareness of LGBTQ issues via active programming and hosting of events Developing accurate/fair LGBTQ information resources Creating specialized courses that specifically focus on LGBTQ materials

Critical Research Considerations - Democratic and participative ideologies - Equal participation of disenfranchised users - Learning in collaboration - Community inquiry into participant’s everyday experiences - Online-offline convergences - Use of mixed methods - Situated nature of applications and concrete outcomes - Promoting inclusiveness: Outreach in planning and policy implementation

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