Course Description

This seminar is intended for SILS doctoral students or advanced master's students. It will examine the use of theory from two perspectives. First, it will consider the use of existing theories for developing the plans for a research study. Examples from information science, as well as other disciplines, will be examined in detail. Second, the seminar will consider the process of developing grounded theory. Discussion and critique of the structural components and processes of theory development will undergird both aspects of the seminar's work.

Prerequisites: doctoral or advanced master's student status.

Resources

For the first sections of the course, we will rely heavily on a variety of readings, available through the UNC libraries. In some cases, the entire class will be reading a particular work; in other cases, only one or a few members of the class will be reading a work.

For the final section of the course, we will work with a textbook: Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing Grounded Theory. 2nd edition. London: Sage Publications. Copies should be available through UNC Student Stores early in the semester. One copy will also be put on reserve in the SILS Library.

Assignments and Evaluation

The assignments for the seminar aim to support your exploration of important theories in information and library science and related disciplines, as well as develop your ability to develop grounded theory. They include:

• Analysis of an existing theory (30%/50%). During the early part of the semester, you'll have an opportunity to learn about a variety of theories that may be applicable to your research. For this assignment, you'll select one of those theories for a detailed analysis. The outcome of the assignment will be a literature review, with a focus on the applicability of a particular theory to research problems in which you're interested. Several intermediate products will be required: a brief statement identifying the theory of interest and how it might apply to your work, an annotated bibliography of relevant materials, a concept map (or other diagram) of the theory's major components, and an oral presentation for the seminar participants. This assignment may be the primary focus for your semester (and account for 50% of your grade) or the secondary focus (and account for 30% of your grade). The literature review will be due on March 19 if it is your secondary work, or on April 2 if it is your primary work.
• Research proposal for a theory development project (30%/50%). During the later part of the semester, you'll be introduced to grounded theory development. For this assignment, you'll develop a research proposal for conducting a study intended to develop theory related to a particular phenomenon in a particular context. Several intermediate products will be required: a brief description of the phenomenon and setting of interest; a brief literature review related to the phenomenon and context of interest; a preliminary plan for your data collection and analysis; and an oral presentation for the seminar participants. This assignment may be the primary focus for your semester (and account for 50% of your grade) or the secondary focus (and account for 30% of your grade). The final version of the proposal will be due at noon on May 4.
• Seminar participation (20%). You are expected to be an active participant in the seminar, contributing to both face-to-face and electronic discussions, sharing interesting articles you have read, things you have learned, or questions to which you do not know the answer. In addition, members of the seminar will be expected to lead portions of particular sessions associated with the other two assignments.

Honor Code

The Honor Code, which prohibits giving or receiving unauthorized aid in the completion of assignments, is in effect in this class. Please familiarize yourself with the UNC-CH Instrument of Student Governance.