Online/Virtual Event

Wednesday, October 11th 2023 from 2:00pm to 3:00pm

See a recording of this webinar here.

While surveys are popular means of collecting data, there are limits to what survey data can tell you. When libraries want to gain a different perspective about their services, programming, and communities, focus groups, interviews, and observations are accessible options. For some, conducting focus groups/interviews or engaging in an observational study can be intimidating, but similar to surveys, there are steps that can be taken to ensure successful data collection using these methods. This webinar introduces best practices for conducting focus groups, interviews, and observational studies, and provide examples of how they can be applied in libraries.

By the end of the sessions, attendees will be able to:

• Understand best practices for conducting focus groups, interviews, and observation
• studies
• Create focus group/interview protocols that align with library’s information needs
• Create observation protocols that align with library’s information needs
• Recognize situations where focus groups, interviews, and/or observational studies will be beneficial for the library

About our presenter:  
Dr. Kawanna Bright is Assistant Professor of Library Science at East Carolina University. Dr. Bright earned her PhD in Research Methods and Statistics from the University of Denver in 2018. Prior to earning her doctorate, Dr. Bright worked as an academic librarian for twelve years, with a focus on reference, instructional services, and information literacy. She earned her MLIS from the University of Washington iSchool in 2003. 

Dr. Bright’s current research focuses on assessment in libraries, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in libraries, the application of research methodology to the study of library and information science, and the importance of the liaison librarianship role in academic libraries. Her work with Dr. Amy VanScoy (University at Buffalo) to investigate the reference and information services experience of librarians of color received a 2014 ALA Diversity Research Grant and was awarded the 2017 Beta Phi Mu-Library Research Round Table Research Paper Award.  

Dr. Bright is also a co-PI on a recently funded IMLS grant project that will utilize survival analysis to determine when and why BIPOC librarians are likely to leave the profession. Dr. Bright is a 2021 recipient of an ECU College of Education Profiles in Diversity Award and a 2021 recipient of a 2021 NCLA Round Table for Ethnic Minority Concerns’ LIS Instructor Roadbuilder Award.