Core Competency L
The following statement and submitted evidence show my understanding of the nature of research, research methods and research findings and my competency in retrieval, evaluation and synthesis of scholarly and professional literature for informed decision-making by specific client groups.
Every branch of science developed the research methods most appropriate to the field. In some sciences, the focus of the research is on experiments, in others on the data analysis. However, every scientific field of research has similar basic elements... MORE>>
Some of the evidence documents are presented as HTML pages, but some of them are in iPaper format, which requires ADOBE FLASH PLAYER. Clicking on [PDF] link will open the same documents in ADOBE ACROBAT READER.
Evidence 1 :: History Study Critique [PDF]
This assay was written as an assignment in the Research Methods class, Spring of 2007, and shows my understanding of nature of research, research methods and research findings.
In his article, reviewed in this paper, Leonard Rosenband argues that accounts of many early industrial entrepreneurs that left numerous complaints about the bad working habits of their work force, gave the wrong impression and that the early factory production was not as irregular as historians were lead to believe. He uses the example of the Montgolfier Paper Mill production as the case to the contrary, and argues that the mill had a pattern of regular and stable productivity, even though the production process did not use advanced machinery or steam power. Rosenband attributes that work discipline to the good management instincts of the Montgolfiers and that they had flexible disciplinary and bonus systems, hiring policies, a competitive promotion system combined with the paternalistic customs of the papermaking craft, all of which provided the environment that ensured steady and predictable production output. The critique points out that Rosenband, in a misguided attempt to relate his research with the other articles in the issue, suggested a general theory based on one isolated and unique example and analyzed data out of the historical context. Rosenband’s own book about the history of the Montgolfier Mill and papermaking tradition in France shows that papermakers were never a part of the old guild system and therefore not comparable in work habits to other artisans. Moreover, in 1781 the mill owners and workers were involved in bitter strike, which the owners, with the help of the French government, eventually won. The data presented in the article covers the period which was a decade later and disregard the fact that, as the result of the strike’s outcome, owners had a complete control over hiring and firing of their workforce, which in normal circumstances they would not have.
Evidence 2 :: Temperature and Relative Humidity Dataloggers [PDF]
This report was written as an assignment during my archival internship in the Special Collections Department of University of California Riverside, Spring of 2007, and shows my competency in retrieval, evaluation and synthesis of available literature and sources for informed decision-making by specific client groups.
At the time of my internship, the Special Collections library was considering installing an environmental monitoring system in their main stacks room. I was asked to research different temperature and relative humidity dataloggers and present my findings in a report with analysis of the results and a recommendation of the best options. The research was based almost exclusively on the sources available on the internet. As all considered dataloggers were able to record humidity and temperature data following similar technical specification, the most of the differences are in a way data could be inputted into a computer and analyzed. The paper reviewed the ways information was gathered; explained the base for recommended number of sampling stations, and than provided the summary of the results. The paper had three appendixes: (1) a list of all considered models of dataloggers with detailed technical information, prices and links to the product information or manuals; (2) a table that compares products by their technical details and prices; and (3) a list of the environmental monitoring literature available on the Internet.
Evidence 3 :: Missale Romanum Glagolitice, Editio Princeps 1483
This web site was developed as an assignment for the History of Books and Libraries class, Spring of 2006, and shows my competency in research, research methods and research findings, and ability to retrieve, evaluate and synthesize scholarly and professional literature.
This web site analyzes the historical context of the production of the incunabula Missale Romanum Glagolitice from 1483, printed in the Glagolitic script. The web site briefly outlines the historical origins and development of the Glagolitic script, liturgy and literary tradition. Although very active during the middle ages, the production of the Glagolitic books tapered off significantly with the introduction of printing. However, during the incunabula period, before 1501, there were some attempts by the Glagolitic priests establishing their own printshops for purpose of printing the Glagolitic books. The 1483 edition of Missale Romanum is exceptionally fine example of early printing, but it is not known where the edition was printed. The web site examines theories about the possible printer and place of printing, analyzes the text of the Missal and possible exemplar, elaborates on the typography and design of the book, and lists institutions that have extant copies of the edition.
This web site was developed to satisfy the graduation requirements for
the School for Library and Information Science at San Jose State University California
Text, design, and digital imaging by Vlasta Radan