jan 2019–apr 2020

Research at the University of Michigan Library

The Library Assessment for Research and Scholarship Lab is a group of students, faculty, and librarians investigating how libraries can provide better support to qualitative researchers throughout the research lifecycle. Many academic libraries offer strong research data services to scholars working with large quantitative data sets, but few offer robust support to scholars using methods such as ethnography, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and qualitative textual analysis.

Through more than two dozen interviews and a large campus-wide survey, we are discovering trends in the perceived needs of qualitative researchers. Preliminary results reveal a need to cultivate communities of practice as well as flexibility with the variety and complexity of qualitative research practices.