What is the current state of practitioner research? The 2013 LIRG Research Scan

Abstract

This paper reports on a scoping review commissioned as a research scan by the CILIP Library and Information Research Group (LIRG) and undertaken by a small research team at the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield. Firstly the recent literature (2010-2012) on LIS practitioner-focused research was identified and briefly reviewed. This was supplemented by an entities scan; that is, a brief scan of key outputs (e.g. newsletters, discussion lists, etcetera) produced by CILIP specialist interest groups (SIGS). The team identified a total of 142 relevant papers. These were coded and characterised against relevant frameworks. A brief selection of items in each category was reviewed. The paper concludes by suggesting priorities to improve practitioner research at practitioner, organisational and strategic level. Particular attention was focused on the stimulation of collaborative “hive” research activities and on monitoring existing good practice from other groups, associations and countries.