Research Assessment and Metrics Discussion Group

Hello! 

My name is Norm Lee. I'm an LIS grad student at Rutgers. This is my first post in the Research Assessment and Metrics so apologies if I violate any rules/norms!

I was wondering if anyone in this group would be willing to  share readings or best practices on how to collect data on patrons (e.g., usage data, user satisfaction, etc.) in order to improve library services without compromising their privacy? 

It seems like, in some cases, there might be a tradeoff. For instance, if you want to do a longitudinal study which includes collecting demographic information, then a longer study might mean better data but it also means potentially identifying information has to sit in a database somewhere for a long time. Are there ways to avoid those kinds of tradeoffs? Or at least maintain an ethical relationship with patrons?

Thanks so much!

- Norm

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Norman Lee
Senior Library Assistant
The College of New Jersey
He/Him/His
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Hello Norm,
 We would follow all the protocols of our IRB, even for internal assessments. Data that would not be anonymized would require explicit transparency through the informed consent process. I see Rutgers has lots of guidance at https://research.rutgers.edu/researcher-support/research-compliance/human-subjects-protection-program-irbs/hsppirb-educational. 

Best,
Tara

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Tara Cataldo
Biological/Life Sciences Librarian
University of Florida
GAINESVILLE FL
ttobin@ufl.edu
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Original Message:
Sent: Sep 03, 2022 06:12 PM
From: Norman Lee
Subject: Assessment of Research Privacy

Hello! 

My name is Norm Lee. I'm an LIS grad student at Rutgers. This is my first post in the Research Assessment and Metrics so apologies if I violate any rules/norms!

I was wondering if anyone in this group would be willing to  share readings or best practices on how to collect data on patrons (e.g., usage data, user satisfaction, etc.) in order to improve library services without compromising their privacy?

It seems like, in some cases, there might be a tradeoff. For instance, if you want to do a longitudinal study which includes collecting demographic information, then a longer study might mean better data but it also means potentially identifying information has to sit in a database somewhere for a long time. Are there ways to avoid those kinds of tradeoffs? Or at least maintain an ethical relationship with patrons?

Thanks so much!

- Norm

------------------------------
Norman Lee
Senior Library Assistant
The College of New Jersey
He/Him/His
------------------------------