S522: Social Science Information

School of Library and Information Science
Indiana University

Spring 2008

Last updated: January 16, 2008

Instructor: Lokman Meho
Office: LI 005C
E-mail: meho@indiana.edu
Office Hours: T 10:00-12:30; W 12:30-3:00
Tel: 856-2323
Classroom: LI031

This course will introduce you to core information sources and services in the fields of anthropology, communication, economics, education, geography, history, journalism, political science, psychology, and sociology. You will work with an extensive list of readings on studying the information needs and information-seeking behavior of user groups in these fields. Examples of questions addressed in the course include: How and where social scientists look for information? What types and sources of information do they use and why? Who among the social scientists uses government information the most and why? What challenges do social scientists face in looking for information? What factors influence their information-seeking experiences? What methods do researchers use to examine the information needs, information-seeking behavior, and information use of social scientists? You will answer several sets of reference questions using both print and electronic sources. You will also develop an annotated research guide to enhance your writing skills, gain familiarity with a specific topic, and to develop an understanding of the various sources and types of materials and services available on the topic. The course is designed primarily for students who anticipate working as reference librarians, bibliographers, or subject specialists in research libraries, but other students are also welcome to take the course. S501 (Reference) is a prerequisite for S522.


GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The primary goals and objectives of the course are to help students:
ASSIGNMENTS

The goals and objectives of the course will be achieved by completing a variety of tasks, including:
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

You are expected to attend all sessions in this course. If you must miss a class because of an illness or family emergency, please let the instructor know. Also make arrangements with your classmates to pick up class notes. Two points will be deducted from your final grade for each absence. If you miss three classes, you will be asked to drop the course. Active and meaningful participation is a requirement in this course. Your participation grade will be assessed on the basis of regular attendance, participation in class discussion, and demonstration of familiarity with assigned readings and projects.


EVALUATION

In addition to assignment specifics, all written work will be evaluated on the basis of the quality of writings and the amount of reflection, analysis, comparison, and evaluation provided in them. Use of appropriate sources and/or literature will also be assessed. Due dates are provided on the course schedule below and on individual assignment sheets. LATE assignments will lose one letter grade from the grade they would have gotten had they been turned in on time. In case an absence is inevitable on a day an assignment is due, please e-mail it to me to avoid the penalty. An "Incomplete" will be given to students who fail to submit all of their projects before the end of the semester. Unless otherwise stated on individual assignment sheets, all students are to work individually and follow IU's honor code.
GRADING

Grades will be assigned on an A, B, C, D bases. The following definitions of letter grades have been defined by student and faculty members of the Committee on Improvement of Instruction and have been approved by the faculty (November 11, 1996) as an aid in evaluation of academic performance and to assist students by giving them an understanding of the grading standards at SLIS.

Grade GPA MEANING
A 4.0 Outstanding achievement. Student performance demonstrates full command of the course materials and evinces a high level of originality and/or creativity that far surpasses course expectations.
A- 3.7 Excellent achievement. Student performance demonstrates thorough knowledge of the course materials and exceeds course expectations by completing all requirements in a superior manner.
B+ 3.3 Very good work. Student performance demonstrates above-average comprehension of the course materials and exceeds course expectations on all tasks as defined in the course syllabus.
B 3.0 Good work. Student performance meets designated course expectations, demonstrates understanding of the course materials and is at an acceptable level.
B- 2.7 Marginal work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete understanding of course materials.
C+
C
 2.3
2.0		 Unsatisfactory work. Student performance demonstrates incomplete and inadequate understanding of course materials.
C-
D+
D
D-		 1.7
1.3
1.0
.07		 Unacceptable work. Coursework performed at this level will not count toward the MLS or MIS degree. For the course to count towards the degree, the student must repeat the course with a passing grade.
F 0.0 Failing. Student may continue in program only with permission of the Dean.

Please note that all assignments and readings can be accessed through ERes. Also note that this course demands a HEAVY commitment of your time. It is expected that you will spend an average of eight hours each week on readings and assignments.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

There is extensive documentation and discussion of the issue of academic dishonesty in the Indiana University "Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct." Of particular relevance is the section on plagiarism:

A student must not submit work that reproduces ideas, words, or statements of another person without appropriate acknowledgment. A student must give credit to the originality of others and acknowledge indebtedness whenever he or she does any of the following:

  1. Quotes another person's actual words, either oral or written;
  2. Paraphrases another person's words, either oral or written;
  3. Uses another person's idea, opinion, or theory; or
  4. Borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge.
 Indiana University and SLIS policies on academic dishonesty will be followed. Students found to be engaged in plagiarism, cheating, and other types of dishonesty will be reported to the Dean's Office for appropriate action. As a rule of thumb, when in doubt, cite the source!


SCHEDULE AND READINGS (all assignments and most readings can be accessed through ERes)

January 09: Introduction to Course; Social Science Librarianship
January 16: Social Science Research
January 23: Information-Seeking Behavior of Social Scientists
January 30: Encyclopedias and Gateways in the Social Sciences
February 06: Subject Access in the Social Sciences (DUE: Assignment #1)
February 13: Social Science Databases
February 20: Book Reviews and Citation Searching in the Social Sciences
February 27: Government Social Science Information (DUE: Assignment #2)
March 05: In-Class Activities and Q/A Session on Remaining Projects


March 19: Student Presentations (DUE: Database Review and Presentation)


March 26: Data Archives in Social Science Research
April 02: Archives in Social Science Research (DUE: Client Interview & Search Assignment)
April 09: Open Access and Institutional Repositories
April 16: Publishers and Publishing in the Social Sciences
April 23: Future of Social Science Librarianship (DUE: Research Guide)
JOURNALS TO BROWSE In addition to the above readings, I encourage you to make a habit of browsing incoming issues of the following journals (all are available online and in SLIS Library):