Topic area
Network analysis of an emerging field of study

Description
Various conceptions of Information Studies are debated as the emerging field takes shape. Attracting graduate students to programs in Information Studies is challenged not only by the relative youth of the field, but also by the perceptions of curricular emphases at iSchools. To date, however, little—if any—research exists concerning how such perceptions arose, nor the actual strengths and weaknesses of the varied iSchool curricula and how they became that way. An understanding of the flow of theory and influence on Information Studies academics will orient prospective students to the opportunities offered at the iSchools, as well as shed light on the historical and theoretical underpinnings of a field in need of a definition upon which its faculty can agree.

Method
Using a mixed methods approach, I will analyze the academic trajectories of full-time faculty at the 52 iSchools to trace the flow of theory from multiple disciplines to Information Studies, culminating in the perceived reputations of the iSchools. I then will interview the founders of the iSchool organization to assess their intentions for the field and the network at its inception and compare these intentions to perceptions of the strengths of each school, as well as the actual expertise of the faculty of each school.

I will conduct a data analysis of this qualitative information in the following ways:

1. Triangulation to assess the perspectives of the iSchool founders, using any documents they will provide
2. Open, axial, and selective coding to explain the patterns that emerge from the interviews
3. Hierarchical classification of reported priorities to interpret the actions and statements of key stakeholders, which may prove useful in establishing how various emphases manifested at different iSchools
4. Network analysis to create a meaningful representation of the qualitative data collected from the faculty CVs, iSchool websites, and iSchool founder interviews
5. Cross-tabulation to evaluate patterns in the attributes of faculty members that may provide the opportunity to hypothesize causal relationships

Research questions
How did the iSchools become “known” for various aspects of Information Studies, and is the perception of each schools “IS identity” accurate? How would understanding the evolution of the iSchools help define the field and its theories?

Target journal
The Information Society

Outline
      I.         Introduction
II.         Problem statement
III.         Literature review

1. Current debates on the nature of Information Studies
2. My assertion that Information Studies existed within other disciplines and that theories originating in these fields and addressing information problems are, indeed, information theories.

IV.         Research questions

1. How did the iSchools become “known” for various aspects of Information Studies, and is the perception of each schools “IS identity” accurate?
2. How would understanding the evolution of the iSchools help define the field and its theories?

V.         Method (as above)

1. Data analysis of several attributes of full-time faculty at the iSchools and interviews with founders of the iSchool

2. Dependent and independent variables
3. Operationalization of concepts
4. Explanation of measures
5. Sampling method
6. Plan for data collection
7. Plan for data analysis
8. Plan for pilot test
9. IRB certification
10. Target journal for publication: The Information Society
11. Style instructions and call: APA 6th

VI.         Justification

VII.         Limitations

1. Results

IX.         Implications

X.         Further research

XI.         Conclusion

XII.         Bibliography

1. Data collection instruments
2. Tables, etc.