Dissertation Information for Binford Harrison Conley NAME: - Binford Harrison Conley
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Rutgers University (USA) (1981)
ADVISORS: - Ralph Blasingame
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Ernest Deprospo - Thomas H. Mott Jr. - Lewis W. Carr
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: A STUDY OF PERFORMANCE AS MEASURED BY SELECTED INDICATORS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO USER SATISFACTION AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION IN FIVE 1980 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION LIBRARIES
Abstract: The Problem. Library managers, especially those in small academic libraries, need improved ways of collecting data concerning the delivery of services or library performance; of measuring performance and of comparing current performance in a given library with its past performance; of comparing the performance of a given library with that of similar libraries; of relating performance to resource allocation; and of relating performance to the perceptions of users about the services--user satisfaction.
Methodology. In this study, the Public Library measurement Study (PLMS), which was conducted successfully, using local library staff personnel in a national sample, has been adapted to the academic library environment.
A variety of data related to library and user variables was collected and assigned to one of three study variables: (1) Performance (as measured by five indicators--collection recency, document deliverability, reference intensity, circulation volume and facilities usage) (2) resource allocation and (3) user satisfaction. Sampling as a technique was employed extensively and the determination of relationships between performance and other variables (resource allocation and user satisfaction) constituted major study objectives.
The determination of relationships was sought through null hypotheses testing using Spearman rank order correlation which postulated no relationship between performance and the other variables.
Findings. Study objectives are two-fold: the interest in methodological adaptation and expansion was of primary concern; of secondary concern were the specific findings of the study, vis-a-vis, study participants. With regard to the method, the study demonstrated that a self-administered performance appraisal study of the type involved was feasible in the small academic library. In general, the hypotheses could not be proven through use of the prescribed statistical method. That is, while the relationship between input and output is axiomatic, it was not possible to demonstrate strong positive relationships between performance as measured by the indicators, resource allocation and user satisfaction on a statistically significant basis. A relationship could be established between resource allocation and user satisfaction, however.
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MPACT Scores for Binford Harrison Conley A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:09:33
Advisors and Advisees Graph
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