Seeking More Than Just Information: Reflections on Chapter Fifteen of The Portable MLIS

I am the first one to admit that research can be dull and tedious, but despite my initial resistance to the research process I have learned to respect it for the insights that it brings to light that would otherwise still be undiscovered. Additionally, I am not completely unchanged by my own past research projects; in fact, I have learned a lot about myself and my endurance to connect and communicate knowledge in unique ways.

The key word to me about the research process is communication. The chapter points out that “the researcher’s job is not really complete until he or she has communicated the results” (Powell, 2008, pp.176). It goes further to say that a “profession cannot benefit from such research unless its members are able and willing to critically read” that research (Powell, 2008, pp. 177). The above quotes suggest that research, like communication, is a two way process between the researcher and his or her reader. Furthermore, they suggest that the interaction between the two is the key ingredient to creating new research processes. Simply put, research begets research—perhaps that is why there is so very much of it out there in the world.

When most people think of research, they think of unearthing already discovered knowledge, but the truth is that the impact of research is more important than just unearthing something that already exists. In actuality, researchers who create new knowledge are the ones making the most impact on future research and our lives today. The chapter states that such newly created knowledge “produce[s] better insights” into current practices that can be improved (Powell, 2008, pp. 176). Thus, knowledge creation is a noble act that builds on the past to improve the present and predict the future.

Whether or not research unearths old information or new, it is a fact that research is necessary. Some may see it as a necessary evil (I did in high school), but even if every step along the way is a struggle, the result of any research is worth it—productive or not. We learn something from every question we try to answer, especially whether or not that question even can be answered. Most significantly, we learn about our curiosity as individuals and as a culture and how that nature can serve us in the future for which we must prepare.

Powell, Ron. (2008). Research. In Ken Haycook & Brooke E. Sheldon (Eds.) The Portable MLIS: Insights from the experts. (pp. 168-178). Westport: Libraries Unlimited.