Nordic Research School in Library and Information Science

Workshop: Task-based research in educational and work settings

Purpose of the course:
This workshop is intended to provide opportunities for sharing experiences of task-based research in contexts of formal learning and working life and to further the issues raised at “Conceptions of task as a methodological issue: Scandinavians on information seeking and retrieval research”, a panel at the ASIS&T Annual Meeting 2004. Issues related to task-based information seeking and searching were considered in the ASIS&T Annual Meeting at the session “Understanding the task” and these have been regularly addressed in the contributions of the latest conferences in Information Seeking in Context-conference series.

This workshop will develop these research issues with a focus on the conception and use of “tasks” in information studies from the theoretical and methodological perspective. The workshop covers all kinds of task-related information studies where different aspects of tasks are considered. We invite work on various interpretations and applications of the concept of task connected to information retrieval, information searching, information seeking, work practice, education, collaboration, individual tasks, multitasking, dimensions of tasks, and so on.

Of particular interest are the following topics:
Learning as outcomes of task-based work in a range of various settings, such as formal learning from elementary level to higher education, daily work practice, organisational learning, professional development as well as keeping up to date with the knowledge development in one's professional field. What are the common traits of (or differences between) outcomes of task-based information work on different arenas?

Theoretical growth of task-based research: Plenty of task-based research is currently carried out in the field of information studies. What do we know about information activities in relation to tasks investigated with different perspectives, such as system, individual, and socio-cultural perspectives? What are the limitations of task-based research? How are the results applicable in practice (either as work practices or in system design)? The key findings within different methodological perspectives are discussed in order to create a state-of-the-art knowledge map in task-based research.

Methods for task-based research: Multiple methods with great variation of operationalizations of tasks as well as data collection and analysis are utilized in the field of information studies. On the basis of examples from participants' empirical research (finished or on-going) some pitfalls and best practices are identified to guide development of empirical methods in task-based research.

Researchers in different phases of their careers, from doctoral students to professors, are invited to participate in creating a dynamic and extensive forum for discussing recent research projects and enhancing task-based research in educational and work settings .

Main responsible person:
Dr Katriina Byström ( Swedish School of Library and Information Science , Sweden ) ( katriina.bystrom@hb.se ) ( http://www.hb.se/bhs/personal/katriina/kbm.htm )

Co-organizers:
Dr. Olof Sundin ( Swedish School of Library and Information Science & University of Lund Sweden) ( olof.sundin@hb.se ) ( http://www.hb.se/bhs/biktprogram/index.htm )

Professor Louise Limberg ( Swedish School of Library and Information Science , Sweden ) ( louise.limberg@hb.se ) ( http://www.hb.se/bhs/personal/lol.htm )

Time:
2006, October 15-17

Location:
Borås, Sweden at the "New Library" , Järnvägsgatan 5

Accomodation:
Rooms are reserved at Hotell City Borås
Allégatan 32, 503 32 Borås, tel 033-417510, fax 033-410551

Application deadline:
2006, August 15
The applicants will receive the notification of acceptance/rejection by August 31 by email.

Credits:
The workshop seminar is recommended to be equivalent to 3 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).
Note: Final credits are decided by the person in charge of the local Ph.D. program.

How to apply:
Participants are asked to submit an extended abstract (max. 2500 words) of the topic(s) of the workshop based to the ongoing or completed research. The application should also include a brief CV. This information will be used for selection purposes.

The application should be electronically submitted at the latest by August 15, 2006 in either Word or RTF-format to to Boel Bissmarck ( boel.bissmarck@hb.se ) .

For NorsLIS doctoral students: The application must contain the following information

Name of course/workshop:
Last name:
First name:
Birth date:
Male/female:
E-mail address:
Estimated travel costs:
Name of supervisor:
Supervisor's e-mail address:

Participation is primarily reserved for Ph.D. students registred at one of the 15 NORSLIS departments. Provided that there is room for more participants, Ph.D. students from outside the NORSLIS departments, as well as researchers and lecturers at the NORSLIS departments, may participate. However, travel and accommodation costs cannot be financed by NORSLIS for these two groups.

Reimbursement of travel and accomodation costs