From Data to Insights: Developing a Tool to Enhance Our Decision Making Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Qualitative Evidence

ABSTRACT

Evidence based library and information practice (EBLIP) encourages us to use evidence to inform our practice and professional decision making. Evidence, such as user feedback, can help ensure that our decisions match to the needs of our community. However, to extract insights from qualitative evidences such as user feedback to inform our professional judgement, we must be able to analyse this data: a feat complicated by our having limited training in research skills across the Library and Information Science (LIS) sector. To support our use of evidence in our decision making, we can develop personal ‘tools’. Tools offer a transparent structure which we can use to guide our data analysis, while also providing a learning and reflection framework for our ongoing development. This article will guide the reader through the construction of a minimalistic tool for analysing qualitative evidence for use in personal or organisational LIS decision making, informed by pragmatism and reflexive thematic analysis.

KEYWORDS:

• Thematic analysis
• evidence based librarianship
• evidence based library and information practice
• EBLIP
• qualitative data
• practitioner-researchers

Acknowledgement

I acknowledge with profound gratitude Tracy Dexter-Ingram, Lesa Maclean, Fiona Russell, Sally Hand, Rachel Neumann, Bruce Stubbs and the two anonymous JALIA peer reviewers, who provided invaluable feedback on earlier versions of this article and the developing passive tool.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rebecca Muir

Rebecca Muir is a neurodivergent Doctoral Candidate at Charles Sturt University (CSU), a manager of four university library branches, and was a volunteer tutor at the Australian Evidence Based Practice Librarian’s Institute (AEBPLI) in 2022. Rebecca’s research focuses on disability and inclusivity in the library, from recruitment to library design; and the development of practitioner research skills to enrich evidence-informed decision making and practice in the Australian LIS sector. Rebecca’s blood type is caffeine.