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Survey of Users of Korean Materials:
The Australia-Korea Research and Information Profile

Report of the Korean Working Group
May 1998


3. Methodology

3.1 Appointment of a consultant

The KWG had discussions in February 1997 to prepare a project outline for gathering information from users of Korean materials. This project outline was used to obtain quotations from independent consultants. In March 1997, Ruth Megirian of Suilven Consulting was engaged to devise a questionnaire, carry out analysis of the responses, prepare a report and make recommendations for future action. Patrick O’Neill was also engaged in November 1997 to carry out further telephone interviews.

The management and coordination of distributing and collecting questionnaires, interviewing selected respondents and overseeing the project also included several meetings between Suilven Consulting, Marie Sexton and Andrew Gosling.

The questionnaire was distributed in June 1997 and responses collected until August 1997. Interviews were conducted during, as well as after this period, and follow up interviews with businesses conducted in November 1997.

3.2 Objectives of the questionnaire and interviews

The objectives of the project were stated as follows:

  1. to undertake a survey by a mail questionnaire and by interviews in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. Additional telephone interviews also included interviewees in Hobart and Perth. The survey would cover research and information needs related to Korean academic studies also for Australian businesses having dealings related to Korea. Administering the questionnaire and conducting interviews were to take place during 1997;
     
  2. to prepare a report giving recommendations arising from responses to the questionnaire interviews with proposals for future action. The report to include information on library usage patterns, online usage, adequacy of existing collections and arrangements, readers’ services, subjects/formats used for research and information, areas of growth, the reaction to and, in some cases potential for, paid-for services and on types and numbers of potential users/information seekers.

While the project outline specified the use of three questionnaires for designated groups of users (academics concentrating on Korean studies, post graduate students, independent scholars in one group, libraries as the second group; and consultants, business groups, government and other in the third group), this tailored approach was found to be too costly. Although consideration was given to restricting the questionnaire to a single user group, the coordinating group decided that a general questionnaire could provide sufficiently detailed data to achieve the major points of the stated objectives. The design and content of the questionnaire therefore reflected the fact that respondents came from a broad spectrum of users.

The major areas which the questionnaire covered included:

  • subject areas studied;
  • perceived adequacy of individual collections;
  • patterns of library use;
  • use of electronic services;
  • use of personal library services;
  • “user pays” services; and
  • respondents’ suggestions for improving collections and services.

3.3 Design and content of questionnaire

  • “Korean materials” referred to both English language material about Korea, as well as Korean vernacular material.
  • “Korean material” was also treated as a single entity, without division into North or South Korean materials.
  • Although permission was sought from individual university libraries to use their names in questions relating to personal visits and to on-line use, the questionnaire referred only to four libraries by name: Australian National University, Griffith University, Monash University and the National Library of Australia. It was left to individual respondents to name other libraries that they used.
  • Questions were structured to provide as much quantitative data as possible. However, qualitative data was also sought, particularly in regard to suggestions for improved collections and services which respondents sought.
  • There were insufficient funds to carry out a pilot study and refine the questionnaire further, however, it was trialed by members of the KWG before being sent out to those on the mailing list.
  • The length of the questionnaire was limited to five pages, although it included an invitation to elaborate on any further points and contained mail, e-mail and fax contact details.
  • The mailing list was collated mainly from the membership lists of the Korean Studies Association of Australasia and the directory, Korean Studies in Australia compiled by the National Korean Studies Centre, Melbourne.
  • In preference to sending out questionnaires to government departments, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, interviews were conducted with individuals in these institutions.

3.4 Design and content of interview questions

The interviews were designed to supplement responses in the questionnaire and to allow respondents to elaborate on responses contained in the questionnaire. They were most important for gathering qualitative data.

In order to make contact with a wide cross-section of academic users and those in government departments, interviews were considered essential to round out the overall picture, as reliance upon a mail questionnaire would be too limited in its scope.

As there was limited time available for interviews, they were designed to take no more than half an hour each. Interview questions were phrased to allow respondents to make suggestions for improvements. The questions were:

  1. Are you able to obtain the information you need about Korean library collections and services which exist in Australia?
  2. What could you suggest that would improve knowledge about these collections and services for you and your colleagues and students?
  3. Are there gaps in these collections which hinder your work?
  4. Are there other obstacles which hinder you in your work?
  5. What trends are likely to affect your needs for information about Korea over the next 5 to 10 years?

Appointments were made to meet a number of academics and government officials who had not been surveyed by questionnaire.

3.5 Timetable of interviews

Interviews were carried out in Adelaide in July 1997, in Melbourne in August 1997, in Sydney and Brisbane in October 1997 and in Canberra during October and November. Additional telephone interviews were carried out during November, and included interviewees in Hobart and Perth. A total of 81 people were interviewed, either in person or by telephone. Of these, 25 also completed questionnaires.

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Last updated 9 December 1998
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