ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 1 2024
, Assignments for Semester 1
SEMESTER 1 Assignment 02
Due Date: 19 April 2024
Please answer all questions. You should have worked through the entire study guide
before attempting this assignment.
Question 1 (50)
Read the abstract below and answer the questions that follow. Give adequate
motivations and examples for all your answers.
Abstract
This research paper investigated the role of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) in information delivery for people with visual impairment
and on wheelchairs in South African academic libraries. A pragmatism
paradigm and the social model of disability of Oliver were employed using
both quantitative and qualitative methods. A questionnaire, interview
schedules and an observation checklist were used to collect data. The study
population comprised library directors and professional library staff from
eight universities (one from each province), people with visual impairment
and in wheelchairs, and staff from the Department of Higher Education and
Training’s (DoHET’s) Special Needs Unit. A sample of 784 respondents was
surveyed. The study found that ICTs facilitated information provision for
people with these disabilities, but that there was insufficient adaptive or
assistive equipment in South African academic libraries for them. Academic
libraries should provide enough assistive ICT equipment to facilitate
information delivery easily, independently and remotely to people with visual
impairments and in wheelchairs.
Number your answers correctly.
2.1 Formulate a title for the research. (3)
2.2 In which environment did the research take place? (2)
2.3 What was the aim of the research? (3)
2.4 Which research area of Information Science did the research address? (2)
2.5 Explain why it was necessary to use the mixed methods research
approach in this research. (12)
2.6 Explain the data collection method(s) applied in this research. (12)