Account of methodologies and methods applied in LIS research: A systematic review

The use of appropriate methodology is a necessary component of reliable and valid research. A comprehensive account of methods used in library and information science (LIS) research was conducted using quantitative systematic review. Exhaustive searching techniques were employed to gather relevant literature. Of this body of work, more than half did not develop or apply a taxonomy of methods. By contrast, this review used three taxonomies to categorize methods. The findings reveal that empirical, descriptive, and quantitative research methodologies were used in that majority of LIS research. Survey was the most widely research method and descriptive statistics were used by majority of LIS authors for data analysis. This review contributes a comprehensive list of methodologies and methods used in LIS research and can help to identify strengths and gaps in the use of methodology. Documentation of methods used in LIS research can help the research community make decisions about future practice in the areas of methods, measures, and reporting. •This systematic review of methods used in library and information science examines 58 review articles.•Data include characteristics such as methodological approaches, methods, and statistics.•Findings show a predominance of quantitative, descriptive, and empirical methodologies, and survey as a method.•The resulting comprehensive list should aid researchers in selecting appropriate methodologies and methods.