Close Reading Conclusions

I believe I have been exposed to the concepts of close reading before Research Methods began, but perhaps have just never called it by its name. I have utilized scholarly articles before for other classes and research projects, so I do have some experience dissecting literature to pinpoint an argument. However I haven't, until starting Research Methods, engaged with an article in such a structured way as identifying not only the research question and conclusion, but also identifying the research methodology and type of evidence the author presents.

I think that in learning to recognize and identify methodologies and evidence, I am getting better at comparing and qualifying different articles, especially while doing research for my thesis. I just read an article about the use of Web 2.0 features in online archives catalogs to enhance user browsability. The research methodology included a review of existing literature on the subject, a survey of a number of online catalogs of archives, and interviewed archives staff members regarding their opinions of the use of Web 2.0 features. Unfortunately, I feel that the researcher left out a major group which could have led to a more sound conclusion: users of digital catalogs. The research question asked if the effects of Web 2.0 enhanced users' ability to browse online catalogs, but the researcher never interviewed users of online catalogs. The interviews with archives staff did provide some insight into other aspects of the study that were beneficial to it's results, however there was not enough evidence collected to reach a conclusion one way or another about the effects of Web 2.0 regarding the success of online archives catalogs. After reading this article, I realized it probably isn't the strongest source of evidence for my own research topic.


Gresham, Emily, and Sarah Higgins. "Improving Browsability of Archive Catalogues using Web 2.0." Library Review 61.5 (2012): 309-26. ProQuest. Web. 27 Sep. 2017.

Joseph, Frances. “The New Zealand Design Archives: Digital Resource Building and Design History.” Journal of Design History, vol. 14, no. 3, 2001, pp. 227–236. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3527148.