Comments on: Numbers vs. meaning

By: Inspiring stuff to read, Take 3 | Information Wants To Be Free

Inspiring stuff to read, Take 3 | Information Wants To Be Free — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:23:24 +0000

[...] about a topic I’ve been thinking a lot about as well: Calculating the Value of Service. I’ve written in the past about the librarianly love of numbers and how our statistics aren’t always meaningful (to us, but especially to external entities). [...]

By: Allyson Washburn

Allyson Washburn — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:13:42 +0000

Meredith,

An insightful post. We recently did an undergraduate library use study using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Both approaches provided us with lots of useful information. One thing that stood out in the survey numbers was that students wanted more outlets. We discovered why in our student interviews. So we not only had the statistical evidence, but the story behind it. I think that kind of assessment is more useful than one or the other by itself.

By: Ryan Deschamps

Ryan Deschamps — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:16:49 +0000

Alot of pundits claim that it’s best to get those library stories into something ‘quantifiable.’ I like to emphasize the reverse: what story are the numbers telling?

It’s easy to forget that most quantitative measures are only telling a story. Numbers are useful because we know that our instincts are often quite wrong. On the other hand, they are just part of a whole story about success.

By: Susan Vega Garcia

Susan Vega Garcia — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:57:17 +0000

Thanks for the interesting post! All the more reason for the lib community to understand statistics and the need for ongoing assessment and longitudinal data.

Numbers, like words and language, will always be subject to interpretation and misinterpretation. Analysis & interpretation is how we make meaning… Continued thoughtful assessment of various types increases our understanding of what we’re doing and what our users need/want. All of your scenarios are potential research projects – love it!!

Thanks again for the interesting post!

By: Let’s Not (Just) Do the Numbers

Let’s Not (Just) Do the Numbers — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:29:00 +0000

[...] Farkas has a thoughtful post at Information Wants to be Free on our love of numbers and how little they tell us without context. Less traffic at the reference [...]

By: Meredith Farkas

Meredith Farkas — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:29:01 +0000

lol! Thanks Peter!

@Chris O. & @Steve Cauffman – I totally agree. We need to rely on a combination of numbers, meaningful performance measures/outcome-based evaluation, qualitative measures (like ethnography and focus groups) and what we’re observing. No one measure is likely to give you the whole picture.

By: peter bromberg

peter bromberg — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:03:06 +0000

Meredith,

100% of everyone surveyed thinks your post is insightful and required reading for the profession. (OK, I only surveyed myself so far…but I stand firmly by my conclusion!)

By: Chris O.

Chris O. — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:45:05 +0000

Numbers are at their worst when people try to manipulate them to be more favorable by making things worse overall, such as the (apocryphal?) story of a library sealing up its drop boxes so that people would have to come in and goose the door count. However, I’m also very leery of saying “anecdotal evidence is best”. If you want to solve the problem of doing poorly but manipulating things so you look good, anecdotal evidence is not the way to go. I don’t think the numbers should ever be sacrificed, but if you pair them with HONEST accounts of your experiences in order to interpret what it all really means, you’ll get something more meaningful. Unfortunately, lots of people in all walks of life go for the CYA approach first.

By: Jason LeDuc

Jason LeDuc — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:53:27 +0000

Anyone interested in library metrics and outcomes needs to read the recent ALA award-winning book on the subject by the trio of Dugan, Simmons, and Nitecki.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1591586658/associatizer-20/

By: Julia Mielish

Julia Mielish — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:17:51 +0000

Awesome post Meredith! I completely agree that numbers don’t tell the complete story and that anecdotal evidence is best. I too find myself struggling to define that for administration. I’m going to take Steve’s recommendation and review outcome-based evaluation.