I completely agree with Dr. Gopakumar. I have also noticed this tendency. In last few months, I have received several such questionnaires through RTI. I think this tendency is growing because many times our tables get flooded with such questionnaire - particularly from LIS research students and we cannot respond to all the questionnaires. That is why these budding researchers are resorting to RTI. It must be known to all that participation in any research is completely voluntary. Whether in field research method or through questionnaire method, participants' willingness is of prime importance. Research methodologies within the paradigm of Social Science gives maximum respect to participants' decision. A researcher must be ready to accept that from a sample of any size, the response rate can be anywhere between 30 - 40%. Somewhere I read that 40% is considered a very good response rate. In order to raise the response rate, these reseachers are resorting to coercion/compliance method using RTI. This issue must be handled within the arena of research ethics. In my opinion, the DLIS of various universities must come forward to stop this behavior. They must specify that research based on data collected through RTI will be TOTALLY REJECTED. They probably can go one step further by making it mandatory that all questionnairs must have some declaration that the questionnaire was not administered through RTI. Thanks and regards, -- Swati Bhattacharyya Librarian Indian Institute of Management Calcutta Joka, Diamond Harbor Road Kolkata - 700104 Ph: +91-33-2467-8300/01 (extn: O:416; R: 106)

Dear All,

No problem if you will take RTI in a positive way it will help you in proper management of your data and records as well as good administration of the library also.

On Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:36:21 +0530 wrote

...

Right to Information demanded by an individual has to be delivered by the organization as per the provisions of State Right to Information Act. The information which is available in the documentary or any format may be deli

vered to the person who demands this against a prescribed fee.

The organization may deny the information quoting the sections of the act.

While asking third party information the third party has to be informed

No research data can be gathered using this as a tool. Nobody is compelled to provide information of whatsoever is asked

Information which comes under the provisions of document retention policy only has to be furnished.

Please read the act to firmly say 'NO' to such demands

Dr P G Tadasad

Associate Professor and Chairman

Department of Library and Information Science

University Librarian (I/C)

Special Officer Development Cell

Coordinator Gandhi Study Center

Karnataka State Women's University Jnanashakti Campus Toravi Bijapur 586108

08352 - 229 012 (O); 08352 - 240021 (O); 08352 272436 (R); 09448180973 (M)

----- Original Message -----

From: Gopakumar Velayudhanpillai

To: lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in

Sent: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 18:46:32 +0530 (IST)

Subject: [LIS-Forum] Data collection through Right to Information request - Is it right to do so?

Dear friendsI am posting this to know about your opinion on a tendency found among research scholars now a days. I have been getting questionnaires of PhD research under the Right to Information Act. As you are aware most of these questionnaires are of minimum 8 to 10 pages and the questions are mostly to be answered on a personal level.

Right to Information is a statute designed and promulgated with a specific cause to bring transparency to the governance and its machinery. But this seems to be misutilized by many for personal purposes. One example is this. Data collection for research is the real task in research and you have to enjoy this with utmost sportsman spirit. If there are occasions were you are not getting minute data which are essential, you may use this method. I am more worried about this as this tendency is more among library science professionals.

Dr GOPAKUMAR V.

University Librarian,Goa University

Taleigao Plateau, Goa. PIN 403 206

Personal webpage

http://www.vgkumar.weebly.com/

gopakumar.v@rediffmail.com

Office Phone: 08326519012

Mobile No: 09447056713

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