Psychology and librarianship—an appraisal of the potential of experimental psychology in the study of librarian‐client behaviour

Abstract

The trend towards linking psychological research to problems of the librarian‐client interface is discussed. A more vigorous, scientific approach to these problems is recommended, using the methodology of the experimental psychologist. This methodology is explained; an example experiment then demonstrates the effect of ‘busyness’ of library staff on the frequency of approach by users. Librarians may be disillusioned by the inability of psychological research to produce simple and final answers to complex questions, but the experimental approach demonstrated should be adopted as a method of establishing a scientifically valid literature of librarian‐client behaviour.

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