In my Research Methods class, I wrote an evidence-based action plan paper on the benefits of embedding librarians in corporate environments. The class focused on introducing students to practical applications of research methods and providing instruction on how to plan and execute research while employing qualitative and quantitative methods. There were several theory bases for this course, but in researching and writing my evidence-based action plan, I relied on the PICO-T framework (Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt, 2007 & Houser & Oman, 2011) for developing a focused research question that I would answer with my action plan. PICO-T is a model used in evidence-based research and clinical settings, with the letters standing for patient or problem, intervention, comparison, outcome, and time. This paper researched and answered the question of whether or not the implementation of an embedded librarianship service model would increase corporation library use and improve information-seeking behaviors of its users. While producing this action plan, I reviewed literature on my chosen topic, identified and articulated steps that should be taken to improve practice in the field of corporate and embedded librarianship, and shared my knowledge of those best practices in a research forum. As a result of this assignment, I am a better consumer and analyzer of published research literature and am confident in my ability to formulate my own research questions and see then through to their logical conclusions.
Alyssa Vincent 