Low+Morale+Study+Invitation

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**Released November 1, 2016**

 * November 2, 2016: LARGE RESPONSE HAS RESULTED IN INQUIRIES FOR WAIT LIST ONLY AT THIS TIME. **
 * December 2016: THIS STUDY IS NOW CLOSED. ****Thank you for your interest in this study.**


 * OCTOBER 2017: This study has been published in the //Journal of Library Administration//, 57(8): 846-878.**

Are you an academic librarian who has faced low morale while employed at a college or university library? If so, you are invited to participate in a research study designed to explore 1) the emotional trajectories of and physiological impact on librarians working in low-morale environments, 2) the relationship(s) between environmental triggers, emotional trajectories, and physiological changes stemming from working in low morale environments, and 3) how these relationships, trajectories, and physiological changes are identified, mitigated or resolved through myriad cognitive, physical, or other processes and actions.

According to Brun & Cooper, several missing pieces in a workplace could contribute to employee’s lowered sense of well-being, including a lack of/ issues with: - Recognition at work - Social support - Respect at work - Work/life balance - Workload - Participation in decision-making and - Role conflict or ambiguity (2009, pp. 8-9)

Workplace toxicity, incivility (including acts of bullying or mobbing), and burnout are also factors that may contribute to lowered morale in library environments (Rural Librarian 2015; Bosque and Skarl 2016)

This study is investigated by Kaetrena Davis Kendrick (Assistant Librarian, University of South Carolina Lancaster).

If you choose to participate, I will conduct a telephone interview with you that will last 45-60 minutes, and you will also be asked to complete a brief survey which should only take 5-6 minutes to complete. Survey responses will be anonymous and kept separately from interview responses. Interviews will be confidential and participants will not be identified personally.

Participation in this study is completely voluntary. If you are interested in participating, please contact me directly by phone or email to set up a telephone appointment. If you know of anyone else who might be eligible and who is interested in participating, please feel free to forward them this message.

Principal Investigator contact information: Kaetrena D. Kendrick at 803-313-7061; kaetrena@mailbox.sc.edu

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">If you have questions about this study, you may contact the researcher at the contact points listed above. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a participant in this research study, you may contact the University of South Carolina’s Office of Research Compliance at 803-777-7095.

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Thanks for your interest in and support of this study.

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, M.S.L.S.