L.P. Coladangelo

The following research proposal was created for LIS 60050 Research and Assessment in Library and Information Science.  The proposal investigated the use of bibliometrics, a quantitative research methodology commonly used by information professionals to measure the impact or influence of particular publications, as applied to the question of canon formation in American literature.  A literature review was conducted regarding quantitative and bibliometric analyses previously used in studying canonical literature in both humanities domains and in social science subject areas, as well as theories of canon formation and literary tradition in English.  A research gap was found specifically regarding the American literary canon and bibliometric analysis was proposed to study the comprehensive reading lists of graduate programs in American literature within the United States.  Further analyses would be conducted on the presence of regional variations, differences in public and private institutions, and the inclusion of women authors and authors of color.  Application of a well-established information science research methodology to this novel question would allow other scholars to reuse the data gathered in this proposed study to examine the mechanisms by which canon formation takes places in the United States, as well as the social implications of how and when underrepresented communities of writers and readers become a legitimate part of a diverse national literary tradition.