dig deep but don't go under
TRANSCRIPT
DIG DEEP BUT DON’T GO UNDER
LESS THAN HALF (49%) OF STUDENTS REGULARLY PERFORM
BACKGROUND RESEARCH.
Credo Reference 2016 Survey Results
19% OF FRESHMAN DON’T USE ANY
LIBRARY DATABASES.
Credo Reference 2016 Survey Results
BACKGROUND RESEARCH:FACULTY ENCOURAGE
SCHOLARLY AUTHORSHIP.
STUDENTS CHOOSE BY KEYWORD RELEVANCE.
Credo Reference 2016 Survey Results
LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Be able to map assignment requirements to research process phases.
• Develop supporting assignment “checkpoints” to guide students.
• Be familiar with Credo Reference navigation, function, and content.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
What does the research process look like?
SECOND THINGS SECOND
What process do your students follow?
PRE-RESEARCHthe lay of the land, the big picture
Sounds like:• Summarize
• Describe
• Mind map
Source types:• Encyclopedias• Newspapers• Google searches• Books
Credo Time
Topic Pages | Encyclopedia/Dictionary Articles | Topic Maps Cross-References Other Databases
NARROWdevelop the focus
Photo CC BY bixentro (Flickr)
Sounds like:• Identify/write your thesis
statement
• What’s your research question?
Bypass by:
• Providing specific thesis statements
START DIGGINGexplore the focus
Sounds like:• Create an outline with citations
• Submit an annotated bibliography
• Using the library databases, find scholarly articles…
Source types:• Scholarly articles
• Statistics, data sets
ASSEMBLE + REFINEputting everything together
Sounds like:• Submit your first draft
• Write the paper
• Create a presentation
Bypass by:• End product is annotated
bibliography or other semi-final stage
ASSIGNMENT-SMITHING
ASSIGNMENT-SMITHING
Considerations
Make no assumptions that students have done this* before, regardless of class level.
* “This” being writing a paper; conducting a research project; reading a scholarly article; been taught to use a database…
Parameters
• Know the boundaries• Currency
• Specificity
• Not all “databases” or “library resources” are created equal
Be Specific
• What do you expect by “scholarly” sources
• Name specific databases as suggestions*
• Which websites to avoid besides Wikipedia, if applicable
• Name the specific citation style and don’t deviate
* “EBSCO” is not a database
Variety
Scholarly sources are not lifelong sources.
Group Time
Final Thoughts.
Elaine M. Patton, MLSDigital Resource Professional
Library | Student Learning Resource Center
LSC-University Park
[email protected] | @SLRC_Elaine
Aug. 19, 2017