dig deep but don't go under

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

Elaine.M.Patton@LoneStar.edu | @SLRC_Elaine

Aug. 19, 2017