Want Better Papers?Want Better Papers? Start With Better SourcesStart With Better Sources

By By Susan HurstSusan Hurst

Joseph LeonardJoseph Leonard

Lilly Conference, Miami UniversityLilly Conference, Miami UniversityNovember 18, 2005November 18, 2005

WHAT ABOUT YOU??WHAT ABOUT YOU??

Are you happy with the quality of students’ Are you happy with the quality of students’ work?work?

Does your school require students to learn Does your school require students to learn about library resources?about library resources?

Do you have librarians come into your classes?Do you have librarians come into your classes? How much attention do you pay to students’ How much attention do you pay to students’

bibliographies? bibliographies? What resources do you use for your own What resources do you use for your own

research?research?

RATIONALE FOR OUR STUDYRATIONALE FOR OUR STUDY

Poor Term Paper QualityPoor Term Paper Quality

Too Much Dependence on Internet SourcesToo Much Dependence on Internet Sources

Library Resources Not Being UtilizedLibrary Resources Not Being Utilized

How Can We Change This?How Can We Change This?

WHAT WE DIDWHAT WE DID

Collaboration between Faculty and LibrariansCollaboration between Faculty and Librarians International Business ClassInternational Business Class Fall 2004, Spring 2005 semestersFall 2004, Spring 2005 semesters 2 sections received Library Instruction, 1 did 2 sections received Library Instruction, 1 did

not, each semesternot, each semester 184 students total, 83 received library 184 students total, 83 received library

instruction, 101 did notinstruction, 101 did not Based on a term-paper assignmentBased on a term-paper assignment

THE ASSIGNMENTTHE ASSIGNMENT

9 to 14 page company-based research paper9 to 14 page company-based research paper

Components include company descriptive Components include company descriptive information, analysis, future recommendations, information, analysis, future recommendations, support of recommendations, conclusions and support of recommendations, conclusions and implications, bibliography.implications, bibliography.

counts for 20% of course gradecounts for 20% of course grade

LIBRARY INSTRUCTION – LIBRARY INSTRUCTION – WHAT’S THAT ALL ABOUT ?WHAT’S THAT ALL ABOUT ?

Instruction was in the classroom – demonstration by a Instruction was in the classroom – demonstration by a librarian – no hands-on (NOT ideal)librarian – no hands-on (NOT ideal)

Demonstrated Library Webpage (Demonstrated Library Webpage (http://www.lib.muohio.edu/http://www.lib.muohio.edu/), how to access resources ), how to access resources off-campus, and library databasesoff-campus, and library databases

Tailored to a specific assignmentTailored to a specific assignment Stressed databases’ ease of use, cost (FREE to Stressed databases’ ease of use, cost (FREE to

students – already paid for through tuition), quality of students – already paid for through tuition), quality of results, often full-text onlineresults, often full-text online

WHAT IF YOU DIDN’T GET WHAT IF YOU DIDN’T GET LIBRARY INSTRUCTION?LIBRARY INSTRUCTION?

3 minute talk by professor 3 minute talk by professor Citation style and formatCitation style and format No requirement for number of citationsNo requirement for number of citations Don’t rely too heavily on company homepageDon’t rely too heavily on company homepage Go to the library or use library resources Go to the library or use library resources

online (no further instructions about using online (no further instructions about using library resources though).library resources though).

DATA ANALYSISDATA ANALYSIS

Analyzed bibliographies from the term-paper Analyzed bibliographies from the term-paper assignment – looked at each citationassignment – looked at each citation

Compared resources used among students Compared resources used among students receiving library instruction vs. resources cited receiving library instruction vs. resources cited by those that did not have instructionby those that did not have instruction

Where did the sources come from (journal Where did the sources come from (journal article, library database, book, Internet, other)?article, library database, book, Internet, other)?

Statistical analysis done with MinitabStatistical analysis done with Minitab

WHAT WE FOUNDWHAT WE FOUND

Students that received library instruction –Students that received library instruction –

Used significantly more library resourcesUsed significantly more library resources Used significantly more types of materials Used significantly more types of materials Turned in significantly fewer papers where the Turned in significantly fewer papers where the

only citations were from the Internet.only citations were from the Internet. Did not have significantly improved paper or Did not have significantly improved paper or

course grades.course grades.

RESULTS – CHART 1RESULTS – CHART 1

RESULTS – CHART 2RESULTS – CHART 2

RESULTS – CHART 3RESULTS – CHART 3

RESULTS – CHART 4RESULTS – CHART 4

RESULTS – CHART 5RESULTS – CHART 5

RESULTS – CHART 6RESULTS – CHART 6

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

Students do benefit from Library Instruction.Students do benefit from Library Instruction. They appreciate resources but are often They appreciate resources but are often

unaware of their existence.unaware of their existence. Students will utilize what they know.Students will utilize what they know. Grade bibliographies as carefully as you do Grade bibliographies as carefully as you do

papers.papers. Better papers start (and end) with better Better papers start (and end) with better

sources.sources.

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS??????????

HOW TO CONTACT USHOW TO CONTACT US

Susan HurstSusan Hurst

Business LibrarianBusiness Librarian

Miami UniversityMiami University

202 King Library202 King Library

Oxford, OH 45056Oxford, OH 45056

513-529-4144513-529-4144

hurstsj@muohio.eduhurstsj@muohio.edu

Joseph LeonardJoseph Leonard

Management ProfessorManagement Professor

Miami UniversityMiami University

313D Laws Hall313D Laws Hall

Oxford, OH 45056Oxford, OH 45056

513-529-4239 513-529-4239

leonarjw@muohio.eduleonarjw@muohio.edu