Investigating the practices of student researchers: patterns of use and criteria for use of internet and library sources

For college writers, a key element of academic literacy is the ability to locate, select, evaluate, synthesize, and cite outside sources in their own writing. This study surveyed 543 college students to identify (a) their preferred criteria when evaluating Internet-based and library-based sources an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computers and composition 2000, Vol.17 (3), p.309-328
Main Authors: Burton, Vicki Tolar, Chadwick, Scott A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
bibliographic instruction
College Students
critical thinking
Higher Education
information literacy
Information Skills
Information Sources
Information Utilization
Internet
Internet training
library
Library Role
library training
Research Skills
source evaluation
Student Attitudes
Student Projects
Student Research
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Summary:For college writers, a key element of academic literacy is the ability to locate, select, evaluate, synthesize, and cite outside sources in their own writing. This study surveyed 543 college students to identify (a) their preferred criteria when evaluating Internet-based and library-based sources and (b) types of instruction students typically receive in evaluating those sources. Students writing research reports (63% of students) generally ranked most highly sources that were easy to use and easy to find, whether those sources were library-based or Internet-based ( r = 0.700, p < .01). Nearly 60% of all students received library training, which came most frequently from high school teachers. Nearly 29% of all students received Internet training, which came most frequently from student peers.
ISSN:8755-4615
1873-2011
DOI:10.1016/S8755-4615(00)00037-2