A 2010 research study conducted by Project Information Literacy showed that the majority of sample handouts for research assignments did not adequately guide students to finding and using information
The ensuing report, "Assigning Inquiry: How Handouts for Research Assignments Guide Today’s College Students," revealed that the majority of research assignment descriptions provided more information on formatting, layout, and other mechanics than on how to do college research. The following are five major findings from this study:
Research assignment handouts are the guides that students employ to understand your expectations and how to find, evaluate, and use information. Handouts also provide direction for anyone helping students: librarians, writing coaches, tutors, peers.
Consider how your assignment handout fulfills the context needs of students during the research process:
Situational Context
Determining how far to go with research activities in light of meeting the instructor's expectations
Estimating how much time to spend on a research assignment
Figuring out how to get a “good grade”/what success looks likes
Locating sample papers from students provided by the instructor
Finding guidelines for paper submission
Information-Gathering Context
Learning what research has been published about the topic
Locating full-text versions of potential research sources
Adding Situational Context
Adding Information-Gathering Context
Getting Started
Searching for Information
Evaluating Information
Using Information
Provide citation guidance
Association of College & Research Libraries. Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Chicago: American Library Association, February 9, 2015. http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework
Bean, John C. “Designing and Sequencing Assignments to Teach Undergraduate Research” in Engaging Ideas: The Professor’s Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning in the Classroom, 2nd ed., Jossey-Bass, 2011, pp. 224–63.
Head, Alison J. and Michael B. Eisenberg. Assigning Inquiry: How handouts for research assignments guide today’s college students. Project Information Literacy Research Institute, July 13, 2010. https://projectinfolit.org/publications/research-handouts-study/
Kulthau, Carol. "Information Search Process." Rutgers University http://wp.comminfo.rutgers.edu/ckuhlthau/information-search-process
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