want better papers? start with better sources by susan hurst joseph leonard lilly conference, miami...
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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
[email protected]@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
[email protected]@muohio.edu