scholarly journals The Impact of Library Instruction on Undergraduate Student Success: A Four-Year Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Jennifer Rowe ◽  
Julie Leuzinger ◽  
Carol Hargis ◽  
Karen Harker
Keyword(s):  
Student Success ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Undergraduate Student ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
The Core ◽  
English Class ◽  
Success Indicators ◽  
Data Points ◽  
The Impact

During a four-year period, librarians collected student data by card-swiping undergraduate students who attended one of the core English composition class-based one-shot instruction sessions provided at a large state-supported doctoral-granting university. Data for students who attended library instruction was anonymized and compared to the same data points for students who were enrolled in the English class but did not attend library instruction. The authors compared student success indicators for the control and treatment groups (GPA, pass or fail status in course, and retention) and found a positive correlation between attending library instruction and student success.

scholarly journals Chat Transcript Analysis Reveals that Undergraduate Students are Open to Instruction, While Instructors and Librarians Care About Supporting Student Learning

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Elaine Sullo
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Chat Reference ◽  
Composition Course ◽  
The Impact

A Review of: Jacoby, J., Ward, D., Avery, S., & Marcyk, E. (2016). The value of chat reference services: A pilot study. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 16(1), 109-129. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2016.0013 Abstract Objective – To investigate student, instructor, and librarian perspectives of chat reference service in the context of first-year undergraduate students conducting research for an introductory composition course. Design – Focus groups, individual interviews, and surveys. Setting – A large, public university in the United States of America. Subjects – 57 library reference providers, 36 instructors of an introductory composition course, and approximately 936 undergraduate students in certain sections of the introductory composition course who were assigned a specific research project. Methods – In spring of 2014, all participants were invited via email to respond to an anonymous chat transcript of a librarian interacting with a student working on his or her research project. Study participants could participate via a brief survey or by taking part in a focus group or individual interview. The invited instructors were asked to forward the invitation to the students in their sections, and reminder emails were sent two weeks after the initial email. Main Results – Nine instructors, 24 students, and 25 library reference providers participated in the study, representing a response rate of 25%, 3% (estimated), and 44%, respectively. The authors conducted a qualitative analysis of key themes that were derived from both the focus groups or individual interviews and the survey questions. The themes were: students as novice researchers, question negotiation, open and closed questions, instruction, speed and convenience, customer service, and referrals. The theme of “students as novice researchers” is based on student comments related to their frustrations of being inexperienced researchers, as well as librarian comments on strategies for helping these students. Opinions regarding the traditional reference interview, including specific techniques that made the interaction successful, were categorized as “question negotiation.” The “open and closed questions” theme focused on feedback on the types of questions used by librarians in the reference interview. Several components related to chat and instruction were encompassed within the “instruction” theme, including whether those participating in the study were conscious of librarians providing instructions via chat and whether it was deemed valuable; the impact of a library instruction session in which students participated; and identification of missed teachable moments during the chat. The “speed and convenience” theme represented thoughts regarding the balance of instruction and librarian support of news skills, with the student expectation of having their question answered quickly and efficiently. The “customer service” theme focused on the service quality of the reference transaction, while the “referrals” theme encompassed thoughts related to whether students were referred to subject specialists, writing specialists, instructors, or if there was a lack of a referral altogether. Conclusion – Based on the research results, the authors highlighted the importance of the interconnectedness of teaching that is done in the classroom, in library instruction sessions, and on the reference desk, as all three types of instruction should align. Furthermore, because students are open to instruction via the chat service when they are creating and revising their research question and delving into subject research, chat can be viewed as a key teaching and learning opportunity.

scholarly journals Information Literacy and Retention: A Case Study of the Value of the Library

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Jo Catalano ◽  
Sharon Rose Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
Student Success ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Academic Career ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Writing Research ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
The Impact

Objective - The authors investigated the impact of library instruction on information literacy (IL) skills as part of ACRL’s AiA initiative. Additionally, the researchers sought to determine whether there was a relationship between IL tests scores and research experiences with student success outcomes such as retention. Methods - The researchers administered a standardized IL test to 455 graduate and undergraduate students in multiple disciplines. They then collected outcome data on GPA, retention, and graduation three years later. Results - While there were no significant differences between those students who had instruction and those who did not on the IL test, a regression analysis revealed that experience writing research papers that required library resources and an individual’s use of library books throughout their academic career demonstrated significant, positive relationships with whether a student passed the information literacy test. Additionally, using the longitudinal data on GPA, retention, graduation, and employment, the researchers found that students’ IL scores were significantly correlated with their GPAs, and that students who passed the IL test were more likely to be retained or graduate within six years. Conclusion - The ability to demonstrate IL skills appears to contribute to retention and graduation and, therefore, may be an integral part of one’s academic success. Further, experience writing research papers and other meaningful assignments contributes to student success.

scholarly journals Mixed Method Study Examines Undergraduate Student Researchers’ Knowledge and Perceptions About Scholarly Communication Practices

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
Melissa Goertzen
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Peer Review ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Undergraduate Student ◽  
Review Process ◽  
Peer Review Process ◽  
Scholarly Communication ◽  
Student Researchers ◽  
Communication Practices ◽  
The Impact

A Review of: Riehle, C. F., & Hensley, M. K. (2017). What do undergraduate students know about scholarly communication?: A mixed methods study. Portal: Libraries and the Academy, 17(1), 145–178. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/pla.2017.0009 Abstract Objective – To examine undergraduate student researchers’ perception and understanding of scholarly communication practices and issues. Design – Mixed method study involving a survey and semi-structured interviews. Setting – Two major undergraduate universities in the Midwest region of the United States. Subjects – Undergraduate students who participated in or had completed undergraduate research experiences with faculty mentors. Method – The method was first approved by Institutional Review Board offices at both campuses involved in the study. Then, students received invitations to participate in a survey via email (Campus 1 = 221 students; Campus 2 = 345 students). Identical online surveys ran separately on each campus; both remained open for a period of three weeks. All respondents received a reminder email one week before the survey closed. Participants answered twelve questions related to demographics and scholarly communication practices. The survey examined knowledge and experience across five areas: the peer review process, author and publisher rights, publication and access models, impact of research, and data management. All students who completed the survey were entered in a drawing for a $50 Amazon card. The response rates were 34.8% (Campus 1) and 18.6% (Campus 2). Surveys on both campuses were administered using different software: campus 1 utilized Qualtrics survey software while campus 2 used an institution-specific survey software. Data sets were normed and merged later in the study to enable comparison and identify broad themes. Survey respondents were also invited to participate in a 15 to 20 minute follow-up interview and were compensated with a $20 Amazon gift card. The interviews consisted of four open-ended questions that further examined students’ knowledge of scholarly communication practices. The researchers coded interview transcripts and identified themes. Qualitative software was used to analyze the surveys and assess coder agreement. Finally, connections and anomalies between survey and interview results were explored. Main Results – Quantitative and qualitative data collected during the study indicate that students were most confident in their understanding of the peer-review process and data management but felt less confident in their knowledge of author and publisher rights, publication and access models, and determining the impact of scholarly research publication. In addition, they value instruction related to scholarly communication topics like the peer-review process, publication models, and data management. However, few students feel confident in their current level of knowledge or ability surrounding the previously mentioned topics. Study findings suggest that this knowledge gap is based on a lack of training or discussion of scholarly communication topics in relation to students’ research activities. Results also suggest that undergraduate students have difficulty articulating their rights as authors and their scholarly communication practices. In many cases, skill sets like data management are learned through trial and error while students progress through the research process. In some cases, faculty mentors have misperceptions and assumptions about undergraduate students’ knowledge and abilities regarding scholarly communication practices. This can create challenges for undergraduate students as they attempt to make informed decisions about research activities based on a limited foundation of experience or information. Finally, results indicate that undergraduate student researchers do not currently view the library as a place to learn about scholarly communication practices. The authors suggest that by forming strategic relationships with undergraduate research program directors, faculty, and graduate student mentors, librarians are in a prime position to incorporate scholarly communication practices into information literacy sessions or provide point-of-need coaching. Conclusion – The researchers conclude that academic libraries are in a unique position to support overarching research, teaching, and learning goals within the academic community. By developing programs that support information literacy and scholarly communication, libraries demonstrate value and align goals with teaching and learning priorities within the higher education community as a whole. Through this work, librarians support students as knowledge creators and advocate for training that emphasizes data literacy, copyright and authors’ rights, and the impact of research within specific disciplines.

scholarly journals Investigating impact: Exploring the effect of ‘open’ support on student success

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennie Rose Steres Blake ◽  
Nicola Grayson ◽  
Sami Karamalla-Gaiballa
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Student Success ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Degree Classification ◽  
The University ◽  
University Of Manchester ◽  
The Impact

Traditional investigations into the impact of skills support on student success tend to focus on embedded or curriculum linked modes of delivery. The subject of this investigation concerns a study of the impact of ‘open’ support delivered through the University of Manchester library’s My Learning Essentials skills programme (MLE). MLE is a blended service providing both face-to-face and online support through two dominant pathways: one which is embedded in the curriculum and one which is ‘open to all’ regardless of degree programme or level of study. The ‘open’ nature of this type of support and the variety amongst the student population who engage with it means that measuring the impact on areas such as attainment has always been difficult. This article will present the results of a small study that investigated a specific cohort of undergraduate students in order to assess whether connections could be drawn between attendance at MLE ‘open’ workshops and degree classification. Although the cohort investigated was quite small, there is evidence of significant positive impact on student attainment as a result of engagement with the MLE programme. The data was run through a regression analysis that controlled for factors that could influence attainment and compared attendees of MLE open workshops with those who did not attend. Beyond the results of the regression analysis the study reveals interesting data around student uptake of MLE as a service and presents the methodology used, the results gained, and the lessons learned throughout the process.

The Impact of Humor on Attitudes toward Persons with Disabilities

2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 18-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia L. Grist ◽  
Deborah J. Ebener ◽  
Susan Miller Smedema
Keyword(s):  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Model Analysis ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
The Third ◽  
Variance Design ◽  
Disability Scale ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of humor on attitudes as measured by the Modified lssues of Disability Scale (MIDS) by comparing the effects of a humorous and a serious video designed to reduce negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Ninety-three undergraduate students at a southeastern university volunteered to. participate in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. The first group viewed a serious video concerning disability, the second group viewed a humorous video concerning disability, and the third group viewed no video. A one-way model analysis of variance design was applied to the MIDS scores (dependent variable). Results revealed no significant differences between the attitude scores of the three groups. The results of the study highlight the need for further research on the impact of humor on attitudes toward persons with disabilities.

Undergraduate student information self-efficacy and library intervention

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 468-481
Author(s):  
Yingqi Tang ◽  
Hungwei Tseng
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Undergraduate Student ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Student Information ◽  
Information Finding

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate undergraduate student information self-efficacy to find out how much the students learned from library instruction classes and to determine whether information seeking skills can be developed with a library instruction class. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research method was conducted to collect survey data and to perform statistical analysis. A Web-based survey was distributed to undergraduate students who were enrolled in the Fall term of 2014. In all, 98 students completed the survey. Findings The study reported that undergraduate students’ capability of information finding, retrieving, analyzing, evaluating and presenting were on and above medium level (M = 3.40). They reported higher skills in information evaluation and information objects and types but lower skills in using catalog/database and organizing/synthesizing information. Students in the multiple library instruction group showed a significantly higher information self-efficacy. One-single instruction has a limited effect on improving information seeking skills. Research limitations/implications The number of students who participated in library instruction classes was relatively low. More data need to be collected to give credence to the findings in the future, and data collected from individual class would yield more accurate result. Originality/value This study extends the literature on information literacy and library instruction. The findings suggest that information literacy instruction should go beyond the one-session mode and should offer hands-on practices that will foster students’ critical thinking behavior more effectively.

scholarly journals Undergraduate Library Instruction in the Humanities Increases the Use of Books Over Journals

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Mê-Linh Lê
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
First Year ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
First Year Composition ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Composition I ◽  
Number Of Citations ◽  
The Impact

Objective – To assess the impact of in-class library instruction sessions on the quantity, quality, and format of resources cited by undergraduate students. Design – Citation analysis and literature review. Setting – A public university in the United States with approximately 9,000 undergraduate students. Subjects – Undergraduates in eight first-year Composition I classes and five upper-level Humanities classes at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). Methods – This study consisted of three components. In the first, first-year students with little to no academic library experience from eight classes of first-year Composition I were divided into two groups: those who received library instruction and those who did not. The instruction sessions were all taught by the same librarian, were one-hour hands-on classes held in a computer lab, and focused on basic library information, searching the catalogue, as well as searching journal databases. Later in the term, the citation pages from papers submitted by the students as a class assignment were analyzed by the authors who looked at the average number of citations employed in each paper, the frequency of scholarly citations, and the frequency of source/format type (e.g., book, article, website, etc.). SPSS was used for data recording, storage, and to calculate statistics (although it should be noted that the authors do not include any of the descriptive statistics that can be generated by SPSS). In the second component, which attempted to discern if there were any differences in the citations used by students from the different disciplines, the same form of citation analyses was performed on bibliographies from upper-level students enrolled in five History, Art History, Art, and English classes who had participated in a library instruction session in the past. The results of the two citation analyses (Composition I versus upper-level students) were then compared. The third component compared the results of the citation analyses to data extracted from five similar studies in order to determine if the FGCU findings were typical of undergraduate students or deviated from the norm. Main Results – The comparison of citations from the Composition I students showed that students who received a library instruction session had more average citations per paper (5.3 to 3.2); used slightly more scholarly sources (51.7% to 49.4%); were much more likely to use books (25.6% vs. 6.3%) or magazines and newspapers (18.5% vs. 9.6%) as a source; and were less likely to cite journal articles (16.3% vs. 27.3%) than their counterparts who received no library instruction. Students who had not received instruction were more likely to use videos (5.4% vs. 2.8%) or course texts and handouts (11.7% vs. 0%). Both groups exhibited a preference for material that could be accessed online, and web sites were the most frequently cited source, accounting for nearly one-third of all citations. When the results from the Composition I students who received library instruction were compared to upper-level students who had received instruction in the past, it was found that the average number of citations increased as the course level got higher (i.e., fourth year students used more citations than third year, who used more than second year, etc.). In general, the number of scholarly sources also increased as the course level did. The analysis also showed a strong preference for books over journal articles throughout all classes and course level. Preference for other formats (e.g., web sites, reference sources) varied a great deal and in many cases could be attributed to the nature of the assignments. In order to determine whether the FGCU findings were typical of the undergraduate experience, the citation analyses were compared to five other institutions across the U.S. Results show that the FGCU findings were similar in some aspects; two other institutions also displayed a preference for books, but usage of journal articles in upper-level courses was either the same or lower at FGCU compared to other institutions. Conclusion – For many academic liaison librarians, instruction is an important and time-consuming part of their job. The nature of many library instruction sessions – frequently one-time classes at the beginning of a semester – means instruction is often given without much attention to the impact of the session on the quality of students’ work. This study addresses this issue in order to determine whether library instructions sessions should continue at FGCU in their present format. The findings broadly indicate that library instruction has a large impact on the number of books used and the overall number of resources cited, and a very small impact on the number of scholarly sources cited. It appears that the increased reliance on books by students comes at the expense of journal articles, which were much more frequently used by students who had not received instruction. The study also found that as students progress in their studies, they cite more material and use more scholarly material. This finding is seen in a number of other citation analysis studies located through a literature search. Ultimately, the authors believe that this study demonstrates the usefulness of the library sessions to students, as it causes them to cite more sources, to cite a wider variety of sources, and to cite more books. It is possible that some of the negative findings of the study, specifically related to low journal usage, may be used to alter the structure or content of future library sessions offered by FGCU librarians.

Examining the impact of a university mentorship program on student outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah K. Hamilton ◽  
Jennifer Boman ◽  
Harris Rubin ◽  
Balreen K. Sahota
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Undergraduate Student ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mentorship Program ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the outcomes of a formal university mentorship program that paired junior and senior (third and fourth year) undergraduate student mentees with mentors from industry. Specifically, the researchers examined the effects of mentorship on mentees’ psychological sense of community at the university, and job search self-efficacy (confidence). Design/methodology/approach The researchers used a mixed-methods design that incorporated survey data and qualitative data from interviews and focus groups. Where relevant, mentees were compared to a control group of students who did not participate in the mentorship program. Findings The results demonstrate that the mentees accrued several benefits from participating in the mentorship program. For mentees (but not the control group), job search self-efficacy increased over time as a result of participating in the program. Mentees valued receiving practical career-related support such as opportunities for networking, resume development and job interviewing skills. Mentees also gained a more realistic view about the workplace and their potential career options, and received important psychosocial support from their mentor. Originality/value Results suggest that junior and senior undergraduate student mentees gained professional and career-related benefits including increased job search self-efficacy from participation in a mentorship program that paired them with mentors from industry. In addition, the qualitative results indicate that mentees reported psychosocial benefits including an increased sense of connection to the university. Altogether, results indicate that undergraduate students experience positive outcomes from participating in mentorship programs designed to prepare them for the transition from university to the workplace.

scholarly journals A mathematical view towards improving undergraduate student performance and mitigating dropout risks

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 842-860
Author(s):  
Hong Zhang ◽  
Wilson Osafo Apeanti ◽  
Saviour Worlanyo Akuamoah ◽  
David Yaro ◽  
Paul Georgescu
Keyword(s):  
Student Performance ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Undergraduate Student ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Threshold Values ◽  
Nonlinear Odes ◽  
Student Dropout ◽  
Target Values ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Impact

In this paper, we assess the relevance of social and cognitive factors such as self-efficacy, locus of control and exposure to negative social influence in relation to undergraduate student dropout. To this purpose, we analyze a compartmental model involving a system of nonlinear ODEs, which is loosely based upon the SIR model of mathematical epidemiology and describes the academic performance of the student population. We examine threshold values that govern the stability of the equilibria and can be viewed as target values to be reached in order to alleviate undergraduate students dropout. A backward bifurcation is observed to occur, analytically and numerically, provided that certain conditions are satisfied. A sensitivity analysis is then performed to find how the threshold values respond to changes in the parameters, a procedure for estimating these parameters being also proposed. Concrete values are then computed using survey data from a Ghanaian university. The impact of parameter variation upon the dynamics of the system, particularly on certain population sizes and on threshold values, is also numerically illustrated. Our findings are then interpreted from a social cognitive perspective, realistic policy changes being proposed along with appropriate teaching and coaching strategies.

Undergraduate Student Success Initiatives in Communication Sciences and Disorders

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Jairus-Joaquin Matthews ◽  
Twyla Perryman ◽  
Dena Kneiss
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Student Success ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Undergraduate Student ◽  
Graduate Program ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Application Process ◽  
Graduate Studies ◽  
Faculty Interaction ◽  
Self Actualization

Purpose Undergraduate students are faced with an extremely competitive application process when applying for graduate studies in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). This clinical focus article describes initiatives created by faculty within a CSD program at a medium-sized public university, with the goals of helping undergraduate students engage in high-impact practices and increase their competitiveness when applying for graduate school. Conclusions This clinical focus article describes a framework for four initiatives geared toward undergraduate student success in CSD, as follows: (a) self-actualization, (b) leadership development, (c) increased student–faculty interaction, and (d) collaboration. To achieve the goals of these initiatives, an undergraduate orientation, a peer-mentoring program, faculty-led research opportunities, and leadership development were implemented. After the implementation of the framework, we observed that the number of students entering the graduate program at the University of West Georgia and in other institutions increased over the past 3 years.

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