We asked, “If you needed library assistance with research-related-activities, how would you prefer to receive it?” and offered a list of delivery methods, plus the list of research-related activities from question 3.
Results showed that the same methods were preferred across the board, but that certain methods seemed to be correlated with specific research-related activities.
See below for details.
Compare with responses from graduate students:
Off-Campus Graduates | On-Campus Graduates
Which methods are preferred for delivery of library assistance?
[su_table]
| Average Number of Respondents | Percentage of total (n=573) | |
|---|---|---|
| Online guide | 307.9 | 53.7% |
| Drop-in at Research Desk |
198.7 | 34.7% |
| Print handout | 179.6 | 31.3% |
| Librarian instruction during class time |
146.8 | 25.6% |
| Video tutorial | 99.3 | 17.3% |
| By appointment | 80.9 | 14.1% |
| Workshop Outside of Class |
32.8 | 5.7% |
| Other | 9.6 | 1.7% |
[/su_table]
Which stage in the research process is best addressed by each method?
[su_table]
| First choice | Second choice | |
|---|---|---|
| Print Handout | Incorporating sources into your paper | Citing sources correctly |
| Online Guide | Citing sources correctly | Incorporating sources into your paper |
| Video tutorial | Searching within library databases | Figuring out how to get or request full text |
| Librarian instruction during class time | Figuring out which library databases to use | Evaluating sources (e.g. determining quality, validity, bias) |
| Workshop outside of class time | Citing sources correctly | Understanding the ethics of using information |
| Drop-in at Research Desk | Choosing a research topic | Narrowing a research topic |
| By appointment | Choosing a research topic | Narrowing a research topic |
[/su_table]