This study analyzed the research techniques and efficiency of Interactive Qualifying Project teams at WPI. The relevance and reliability of the sources found were evaluated and compared to those found by a research expert to define a measure of research efficiency. The results showed that the quality of the sources found by the students compared favorably with those found by the expert. Most project teams followed the same basic search strategy, using tools such as Summon, Google Scholar, and Google. Few teams used advanced search techniques or specialized databases and often gave up if the full text of the article was not easily available. The results of the study identified areas of focus for research training programs for the Gordon Library at WPI.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Mitchell, Jerone Tedroy
• Mann, Joshua Curtis
• Moulton, David James
• Foley, Daniel Edward

Subject

• Culture
• Learning
• Community

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-031212-220546

Keyword

• Information literacy
• Education, Higher

Advisor

• Heinricher, Arthur C.
• Drew, Christine M.

Year

• 2012

Sponsor

• Gordon Library

Date created

• 2012-03-12

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2020-11-23