08 ronan madden pecha kucha
TRANSCRIPT
Ronan MaddenUCC Library
PhD Students in the Humanities: Understanding the Information Behaviour of Graduate Information Literacy Course Participants
Ronan Madden, Arts & Humanities Librarian
Sounds familiar...
But: a better understanding of information needs & behaviour during initial stages
PG6009
PG6009:• Accredited• Structured PhD• 15 hours• Different librarians• Reflective essay• Flexible delivery
Few studies: generic IL for Phds
Lack of research: information practices of PhDs
Lack of research: information seeking needs & behaviours of humanities graduates
Haphazard beginnings
Diverse needs
People N.B. supervisor
Zones of Intervention?
Library-centric…
Generic V Tailored???
Generic IL module an appropriate intervention in the initial months of humanities PhD?
What can we learn that will give us a better understanding of their IB so that Library can improve support?
MethodologySurveys
Interviews
Wide Variation:• confidence levels at
beginning • extent to which
decided on research topics
• awareness of information sources they are likely to need
Only 15% indicated that topic had not changed at all
40% had not been aware of the information sources they were to use later
Main literature search obstacles:• scope, focus, narrowing their
topic • searching & finding good
information
Also: What it means to be a PhD researcher, uniqueness of their own research, where they ‘fit in’ as PhD students.
More choice: structured programmes, modules, workshops, seminars
‘Haphazard’ literature search now extends to choice of courses
• Planning & sequencing
• Technology
A variety of people:
• Supervisor key only for some…
• Other students• Library has a role
PG6009: Positive vibes • 65% said ‘very helpful’• 35% found it ‘helpful’
Most Useful bits?1. Research resource discovery 2. Evaluating information3. Using the web effectively
All said first year is best time
But:
N.B. Flexibility
PG6009 November CACSSS class
• 40% face-to-face only• 60% face-to-face plus online• No one would prefer online-only
More workshops,(repeat, flexibility) 1-to-1 meetings for some
Important not to…
Must continue to evaluate, improve, update, be relevant