Collaborative Approaches to Undergraduate Research Training: Information Literacy and Data Management

Abstract

The undergraduate research experience (URE) provides an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful work with faculty mentors on research projects. An increasingly important component of scholarly research is the application of research data management best practices, yet this often falls out of the scope of URE programs. This article presents a case study of faculty and librarian collaboration in the integration of a library and research data management curriculum into a social work URE research team. Discussion includes reflections on the content and learning outcomes, benefits of a holistic approach to introducing undergraduate students to research practice, and challenges of scale.

Team-based data management instruction at small liberal arts colleges

“…While most of the initiators of library data services have been large research universities (Antell et al, 2014; Cox and Pinfield, 2014; Heidorn, 2011; Soehner et al, 2010; Tenopir et al, 2012, 2013, 2014), there is a growing body of literature about data services at Master’s universities and PUIs (Goldstein and Oelker, 2011; Scaramozzino et al, 2012; Shorish, 2012; Stamatoplos et al, 2016; Toups and Hughes, 2013), and about how outreach efforts related to data literacy and data management may be implemented with undergraduate students at a range of institution types (Ball and Medeiros, 2012; MacMillan, 2010; Mooney et al, 2014; Piorun et al, 2012; Qin and D’Ignazio, 2010; Reisner et al, 2014; Shorish, 2015; Stephenson and Caravello, 2007; Strasser and Hampton, 2012; Zilinski et al, 2014). Librarians at PUIs have argued that while resources may be limited at smaller institutions, the same imperatives to act as data stewards and to transmit best practices apply (Shorish, 2012).…”

“…An instance of librarians working directly with undergraduate research groups is the social-work pilot project undertaken by Mooney et al They describe their work embedding librarians with undergraduate research teams over the course of two semester-long research projects in social work, with biweekly meetings (Mooney et al, 2014: 374). Among the advantages to this approach are just-in-time lessons that fit the development and workflows of the projects.…”

“…The involvement of librarians with research groups helps to integrate a range of information literacy skills into the undergraduate research experience, something that Mooney et al find lacking overall:It is our assessment that data management and the broader scope of data information literacy, indeed even basic library research skills, are not widely perceived as explicit goals of participation in undergraduate research despite an overarching goal for the advancement of real world research experience. (Mooney et al, 2014: 371)Because the approach taken to embed librarians in these projects will not scale, Mooney et al (2014: 383) foresee offering librarian-run workshops for faculty and undergraduate researchers, complemented by librarian attendance at research team meetings.…”

Peer teaching and information retrieval: the role of the NICE Evidence search student champion scheme in enhancing students’ confidence

“…Despite students, and young people in general, having often advanced online searching skills and easy access to information, they still lack the necessary ability to critically appraise what they have retrieved (Leckie & Fullerton, 1999;Pinto, 2010). There have been many holistic approaches to evaluating the importance and impact of IL (Johnston & Webber, 2003;Mooney, Collie, Nicholson & Sosulski, 2014), but more recent trends involve the consideration of additional factors, such as game based learning, which exploits young people's attraction to play and games (Walsh, 2015), or information problem solving classes, based on a 'hands on' approach to information seeking and appraisal (Wopereis, Frerejean & Brand-Gruwel, 2015).…”

How many ways can we teach data literacy?

“…The second approach builds upon information literacy instruction and centers around data management and curation. Core competencies proposed span knowledge and skills in databases, data acquisition and collection, documentation and standards, data management, curation, reuse, preservation, and sharing (Qin and D'Ignazio, 2010;Schneider, 2013;Carlson et al, 2011;Carlson, Johnston, Westra, & Nichols, 2013;Mooney, Collie, Nicholson, & Sosulski, 2014;Shorish, 2015).…”