Location
Paper Session #1a
Start Date
11-10-2019 11:40 AM
End Date
11-10-2019 11:50 AM
Type of Work
Presentation
Description
Objective: To demonstrate how use of a search strategy form together with a health science librarian consult improved student understanding of search strategy.
Methods: Two embedded librarians for pharmacy and public health had separately designed assignments to teach advanced search techniques for their respective students but felt the outcomes were unsatisfactory. To address this, the pharmacy librarian created an exercise for students that would facilitate understanding of the search development process. Students completed a form that walked through the steps of the development process prior to meeting with a research librarian. Students then integrated librarian feedback into the final search strategy to complete the assignment. The public health librarian adopted a modified version of the pharmacy form. These students participated in a librarian led hands-on searching exercise and were encouraged to meet individually with the librarian as they progressed with their own projects.
Results: Both librarians noticed better developed and more robust search strategies and greater understanding of controlled vocabulary. Instead of vague searches, multiple poorly-developed searches, and haphazard article selection, students found additional on-target results more effectively. For the pharmacy cohort, the mandatory librarian session involved more of the students in the search while overall assignment grades improved. For the public health doctoral students, the step-by-step process resulted in an improved understanding of the search process and better designed search strategies. One limitation is that we did not obtain IRB approval in advance of collecting data so cannot report on specifics.
Conclusions: Breaking down the search process into separate steps using the search form seems to have increased the students’ knowledge about using controlled vocabulary and designing robust search strategies. Students that worked with a librarian were more engaged and showed greater understanding. The search form along with hands-on time with a librarian is a winning combination.
Using a Search Strategy Tool To Teach Search Strategy Development
Paper Session #1a
Objective: To demonstrate how use of a search strategy form together with a health science librarian consult improved student understanding of search strategy.
Methods: Two embedded librarians for pharmacy and public health had separately designed assignments to teach advanced search techniques for their respective students but felt the outcomes were unsatisfactory. To address this, the pharmacy librarian created an exercise for students that would facilitate understanding of the search development process. Students completed a form that walked through the steps of the development process prior to meeting with a research librarian. Students then integrated librarian feedback into the final search strategy to complete the assignment. The public health librarian adopted a modified version of the pharmacy form. These students participated in a librarian led hands-on searching exercise and were encouraged to meet individually with the librarian as they progressed with their own projects.
Results: Both librarians noticed better developed and more robust search strategies and greater understanding of controlled vocabulary. Instead of vague searches, multiple poorly-developed searches, and haphazard article selection, students found additional on-target results more effectively. For the pharmacy cohort, the mandatory librarian session involved more of the students in the search while overall assignment grades improved. For the public health doctoral students, the step-by-step process resulted in an improved understanding of the search process and better designed search strategies. One limitation is that we did not obtain IRB approval in advance of collecting data so cannot report on specifics.
Conclusions: Breaking down the search process into separate steps using the search form seems to have increased the students’ knowledge about using controlled vocabulary and designing robust search strategies. Students that worked with a librarian were more engaged and showed greater understanding. The search form along with hands-on time with a librarian is a winning combination.