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Implementation and evaluation of online, synchronous research consultations for graduate students

Amanda Bezet (Northcentral University, San Diego, California, USA)
Taylor Duncan (Northcentral University, San Diego, California, USA)
Kira Litvin (Northcentral University, San Diego, California, USA)

Library Hi Tech News

ISSN: 0741-9058

Article publication date: 22 June 2018

Issue publication date: 14 August 2018

595

Abstract

Purpose

Librarians at Northcentral University (NCU) provide online synchronous research consultations for students to discuss resources and search strategies for class assignments, papers, presentations, theses and dissertations. The purpose of this paper is to document the implementation and assessment of this service and to seek to demonstrate that research consultations provided by NCU librarians contribute to students’ learning and success.

Design/methodology/approach

Research consultations are scheduled using Springshare LibCal and are conducted via Citrix GoToMeeting. Students report their satisfaction and skills learned via the Research Consultation Satisfaction Survey. Dissertation chairs and faculty instructors complete separate surveys, which assess the effect that research consultations had on their students’ work. All surveys were created using Qualtrics.

Findings

Assessment data reveal that students are satisfied with the research consultation service and can identify specific skills learned. Additionally, faculty and dissertation chairs report an improvement in students’ citations and ability to locate relevant sources. Future research may include examination of learning analytics or citation analysis for students who participated in research consultations.

Originality/value

Research consultations are rarely documented in the scholarly literature. An opportunity exists to make virtual research consultations more widely adopted as a distinct library reference service, and further, to measure the impact of this service. This project demonstrates how to successfully implement and assess online research consultations. Techniques discussed may be used in 100 per cent virtual environments, as well as within traditional, brick and mortar schools that may already offer face-to-face research consultations.

Keywords

Citation

Bezet, A., Duncan, T. and Litvin, K. (2018), "Implementation and evaluation of online, synchronous research consultations for graduate students", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 35 No. 6, pp. 4-8. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-09-2017-0070

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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