Taste Testing Research Topics: Assessing the Scope and Feasibility of First-Year Students’ Research Paper Topics Erin Rinto, Undergraduate Learning Librarian Melissa Bowles-Terry, Head, Educational Initiatives University of Nevada, Las Vegas Image source: blogs.wgbh.org

What research topics do you most commonly see when you work with first-year students?

Information Emergency! Image source: commons.wikimedia.org How has power of imagination influenced the history of humanity and how is it important for the future generations? How do the actions of the villain Darth Vader in Star Wars impact society psychologically? How effective is following your passion to find a career now & in the future in America?

The Major Challenge Head, A.J. & Eisenberg, M.B. (2010) “Truth Be Told: How College Students Evaluate and Use Information in the Digital Age.” Project Information Literacy Progress Report, University of Washington’s Information School.

Project Overview English 102: Composition – Scaffolded Research Project – Proposal – Annotated bibliography – 8-10 page paper Librarian Goals – Understand common patterns in topic selection regarding scope and researchability – Identify common topics in order to provide support Methods of Inquiry – Rubric analysis of topics for suitability – Qualitative analysis of topics for common themes

Topic Narrowing Tutorial

Rubric Methods Exemplary-3 Points Researchability Final topic selection is able to be challenged, examined, or analyzed by a novice researcher with a variety of readily available resources (both scholarly and popular) in a feasible amount of time. Appropriate Breadth (8-10 pages) Topic is manageable for an 8-10 page research paper. The student defines who is affected, what aspect of the issue they will deal with, what time frame they will be researching, and where their issue is present. Topic-Related Vocabulary and Language Context Topic-related vocabulary is used to provide language context for the topic. Useful search terms can be derived from topic statement. End Result as Arguable Topic Final topic statement is thesis-driven and contains an argument. Student can proceed to the research process but may have to reflect back on the scope of the assignment.

Examples “Researchability” Final topic selection is able to be challenged, examined, or analyzed by a novice researcher with a variety of readily available resources (both scholarly and popular) in a feasible amount of time. 1: How have pharmaceutical drugs affected children's behavior world wide? 3: How does the use of affect in anabolic steroids athletic performancehigh-level athletes?

Examples Appropriate Breadth Topic is manageable for an 8-10 page research paper. The student defines who is affected, what aspect of the issue they will deal with, what time frame they will be researching, and where their issue is present. 1: How has overpopulation affected the Earth in the world currently? 3: How has factory farming affected the in the over the last 15 years? environment US

Examples Topic-Related Vocabulary Topic-related vocabulary is used to provide language context for the topic. Useful search terms can be derived from topic statement. 1: How has the impacted in the United States in the past 20 years? 3: How has the increased use of affected the of in the United States in the past few years? mediasociety social media self esteemadolescents

Examples Arguable Topic Final topic statement is thesis-driven and contains an argument. Student can proceed to the research process but may have to reflect back on the scope of the assignment. 1: What goes through the mind of a professional football player during the game while on the football field? 3: Division 1 college football players should be getting paid to play.

Rubric Results

Content Analysis Methods 1,478 responses ATLAS ti: qualitative data analysis software Stop list: and, the, will, but, a Simple word count for frequency Grounded theory approach for coding

Content Analysis Results: Major Concepts ConceptTotal CountPercentage health63243% environment39227% education39026% media30821% technology30120% Reference: Lundstrom, K., & Shrode, F. (2013). Undergraduates and topic selection: a librarian’s role. Journal of Library Innovation, 4(2), 23–41.

Content Analysis Results: Who, When, Where? Who?Children, young people, or students 24% When?Past33% Present20% Where?United States50%

Implications: Changes to Instruction Research is a Conversation Step One “Eavesdropping” Step Two “Entering” Step Three “Engaging” Pre-Research Establishing Claim Critically Evaluate Sources Based on Davidson and Crateau’s (2000) “Conversation Model”

Implications: Changes to Instruction “Research is a Conversation” video:

Questions and Discussion Erin Rinto, Undergraduate Learning Librarian Melissa Bowles-Terry, Head, Educational Initiatives Questions and Discussion