Abstract:

Today’s students have always lived with digital technology. Computers have been a part of their life since they were born, and carrying a smartphone is commonplace. They do not remember a time when research was not conducted via search engines such as Google, nor do they remember a time when research papers were written using encyclopedias in a library. These students also tend to get most of their information from various Internet sources such as Facebook. As educators it is imperative students are taught the correct methods to conduct research as well as the proper way to vet information that is attained through online searches.

While it is commonplace to assign research papers for a class assignment, how much time is spent teaching the students how to properly conduct the research they are being asked to complete. Students come from a variety of backgrounds and there is no guarantee they were all taught the proper way to conduct research while they were in high school.

Students need to understand why it is important to properly vet information they find. For instance, telling students not to use Wikipedia without a reason will make them wonder why they are not allowed to use that as a source. Teachers need to thoroughly detail how they expect students to conduct research in order for the students to properly conduct the expected research. At the very least, students need to be given a guide by the teacher detailing accepted research parameters. Students should also not rely solely on the Internet for all of their research when a library is available to conduct additional research.

This paper will explore various methods to teach students how to properly conduct research. Suggested strategies for including these methods will also be included. An historical timeline will also be included illustrating the various means in which research has been conducted over the years.

Keywords:

Undergraduate research, references, online learning, library resources, search engines.