Best Practice Example

Name: Kerry JS Kincaid
Title: Reference Librarian - LTE
Institution: McIntyre Library, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Street Address: Reference, P.O. Box 4004
City/State/Zip: Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
Phone: 715-836-4329 (W)
Email: kincaikj@uwec.edu

Title of practice of implementation method: Building a Research Question - Guide

Primary Audience: undergraduate students
Secondary Audience: graduate students

Describe the practice:
This guide helps the beginning researcher transfer his/her ideas about a research question into language a search instrument can employ. It is meant to help the novice researcher translate an idea into concrete terms and then combine the terms to retrieve good information from an online database, a library catalog or a printed index.

Competencies addressed through this practice:
1. Identify and articulate needs which require information solutions.
3. Formulate and efficiently execute search queries appropriate for the information resource.

Supporting materials/resources used and their format:
1. Build a Research Question handout - this guide is produced as a handout that is distributed during a library instruction class. It augments general instruction in the research process and is meant to be used in demonstration during class and given to students for use during their research process. The guide includes a step-by-step process, with plenty space for writing a making notes. Often students require many copies.

Special Requirements: A document camera in the classroom is helpful for demonstration and guiding students through the process. Also, paper copies must be supplied.

References consulted: Research Process Guide - UWEC McIntyre Library; Larry Lynch (former Special Collections Librarian/Archivist)

Handout  - pdf

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