WVU Libraries

Can you Google your way to an A when writing a paper? Do you trust Wikipedia to provide you with sufficient and reliable information? The WVU Libraries want to know.

The WVU Libraries are in the second week of a national study, conducted by Project Information Literacy (PIL), to learn how college students conduct research in the digital age.

Last week, PIL sent an invitation to participate in a Web-based survey to 10,000 randomly selected WVU sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The survey, which takes 10-15 minutes to complete, consists of 22 questions that focus on how students find, evaluate, and integrate research sources used for course-related and everyday life research.

Molly Wilson, an Honor College junior with a triple major in Philosophy, Economics, and Women’s Studies, is trying to encourage her peers to set aside a few minutes to respond to the survey. Her name is on the survey invitation.

“I think the survey is really important, especially for a student who has a research-intensive major,” Wilson said. “It’s going to help the librarians tailor their services to students.”

Participants can reply through April 20. All respondents will have their names entered into a drawing for a $150 Amazon.com gift card.

PIL hopes to receive a sample of respondents from more than 30 colleges and universities across the nation. For an overview of the national project, visit http://projectinfolit.org/. PIL, funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is based at the University of Washington and is in its third and final year.

For questions or more information about WVU’s involvement in this study, contact Carroll Wilkinson, Director of Information Literacy for the Libraries: carroll.wilkinson@mail.wvu.edu.