For College Students Time Management is Biggest Research Issue, says ProQuest Study


ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Student researchers have an overwhelming preference for online resources that make the best use of their research time says a new study by ProQuest, a leading database provider to libraries and researchers. Students prefer the content available in library databases for its ability to deliver more relevant information in a single search. However, if discovery and access to library databases is more cumbersome than they expect, they will abandon library resources for the more familiar terrain of Google and Wikipedia.

"Student researchers are keenly aware of the importance of effective time management," says John Law, ProQuest director of platform development, who led the study of student research habits. "They understand that their academic success depends upon their ability to find and synthesize a large volume of information, judge its relevance, and incorporate it into their academic experiences. Effective time management is the only way a student can balance all of the competing priorities of their academic work with the added demands of employment and their social lives."

The study, entitled "Observing Students in their Native Habitat," monitored students as they were conducting research for actual course assignments and also collected survey data about how they use online resources. When study participants were asked to identify which resource they preferred for academic research and course assignments, they overwhelmingly preferred library databases. However, students will opt for Google if they have difficulty navigating the library's e-resources Web page, if they're faced with multiple obscure links or "how-to guides," or if they're not aware of the library databases that pertain to their particular need.