Reading the Research: Helping Students Learn How to Read Empirical Research Reports

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Reading the ResearchHelping Students Learn How
to Read Empirical Research Reports

• Connie K. Varnhagen
• And
• Nancy Digdon

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Objectives

• Help students learn how to read reports of
  empirical research
• Help students learn about the different
  components of reports of empirical research
• Provide students with exposure to empirical
  research

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Components

• Brief introduction to the genre of the report of
  empirical research
• Outline critical thinking questions
• Summary of a report of empirical research

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Critical Thinking Questions

• Factual questions
• What were the research questions?
• What was the research design?
• Critical Thinking Questions
• Is this research important?
• Is the design appropriate for the research
  questions?

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Formative Evaluation

• Focus group at the U of A
• Students rated themselves as having good
  computer skills (WP, E-mail, WWW, games)
• Students were somewhat positive, interested, and
  felt the module would benefit their learning
• Modified navigation and discussion group

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Grant MacEwan Community College

• Integrated into the class
• Instructor-developed summary
• Student attitude, learning assessed

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Skills and Access

• Students rated themselves as somewhat
  comfortable working on computers
• Students rated themselves as having a fair
  computer skills (WP, E-mail, WWW)
• 63 had a computer at home
• 26 had home access to the Internet

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Attitude Survey

• Students had a somewhat positive impression of
  the module.
• Students found the module
• Interesting
• Enjoyable
• Worthwhile
• Enhanced comprehension

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Attitudes Moderated by Skill

• Students who were more comfortable with computers
  had a more positive overall impression of the
  module.
• Students who were less comfortable with computers
  found the module more enjoyable.

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Learning

• No overall effect

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intro.psych

• Pilot project will be described later
• Students will read two articles
• Discussion will be asynchronous
• Footprints will be examined and related to exam
  scores