During the fall of 1998, we carried out a study in order to evaluate the effectiveness of our library instruction program (both group BI and our individual RPCs). Specifically, we wanted to compare the effectiveness of BI and RPCs to see if students really learned better in individual instruction sessions than they did in group environments. The research design called for a survey instrument to be administered to students both before and after receiving library instruction. The instrument contained both affective questions and cognitive questions. The survey was distributed to all students BI and/or RPCs over a two-month period.

Summary:

• Pre-test / post-test research design
• Survey instrument (view the pre-test and post-test) includes quantitative items measuring:
• Knowledge about library research (6 mark-all-that-apply multiple choice questions)
• Attitudes about the library, the librarians, and library instruction (9 pre-test and 13 post-test items measured on a five-point agree/disagree scale)
• Test group: every student who received BI or an RPC during a 2-month period (9/15/98 - 11/15/98). (Read more about our sample.)
• 427 students received BI; 328 returned both a pre-test and post-test
• 184 students received an RPC: 77 returned both a pre-test and post-test
• Analyze results using descriptive statistics and test of significant difference