Monday, May 20, 2013

What Students Really do in the Library: An Observational Study

What Students Really do in the Library


Abstract: The authors observed 730 collegiate students in the library and recorded their study (or non-study) activities. Approximately 60% of behaviors were study related. The most commonly observed behavior was reading print material (18.8%). The second most common behavior was the use of social media (11.4%). These results have implications for understanding how students learn and study in the pervasive digital world.

from the discussion:
"........   Libraries, particularly in times of economic instability, must often justify their existence and use of funds. Demonstrating to library or school administration the actual observed use of the physical library for school-related behaviors can provide one or many pieces of data that may prove useful. Although our finding that 73% of those working on a computer were more likely to engage in a non-study behavior suggests that the presence of computers or other mobile devices can be major distractions, evidence presented in the literature indicates that students expect libraries to be social and study spaces. In addition, making library materials and study materials accessible via mobile technologies (e.g., iPads, smartphones) can allow for more frequent access to these resources. Little to no research has been done regarding the use of the mobile Web by students in the library, with the exception of a qualitative study conducted by. They noted that, depending on reading preferences, students may or may not read actual articles or books online, but they might begin their searches or access library services while waiting on line at the store (Seeholzer & Salen, 2011). Investigating how remote use of library resources ties in with the physical use of the building can provide stakeholders with data that can help to inform decisions.
When we can actually observe what students do rather than what they say they do in the library, we can get a fuller picture of study behaviors and how they relate to academic achievement. It is important for educators to understand that the learning environment can influence student engagement and study behaviors and that the environment is further influenced by a variety of factors. Students expect a comfortable and attractive study space not only for scholarly pursuits, but also for socializing. Social and academic activities are integral aspects for facilitating student engagement (Entwistle & Peterson, 2004; Milem & Berger, 1997; Suarez, 2007). A well-designed library should support scholarly activities, but both the current literature and the results of this study indicate that we cannot expect the library to be a building exclusively used for academic behaviors."

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