Here is a similar assignment I have used in a graduate (counseling) statistics/research methods course.
I had all of the students write down two things they knew or strongly believe about counseling. It was an interesting list. Some items were PTSD is under-diagnosed, counseling after traumatic events (9/11, Katrina) reduces stress reactions, cognitive therapy is effective in treating depression, hypnosis can be used to recover memories, etc. I culled the list, did a random sort and gave each student one the items. The task was to find the evidence to support the "fact" or "belief," preparing a one-page summary. They have PsychInfo and Medline and they need to find primary sources or clear references to primary sources. It can be difficult, leads to interesting conversations regarding evidence, and rattles beliefs. Tom Hershberger Professor of Psychology Chatham College Pittsburgh, PA 15232 -----Original Message----- From: Lisa Hager [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 8:38 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Subject: Re: newspaper article review assignment Annette, I do this in my descriptive methods course. I could send you the rubric I use if you would like. But let me add one other thing that I do that I've (and the students have too) found very useful. I give them the name of the newspaper article, the author, and some keywords. I then let them search for the article while I am there with them. I do this in one of our computer labs in our library. This way I can see how familiar they are with the various electronic databases that we have. Many of them try to find the article by googling it, some try other databases, but none end up using Proquest Newspapers and most didn't even realize that it existed. Next, I have them read the article and then find the primary source. This can also be somewhat of a challenge for them b/c there is often limited info in the newspaper article. But again it allows me to see what kind of search skills they have and they learn about some new sources. BTW, I show them how to use Serials Solutions which allows you to type in the first few words of any journal title and then lets you know what electronic databases have that source full-text online. If the article isn't available full text online then I have them look in our electronic catalog to see if we have hard copies of the journal. If we don't then I can show them how to use Interlibrary Loan. I would advise that you just request one copy of the article if that's the case or you will drive your library staff bonkers. Of course, I know ahead of time where they can obtain the article and purposefully pick different sources throughout the semester so that they have to use all of these options. I do this fall semester in the first couple of weeks. It allows me to get some kind of baseline of their info finding skills and introduces them to some new sources, which they then can know about for future use. I've found some pretty dramatic changes in info finding skills and techniques by first letting students do what they normally would and then taking the opportunity to gradually introduce new techniques and sources. Sometimes they show me some new sources too! One other thing I have them do is turn in a detailed list of search terms (exactly as they entered them) and limiters they used when doing a lit search. I've found that I can really improve their skills if I have this kind of information. Good luck and again if you want my rubric then I can send it to your email address. Lisa Lisa D. Hager, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Spring Hill College 4000 Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36608 251 380 3055 [EMAIL PROTECTED] >From: "Annette Taylor, Ph. D." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" ><[email protected]> >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: newspaper article review assignment >Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 16:53:18 -0800 > >Thanks for all the great suggestions! > >Annette > > >Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. >Department of Psychology >University of San Diego >5998 Alcala Park >San Diego, CA 92110 >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >--- >You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
