The case for partnering doctoral students with librarians: a synthesis of the literatures

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to ask how the academic library may better position itself to assist with the demonstrated need for improved research ability in doctoral students. The paper examines the literature on doctoral student retention, which demonstrates problems with research self‐efficacy in students, and connects this issue to the library literature demonstrating the impact of library instruction.Design/methodology/approachThe main approach is the review of the literatures in library science on the impact of instruction, and in the wider education literature on student retention and doctoral student attrition.FindingsIt was found that library instruction does demonstrably improve student research skills, and that doctoral students are generally underprepared to conduct dissertation level research. There is a case for partnering doctoral students with academic librarians to improve dissertation completion rates and lower attrition due to lack of research skill.Practical implicationsThe paper demonstrates an obvious need for focus of library instruction on graduate students, and doctoral students in particular. The paper poses a number of research agendas that can be taken up by practitioners in the field, including various models for implementing instruction for doctoral students.Social implicationsAttrition from doctoral programs has a burdensome impact on academic institutions, and has been demonstrated to have adverse social, psychological and financial impacts on the doctoral students themselves. The ability of library intervention to alleviate the problem has wide‐ranging implications.Originality/valueThe paper brings a wider literature base to bear on the practice of library instruction, and raises important questions relevant to librarians and graduate faculty about the value of the library to more advanced research students and the current focus of most library instruction programs at the undergraduate levels.

Wrangling the Literature: Quietly Contributing to HDR Completions

“…As mentioned above, the delivery of library services to research students is not new (Barrett 2005;Cooke et al 2011;Frank et al 2001;Gratch and York 1991;Harrington 2009;Harris 2011;Lee 2004;Moncrieff, Macauley, and Epps 2007;Robertson 2003;Nimon 2002). Yet contrary to the trend of disintermediation (do-it-yourself), the provision of candidate-specific training has increased (Green and Macauley 2007;Jastram and Zawistoski 2008;Korobili, Malliari, and Zapounidou 2011), as has the research on the topic.…”

Graduate students as academic writers: writing anxiety, self-efficacy and emotional intelligence

“…However, writing is one known barrier for individuals aspiring to a master's or a doctoral degree (from here on referred to as graduate students). For example, nearly 50% of graduate students pursuing doctoral degrees in the United States leave the university without completing their degrees, dropping out during the research proposal or dissertation-writing phases (Cassuto, 2013;Harris, 2011). Belcher (2009a) vividly describes her experience as a master's degree student as follows: "When I started graduate school…my first quarter was tough… I began to suspect that everyone but me knew how to organize their time, do their research, and write successful papers" (p. 186).…”

Expanding Support for Graduate Students: Library Workshops on Research Funding Opportunities

“…55 In addition to requiring assistance with literature review searching and citation management, they frequently struggle with writing, researching, and applying for grant opportunities and external funding. Through our case study, we have shown that librarians can be effective in helping to fill these gaps in the graduate student experience.…”

“…12 Involving a librarian can also help to reduce graduate student attrition and improve degree completion rates. 13 Librarians can assist graduate students in determining how to begin and proceed through the literature research process, alleviating the associated anxiety many students experience along the way.…”