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Dissertation Information for Mary Jane McNally

NAME:
- Mary Jane McNally

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- Rutgers University (USA) (2005)

ADVISORS:
- Carol Kuhlthau

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Elspeth Goodin
- Jana Varlejs
- Ross J. Todd

MPACT Status: Complete - Except Indecipherables

Title: Analysis of students' mental models: Using the Internet in an authentic learning situation

Abstract: Amid the pervasiveness of the Internet in schools, library media specialists need to know how students use the Internet to complete research assignments. Early studies of full-text electronic databases by Edyburn (1988) and Marchionini (1989) suggested useful concepts to extend the theoretical framework of the Kuhlthau Information Search Process (ISP). This study was undertaken to explore Internet use from the perspective of the student user. Specifically, it was designed to uncover what mental models students held of the Task, of themselves as an information searcher and of the Internet while working through an authentic learning project.

Data were gathered at three points in time from two classes of students via focus group interviews and concept maps. Humanities students worked on a self-generated project; the Science students worked on imposed project in addition to self-generated projects.

The findings show that the students' models were both complex and interrelated. The model of the Task shows students carrying out a mix of both Cognitive and Procedural subtasks. Often students were simultaneously working at more than one level of the Task as measured by both stage of the ISP and cognitive level of Bloom's Taxonomy. Students often experienced difficulty due to both the Cognitive Subtasks and Social Aspects of the Task.

Although students used the Internet, they relied on other sources of information, especially experts. Students held conflicting and complementary ideas about the Internet's usefulness. Their search strategies varied and were often unspoken. Their use of the Internet for communication was universally assumed. Students tolerated perceived shortcomings of the Internet and did not label it as a difficulty.

In most cases the students' mental model of the Self included strong opinions regarding information sources or depictions of information gathering procedures in addition to personal characteristics. Of all the students' personal qualities, Motivation was both the most thoroughly discussed and the most likely to be a source of difficulty particularly in relation to the imposed projects.

Future research could explore simultaneous activity at different stages of the ISP, uncover students' rules for information seeking and use concept maps as a method to elicit personal constructs.

MPACT Scores for Mary Jane McNally

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2009-06-05 21:33:14

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Students under Mary Jane McNally

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None