SURVEY OF AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS: RESEARCH SKILLS NEEDS EVALUATION ISBN 978-157440-543-9 ©2018 Primary Research Group Inc Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation 2|Page Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Table of Contents THE QUESTIONNAIRE 15 Characteristics of the Sample 20 SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS 25 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? 25 Results by institution type 25 Results by demographic group 25 Results by academic characteristics 25 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from the following sources? 26 2.1 general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches 26 2.2 Wikipedia or other wikis 26 2.3 Online databases, e-books or online journals offered through college library 27 2.4 Books, magazines or other print resources offered through college library 27 2.5 Other sources 27 Need for Instruction for Research Papers 28 3.1 Organizing and Structuring a Research Paper 28 3.2 Researching a Research Paper 28 3.3 Citations and Footnoting for a Research Paper 29 3.4 Spelling and Grammar .30 3.5 general Writing Skills .31 Table 1.1 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? 32 Table 1.2 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by Carnegie class 32 Table 1.3 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by age of survey participant 32 Table 1.4 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin 33 Table 1.5 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant 33 Table 1.6 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by college year class standing 33 Table 1.7 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by approximate student family annual income 34 Table 1.8 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant 35 3|Page Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Table 1.9 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant 36 Table 1.10 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant 36 Table 1.11 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey participant 37 Table 1.12 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by gender of the survey participant 37 Table 1.13 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out for students in public or private colleges: 38 Table 1.14 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant 38 Table 1.15 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey participant 39 Table 1.16 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant 39 Table 1.17 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant 40 Table 1.18 Have you ever been required to turn in a paper exceeding approximately 10 double spaced typed pages in length for any of your classes? Broken out by the racial or ethnic identity of the survey participant 40 Table When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from the following sources? 41 Table 2.1.1 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? 41 Table 2.1.2 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by Carnegie class 41 Table 2.1.3 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by age of survey participant 41 Table 2.1.4 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin 42 Table 2.1.5 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant 42 4|Page Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Table 2.1.6 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by college year class standing 42 Table 2.1.7 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by approximate student family annual income 43 Table 2.1.8 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant 43 Table 2.1.9 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant 44 Table 2.1.10 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant 44 Table 2.1.11 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey participant 45 Table 2.1.12 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by gender of the survey participant 45 Table 2.1.13 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out for students in public or private colleges 46 Table 2.1.14 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant 46 Table 2.1.15 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey participant 47 Table 2.1.16 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant 47 Table 2.1.17 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant 47 Table 2.1.18 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from general Google, Yahoo searches or other internet searches? Broken out by the racial or ethnic identity of the survey participant 48 5|Page Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Table 2.2.1 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? 48 Table 2.2.2 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by Carnegie class 48 Table 2.2.3 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by age of survey participant 49 Table 2.2.4 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin 49 Table 2.2.5 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant 50 Table 2.2.6 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by college year class standing 50 Table 2.2.7 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by approximate student family annual income 50 Table 2.2.8 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant 51 Table 2.2.9 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant 51 Table 2.2.10 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant 52 Table 2.2.11 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey participant 52 Table 2.2.12 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by gender of the survey participant 53 Table 2.2.13 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out for students in public or private colleges 53 Table 2.2.14 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant 53 Table 2.2.15 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey participant 54 Table 2.2.16 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant 54 Table 2.2.17 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant 54 6|Page Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Table 2.2.18 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from Wikipedia or other wikis? Broken out by the racial or ethnic identity of the survey participant 55 Table 2.3.1 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? 55 Table 2.3.2 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by Carnegie class 55 Table 2.3.3 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by age of survey participant 56 Table 2.3.4 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin 56 Table 2.3.5 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant 56 Table 2.3.6 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by college year class standing 57 Table 2.3.7 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by approximate student family annual income 57 Table 2.3.8 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant 58 Table 2.3.9 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant 58 Table 2.3.10 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant 58 Table 2.3.11 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey participant 59 Table 2.3.12 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by gender of the survey participant 59 7|Page Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Table 2.3.13 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out for students in public or private colleges 59 Table 2.3.14 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant 60 Table 2.3.15 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey participant 60 Table 2.3.16 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant 61 Table 2.3.17 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant 61 Table 2.3.18 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from online databases, e-books or online journals offered through your college library? Broken out by the racial or ethnic identity of the survey participant 61 Table 2.4.1 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? 62 Table 2.4.2 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by Carnegie class 62 Table 2.4.3 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by age of survey participant 62 Table 2.4.4 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin 63 Table 2.4.5 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant 63 Table 2.4.6 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by college year class standing 63 Table 2.4.7 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by approximate student family annual income 64 8|Page Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Table 2.4.8 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant 64 Table 2.4.9 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant 65 Table 2.4.10 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant 65 Table 2.4.11 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey participant 66 Table 2.4.12 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by gender of the survey participant 66 Table 2.4.13 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out for students in public or private colleges: 66 Table 2.4.14 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant 67 Table 2.4.15 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey participant 67 Table 2.4.16 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant 68 Table 2.4.17 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant 68 Table 2.4.18 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from books, magazines or other print resources offered through your college library? Broken out by the racial or ethnic identity of the survey participant 68 Table 2.5.1 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? 69 Table 2.5.2 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by Carnegie class 69 9|Page Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Table 2.5.3 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by age of survey participant 69 Table 2.5.4 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin 70 Table 2.5.5 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant 70 Table 2.5.6 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by college year class standing 70 Table 2.5.7 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by approximate student family annual income 71 Table 2.5.8 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant 71 Table 2.5.9 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant 72 Table 2.5.10 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant 72 Table 2.5.11 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey participant 72 Table 2.5.12 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by gender of the survey participant 73 Table 2.5.13 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out for students in public or private colleges 73 Table 2.5.14 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant 73 Table 2.5.15 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey participant 74 Table 2.5.16 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant 74 Table 2.5.17 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant 74 Table 2.5.18 When you need to research for your courses, as an average, about what percentage of the information that you need comes from other sources? Broken out by the racial or ethnic identity of the survey participant 75 Table Rate Your Need for Instruction in the Following Areas: 76 10 | P a g e .. .Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation 2|Page Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Table of Contents THE QUESTIONNAIRE... e Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Table 3.2.8 Rate Your Need for Instruction in Researching a Research Paper: Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey. .. in this area Survey of American College Students: Research Skills Needs Evaluation Characteristics of the Sample The survey frame is comprised of full time students from 4-year colleges in the