This paper was written for Research in Library and Information Science (LI810), a class devoted to understanding and evaluating research methods in the context of library and information science. It introduced the principles and procedures for developing a research project and writing about it. The assignment was to prepare a research-based report on a specific topic or question in library science, reviewing the literature about the topic and determining best practices for approaching a research project on the topic.
I chose to explore methodologies for assessing and improving critical thinking skills in undergraduate students searching the internet. I prepared a literature review of related studies, both qualitative and quantitative, and suggested as a best practice a longitudinal, quantitative study to assess and ultimately improve the critical thinking skills of students using the internet for research.
The literature review revealed that "digital natives" do not necessarily have superior technological skills to their elders, nor are they always successful at critically evaluating internet sources. Since so much information is now published and available on the internet, evaluating those resources becomes critical to effective and analytic research.
Critical Thinking in the Google Age (.pdf)