A Longitudinal Assessment of Graduate Student Research Behavior and the Impact of Attending a Library Literature Review Workshop

Abstract

This article discusses findings from a longitudinal research study that examined the way graduate students carry out the literature review and how they were impacted by attending a library literature review workshop. The literature review research process serves as an important gateway for graduate students’ into their scholarly communities’ practices, and can be a logical place for librarians to offer assistance. This study was carried out to gain insights into the ways librarians can better meet graduate students’ needs in order to shape the services offered to graduate students. Findings reveal a lack of a single path through the literature review research process, but do indicate that attending a literature review workshop can have long-term benefits.