Introduction to College Research

Reviewed by Kelly Comcowich, Adjunct Instructor, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 2/23/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The content of this text is clear and concise. I was especially impressed by the first chapter about algorithms and how they create or bias while seeming objective. The chapter on disinformation was also very useful and clear. The text covers most of the basic elements of research for an intro to research class.

This text does not have a lot of information on how students might use that information to create written material after completing the research (argument structure, rhetoric, summary, paraphrasing, outlining etc). As such, it would need to be used along with another text in a research WRITING course.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The accuracy of information seemed solid, and the discussion of how bias is created in online algorithms was very informative and well supported.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Most material was very up to date -- the only thing missing was a robust discussion of AI. Perhaps an update about how the algorithims are affecting AI generated material in research might be in order.

Clarity rating: 5

The content of this text is clear and concise.

Consistency rating: 5

There was a lot of consistency and focus in this text. The overarching theme appears to be educating students about media bias, and making them aware of the many issue surrounding this in researching online.

Modularity rating: 5

The chapters do hold up seprately, and I plan to use the first chapter about algorithms , the second chapter on disinformation, and the second to last chapter on plagiarism. These separate chapters should be easy to include in various parts of my research writing course.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The structure overall is great -- easy to follow and logical.

Interface rating: 4

The format of the online version was a little frustrating. The text seemed to be broken into tiny bits (perhaps to make it easier to read on a phone screen?). The “next” button was tiny and located in the very bottom of the screen -- took me a little while to find it. I know that students may have this difficulty as well.

The page format and next button are not a huge issues, but the navigation was not as intuitive as other OER texts I have looked at.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Grammar looks good. The structure and writting are clear.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Many of the examples of racial and cultural bias were covered pretty well, and there were a variety of sources used.

Reviewed by Tracy Scharn, Instruction and Outreach Librarian, Oregon Institute of Technology on 6/5/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This book is explicitly an introduction to the topic of college research. As such, it provides an overview of key information literacy concepts, issues and components in a way that is broad but not deep. In general, it presents a comprehensive introduction to how information is produced, gathered and used. There is no index, but the table of contents is effective and easy to navigate. There is a glossary. Throughout the book the authors also generally provide in-text or pop-up definitions of key concepts but there are some notable gaps (for instance, not explaining what database aggregators are).

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The authors are knowledgeable on the subject and provide information that is accurate and free of errors. The text presents different types of examples and scenarios which impart a balanced understanding of the information landscape and how to approach research within it.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

This book does contain references to current events that will eventually be less relevant (recent elections, news, etc.). However, a book about the information landscape should be updated periodically to reflect current information trends and concerns, and the examples used in the text are highly relevant and engaging. There are links to outside sources (including videos) that may become broken over time.

Because it was designed and written for California community college students and uses library examples that are specific to the California system, users outside that system would need to make adjustments. For instance, the section on how to use OneSearch (a widely used but not universal discovery system) would need to be adapted to local tools, but it provides a good outline of what that section should cover. Additionally, any book that references specific information interfaces (library catalogs, EBSCO databases, etc.) will become out of date when those interfaces change.

Clarity rating: 5

Each chapter begins with clearly stated Learning Objectives. The language is accessible -- at times even conversational, which is an asset for this type of text. The authors generally define any jargon or subject-specific terminology.
A couple of chapters (particularly the Introduction) suffer from an overuse of quotes that make it harder to follow the flow of text.
Throughout the book, information is presented in different ways: text, charts, icons, illustrations, and so on. In several places, multimedia is used to convey more information (chiefly videos). All of these techniques help keep the reader's attention.

Consistency rating: 4

The structure of each chapter is usually consistent. There are points throughout the text in which the reader is invited to answer a question or reflect upon a concept, and these boxes are the same color as the quote boxes throughout. That similarity makes it harder for the reader to immediately recognize these invitations to engage.

Modularity rating: 4

The material is generally modular, however a few chapters have points where authors refer readers to a different section of the book. Usually there is enough information in the current chapter to avoid having to jump to a different one, but this does impact the modularity somewhat.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The book follows a logical structure and progression, with later chapters building on information presented in earlier ones. For instance, the book begins with topics that help the reader understand the current information landscape (algorithms, disinformation, information cynicism, etc.) -- aspects of research that can be often be overlooked. This provides a context for understanding the complexity of conducting research and evaluating information, which are covered in later chapters.

Interface rating: 5

The Pressbooks format is easy to use and navigate. The book is also offered in other formats: PDF, EPUB, and MOBI. It can also be ordered as a printed and bound book.
The efforts of the authors to be accessible are notable. Images consistently have alt-text or text-based descriptions of the information presented in the image; options are offered to enlarge images for enhanced readability; captions and transcripts are offered for multimedia; and information is often presented in multiple ways to serve different learners.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No major grammatical errors were noted.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The examples, images and multimedia used throughout the book are highly diverse and represent a range of identities. The authors also directly address inequities in the information landscape. This is especially evident in the chapter on algorithmic biases, but is also present in other sections. For example, in their section on the appropriate uses of Wikipedia, they also discuss who is most engaged in the production of Wikipedia's content and what that means for its content coverage.

Comments

If your institution uses Canvas, you might be interested in the extensive supplementary materials the authors created for that learning management system. You can freely download and use them in your own Canvas course. Those elements are not reviewed here. Find links to those materials in the chapter titled "A Note for Instructors."

Reviewed by Rachel Milani, Assistant Librarian, Minnesota North College on 5/16/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This text provides a solid foundation on the subject of college research, covering relevant content areas that impact research and providing sound research strategies. The supplementary Canvas modules add to this, providing resources that instructors often seek when adopting open resources.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Information provided is accurate. All statistics provided include citations to their sources.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

As technology is an ever evolving tool that directly affects the way we access and consume information, this text will inevitably require updating in future. However, based on the way we presently access and consume information, the information in this text is current and relevant to college research.

Clarity rating: 5

The text provides a glossary and in-text definitions for terminology that might be unfamiliar to students, and utilizes said terminology in context so that students can more readily understand the subject matter.

Consistency rating: 5

Layout of information and formatting is consistent throughout the text. Each chapter begins with stated learning objectives, and each chapter is broken down into sub-sections that each contain information and source citation. Images, charts, and text blocks are interspersed throughout, making for easier reading.

Modularity rating: 5

The text and the accompanying ancillary materials on Canvas are easily broken down into modules that could be utilized on their own or in conjunction with other resources as needed. Each chapter is broken down into easily digestible sub-sections.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

This text is well organized, laying a strong foundation by first establishing how algorithms affect the information generated by our searches, and immediately following that up with information on disinformation and how to determine whether a source is accurate and reliable. The text then lays out the different types of information sources and logically walks through the process for researching the primary academic repositories of those sources (namely libraries and databases).

Interface rating: 5

No navigation issues or image distortions are present.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text utilizes proper grammar and punctuation.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This text covers neutral information and is not insensitive or offensive. The text also covers the issue of bias in information in an objective manner.

Reviewed by kat gullahorn, Lecturer III, University of New Mexico on 5/11/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This text provides a sound foundation of the subject matter. It covers the major content areas and strategies for an introductory research course and includes a helpful glossary for reference. The supplementary Canvas modules include additional instructional objects, assignments, discussions and quizzes.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Content is neutral, appropriately biased against information biases. there are no apparent errors in the framing or application. Content is easily paired with additional materials.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The content is highly relevant and up-to-date. Content is composed to pages or modules can be easily updated to refresh examples. The illustrations are relevant and informative.

Clarity rating: 5

Prose is accessible to the casual reader. Technical jargon is clearly defined and supported with a glossary. The supplemental materials in Canvas are composed to compliment the text.

Consistency rating: 5

The layout and content format is consistent throughout the text. The use of color and pattern aid in navigation while alternating text and illustration break up the type into manageable portions. There is a suggested attribution provided at the bottom of each page and a hyperlinked bibliography at the end of each chapter.

Modularity rating: 5

Content is scaffolded appropriately and presented in digestible portions of information. Hyperlinks to internal content and external sources are balanced and do not distract the reader. Chapters in the book are parallel with the Canvas modules. Content is brief and concise, allowing space for discussion and creativity in the classroom delivery.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Topics are presented in a logical fashion and chapters appear to be able to re-order without disrupting the reader's experience. The instructor may rearrange topics to appear in an order that suits their objectives, and will not be hindered by linear internal references.

Interface rating: 4

The interface is simple and logical. Navigation is sound. Each piece of content is meaningful; there is no visual noise to distract or confuse the reader. The simplicity leaves room for the instructor to augment or adapt as necessary with the confines of the open license.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were found.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The content is neutral and includes exercises and examples from a variety of perspectives.

Comments

I am looking forward to interacting more with this text.