Comparison of Research Speed and Accuracy Using Westlaw Classic and WestlawNext

In 2010, Thomson Reuters released WestlawNext powered by WestSearch, a novel and proprietary algorithm. WestlawNext represents a new approach to legal research platform design. This article empirically examines the differences in search results using Westlaw Classic and WestlawNext by testing law students and librarians in both systems. Results demonstrate that researchers complete everyday searches faster and more accurately using WestlawNext. However, WestSearch's unique features and Thomson Reuters' failure to explain the function behind the WestlawNext main search bar and the WestSearch algorithm has limited researchers' ability to understand and effectively use WestlawNext. This lack of understanding has significant implications for instruction.     

Comparison of Research Speed and Accuracy Using WestlawNext and Lexis Advance

ABSTRACT

In 2010, Thomson Reuters released a new search engine to the legal academy called WestlawNext. WestlawNext's single-search-box approach revolutionized the legal research process. LexisNexis followed with its own next-generation search engine, Lexis Advance. This study compares the speed and accuracy of WestlawNext and Lexis Advance for basic legal research questions. Fifty-five participants answered five legal questions in each system. We reviewed their results and research trails to determine how the systems compared on speed and accuracy. Our results indicate few significant differences between the two systems for basic legal research tasks utilizing keyword searches.     

The Quest for Client Savings in Legal Research: WestlawNext v. Westlaw Classic

The cost to the client of Westlaw versus WestlawNext was assessed using two research methodologies. One methodology reflected real-world questions over time across categories. The other methodology had artificially generated questions broken down by category and evenly numbered across platforms. In both experiments, WestlawNext cost the client roughly double the cost of Westlaw Classic. Simplified pricing plans were cheaper for primary law and expert materials but were more expensive for other categories.     

图书馆在大学生科研训练中的创新服务实践

针对当前大学生科研训练中的学科服务需要,整合图书馆各项科研辅助服务,构建大学生科研训练中图书馆引导式服务的体系和流程,包括普及信息素养的申报阶段、搭建科研平台的过程阶段和提高科研能力的结题阶段.实证结果表明:以引导为主的科研服务模式能够有效满足大学生科研训练的文献信息需要,提升图书馆学科服务水平,实现学生、教师、图书馆和学校的“四赢”局面.     

The Pedagogical Value of an Integrated Approach to Legal Research Instruction: Overcoming Student Resistance to the Use of Print Sources and Striking a Balance That Instills an Appreciation of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Both Print and Online Sources

The ABA Legal Technology Survey Reports from 2006 to 2012 reported that, on average, 51% of attorneys “regularly” used print materials. Given the propensity of law students to default to online research, this article describes the results of a three-year longitudinal study of an integrated approach to teaching first-year legal research. This approach required students conduct legal research tasks both online and in print sources, and to evaluate their experience. The objective of this approach was to transform the legal research experience from a “treasure hunt” into a much higher level of engagement based on Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning.     

Creating a Research Center: Space for Collaborations and Conversations

This report describes the creation of a library research center, where a team of librarians provide flexible, convenient, and personalized research assistance to students. A research center creates a positive user experience for students and places collaboration—both among librarians and students—at its core. Next-generation reference models must provide spaces and environments for students and librarians to engage in meaningful and deep information literacy conversations as outlined in the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education.     

高校图书馆文献借阅服务与大学生学习成果关联性实证研究

大学生知识获得能力的提高和图书馆服务之间存在着密切的联系,文章以大学生在图书馆的文献借阅数量和平均学分绩点的关系为出发点,从实证角度探讨图书馆服务对大学生学习成果的影响,研究成果显示大学生获得的学习成果和图书馆利用之间存在正相关关系。     

What Students Really do in the Library: An Observational Study

The authors observed 730 collegiate students in the library and recorded their study (or non-study) activities. Approximately 60% of behaviors were study related. The most commonly observed behavior was reading print material (18.8%). The second most common behavior was the use of social media (11.4%). These results have implications for understanding how students learn and study in the pervasive digital world.     

美国高校图书馆的本科生研究支持服务

文章调查美国高校馆开展的本科生研究支持服务,服务内容包括:研究咨询,提供研究用空间,为本科生讲授课程,设立图书馆研究奖,设立图书馆研究员计划,协助本科生发表、保存与展示研究成果,提供研究指导信息;归纳美国高校图书馆本科生研究支持服务的经验。对我国高校图书馆的启示包括:开展本科生研究支持服务研究,为本科生提供研究空间支持,选拔学生同伴为本科生提供研究支持服务,成立图书馆员导师团队,设立本科生研究奖项,等等。     

Teaching Cost-Effective Research Skills: Have We Overemphasized Its Importance?

Surveys of law librarians show concern with the lack of cost-effective research skills of law students and new associates. Some commentators call for greater emphasis on the subject in legal research classes. To explore whether the subject merits increased instructional attention, the author surveyed second- and third-year law students at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law about their summer research experiences. The purpose of the survey was to find out how much importance summer employers placed on containing online research costs. The student survey results contradict the commonly expressed view that employers are greatly concerned with containing online research costs. The author posits that law library surveys generally reflect the experiences of large firm librarians, whereas the great majority of students and practicing attorneys do not work at these organizations. The concerns of these librarians might not be as relevant for students who work at smaller firms and government organizations. The author notes that the survey results suggest that there is no need for increased emphasis on cost-effective research at schools that do not have a large percentage of students who go on to work at large firms.     

文检课——一个进行学生学术规范训练的有效平台

针对学生学术规范教育缺失的问题,提出以文献检索与利用课为平台开展大学生学术规范训练的方案。利用“学术研讨会”这一活动形式,将文献检索、资料利用、学术规范三部分内容有机地串接起来,为学生营造一个学用结合的场景,引导学生对学术规范进行探究性学习。实践证明文检课可以成为也应该成为学生学术规范训练的有效平台。     

Research Analysis and Planning: The Undervalued Skill in Legal Research Instruction

This article describes a method of research analysis and planning for legal problems. It introduces the framework of research plan, log, and product and provides a detailed research plan and log that students can use as a template for learning research. The article suggests how to teach the method in legal research classes, shares some of the author's experiences in teaching the method, and addresses some possible criticisms of this approach.     

How Do They Research? An Ethnographic Study of Final Year Undergraduate Research Behavior in an Irish University

The objectives of this study were to identify how, when, and where students research; the impact of learning environments on research productivity, and to recommend improved supports to facilitate research. An ethnographic approach that entailed following five students in the final six weeks of their program enabled deep level analysis. The study examined the practice of undergraduate research inside and outside the library walls and found that the research process can be influenced by a number of factors including age, experience, work commitments, family, peer, academic, and library support. Mobile research is continuing to grow among undergraduate students, particularly those juggling family and work commitments. The research suggests a correlation between intercultural issues such as ethnicity and language with library anxiety. Until they had immersed themselves in the research process, most of the students in this study believed that research was a linear process.     

Using Bloom's Taxonomy to Teach Critical Thinking Skills to Business Students

ABSTRACT

Using Bloom's Taxonomy, this article provides a practical approach for enhancing critical thinking by business students. The article first describes Bloom's Taxonomy and how the model may be used as a framework for engaging business students in higher-order thought. It then explains how secondary research methods can be used to move business students to the higher planes of thought identified in Bloom's Taxonomy. Lastly, Herrick's criteria are used as a framework to analyze and evaluate the quality of secondary sources.     

Information Literacy and Research-Intensive Graduate Students: Enhancing the Role of Research Librarians

This article investigates how psychology graduate students find information for coursework and research, who teaches them how to find it, and whether differences emerge over the course of their graduate careers. Findings indicate that these graduate students are comfortable using campus libraries, prefer electronic resources, ask supervisors when they need assistance locating information, and have some interest in furthering their information literacy knowledge. Finally, the master's students use different information management skills than do the PhD students, as evidenced by the use of bibliographic management software. Suggestions for furthering the role of research librarians focus on being more proactive, rather than expecting students to come to librarians for assistance.     

Integrating information literacy into an undergraduate geography research methods course

Conducting research is a challenging but essential component of an undergraduate geography education. Students typically need instruction in fundamental skills such as using library resources. In this study we describe how we, a geography professor and a librarian, integrated information literacy into a newly revised course in which geography students design and write a research prospectus. We assessed student knowledge and self-reported confidence in library research skills at the beginning and completion of the course. This study describes increased information literacy among students who entered the course with a range of abilities and offers areas for further research.     

利用“文献检索与利用”课培养大学生的信息素养

针对目前“文献检索与利用”课程中所面临的挑战,提出教学改革方案:将学生的信息素养培养作为教学目标,并对教学内容 做相应的拓展,从选题、查找资料、撰写报告、与人交流几个环节,培养学生利用文献资料进行研究的能力。从学生的课程报告中可以 看出:这种教学方式可以有效地调动学生的学习积极性,使学生掌握文献检索技能并能加以灵活应用。     

如何成功地在国际图情期刊上发表论文？——IFLA Journal研讨会回顾

提高研究素养是图书馆从业人员和图情院系学生都面临的挑战。在2019年8月22~23日的IFLA Journal研讨会上,国际图情期刊编辑与各国代表就如何在国际期刊发表论文、如何像讲故事一样研究与写作、如何设计和评估研究以及如何认识学术规范等方面进行了交流与对话。文章回顾该次会议议题及其讨论,以期对我国图情研究和研究者如何成功地在国际图情期刊上发表论文有所启示。     

An Empirical Study on the Research and Critical Evaluation Skills of Law Students

Although scholars have explored many aspects of legal education, the fundamental analysis of research behavior and the quality of research skills remains somewhat uncharted territory. There have been assessments of the research skills of incoming law students and the effectiveness of various research programs but little to assess skills and preferences of existing law students. Building on surveys and studies from other disciplines, this article describes an effort to gather empirical data on law students' legal research practices.     

Developing Legal Information Literate Law Students: “That Dog Will Hunt”

The legal profession has been adamant about the need for law schools to more adequately prepare law students for legal practice. Criticisms concerning a student's practical legal skills, such as the ability to conduct legal research, are prevalent. As the legal profession continues to transform, the need for law students and new attorneys to be “legal information literate” prior to being hired is quite evident. In order to instill competent legal research skills, legal research instruction must focus both on incorporating legal information literacy skills and on understanding how students learn. For this reason, teachers of legal research should rethink teaching strategies and explore different teaching methodologies.