Tech-savvy doctoral students increasingly look to open web technologies
The UK’s largest survey of the information seeking behaviours of doctoral students born between 1982-1994, commonly dubbed generation Y, shows a ‘modest increase’ in the students’ use of web technology in the last year.
Compared with a sample of older students, more of the Generation Y sample had used at least one kind of open web or Web 2.0 technology with only 8% saying they had used none at all.
Find out how the funding councils are going to use this information in our one minute video: <http://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/stories/2011/06/researchersoftomorrow.aspx>
The report shows that passive use of these open web technologies is more common than active use. Researchers are reading wikis and blogs without adding to them; they make passive use of internet forums for research, and few blog themselves. For example, while 29% made passive use of internet discussion forums, only 13% were active on them.
The generation Y students also look to their peers for advice and inspiration on technology more than key influencers like their supervisors and library and information services staff.
Charles Hutchings, market research manager at JISC, said: “While the first year report challenged assumptions being made about these students, this second report delves deeper to give us a clearer picture of the typical generation Y doctoral student. In contrast to older students at the same point in their studies, they typically prefer tailor-made advice and guidance; are unwilling to share their research prematurely; prefer to work in their institutions rather than at home and are more relaxed about their research progress than older doctoral students.
“At JISC we’re interested in this picture because it gives us a clear reference point for our investments in technology for research in universities and colleges. These students are the academic professionals of the future that universities and other organisations will be supporting so we need to help them understand this group in as much detail as possible.”
Isabel Oswell, head of business and research audiences at the British Library, commented on the report: “Consultation is at the heart of how the Library and JISC engage with their researchers. This second year report shows that the breadth and depth of online research material is of increasing relevance to researchers. However, it also shows that libraries need to play a role in helping researchers navigate their way through this plethora of material so that researchers make the best use of the resources that are available to them.”
Oswell continued: “We look forward to understanding more about our Generation Y researchers this year and to the final report next year.”
The report is the second publication in the three-year study which was commissioned by the British Library and JISC to establish a benchmark for research behaviour, against which future generations can be measured – and also to provide guidance for librarians and information specialists on how best to meet the research needs of Generation Y scholars.
The study includes a survey of doctoral students of any age to provide background to the Generation Y research. The first report took place at the end of June 2009 with the assistance of over 70 universities and covering all subject disciplines. It was repeated in 2010 and will be launched for the third and final time in mid 2011.
We asked the funding councils and the participating students: how are you benefiting from this study?
Watch two very short videos at: <http://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/stories/2011/06/researchersoftomorrow.aspx>
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Contact the JISC Press team:
Nicola Yeeles, n.yeeles@jisc.ac.uk / 0117 3310658
or
British Library Press Office:
Miki Lentin, 020 7412 7112 / miki.lentin@bl.uk / http://pressandpolicy.bl.uk/
JISC inspires UK colleges and universities in the innovative use of digital technologies, helping to maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in education and research.
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