Fall 2012 Reference Desk Transaction Survey
Program Student Learning Outcomes Assessed
PSLO 1: Students demonstrate information competency and critical thinking skills
through their ability to effectively acquire, interpret, critically evaluate and use
information for oral and written purposes, with some understanding of its ethical and
legal ramifications.
PSLO 3: Students build on technology skills by using LLR computers, software programs
and electronic media to search for and use information; and to create work required
for courses and that advances understanding.
PSLO 4: Students learn to obtain and apply information to meet practical needs, such
as information for careers/employment, citizenship and GED exams, and English
language acquisition.
Assessment Tool
Brief survey card of 4 multiple-choice questions, with one 2-part question.
Number of participants
114 at 6 library locations
Description
Over a one-week period in Fall 2012, reference desks at all seven library locations (at six
different college centers) distributed a brief survey form to students after in-person
reference transactions.
The survey instrument comprised four questions, one of which was two-part. The survey
was developed based on the WOREP (Wisconsin-Ohio Reference Evaluation Program)
survey to assess the efficacy in achieving LLR’s PSLOs 1, 3 & 4: specifically students’
increased understanding of how to find, evaluate or cite information sources as a result
of their reference transaction; improved understanding of using technology and
equipment; acquire information or skills useful outside of the educational sphere; and
how successful the reference transaction was, that is, did students find what they
sought.
One-hundred fourteen surveys were completed among all seven library locations.
Results
A majority of respondents increased their understanding of how to find information (78%
of 114 respondents), 24% to cite, and 27% to evaluate information. A further 24%
learned skills other than these.
Of those responding to the questions, 80% learned technological skills (N=112) and 41%
felt they learned skills useful in other areas of their life (N=111).
Fewer than 5% of those who responded to the question (N=111) stated that they did not
fully find information that fulfilled their need, no one said they found nothing that fulfilled
their information need.
About 88% of respondents to the questions (N=111) found at least most of what they
needed (73% indicated they found exactly what they asked for).
2/9/2016, p.1 of 3
Of students who found what they needed, and those who specified, librarians helped
them find the information 69% of the time; about 30% found it by using the librarian's
suggestions; only 2% found the information without the help they received from
librarians.
Recommendations
The relatively low number of students who understood more about evaluating resources
(compared to skills for finding information) as a result of their reference transaction
points to an opportunity to emphasize in more kinds of reference transactions the need
to evaluate resources.
Future assessments will be conducted over a longer period to allow for more sufficient
data for site-specific analysis, and may assess a narrower scope of SLOs to allow for
more in-depth examination of the student’s experience in the reference transaction.
If resources allow, assessments comparing student and librarian experiences, or
measuring student learning, rather than students’ perception of learning, would be very
useful.
2/9/2016, p.2 of 3
Fall 2012 Reference Desk Transaction Survey
From your
interaction
with the
librarian,
you better
understand
how to …
Did you
learn new
computer/
equipment
skills
helpful for
school?
Did you
learn skills
useful in
areas of life
outside
school?
Did you
find what
you asked
for?
How the
information
was found
Find info
Evaluate
source
Give
credit
for
sources
I use
Other
None of
these
(learned
something
else)
Does not
apply to
my
question
Results from respondents at 6
library locations over a oneweek period:
blank
N=
89
78%
31
27%
27
24%
27
24%
0
0%
3
3%
1
1%
113
Yes
No
Maybe
NA
blank
N=
90
80%
5
4%
4
4%
13
12%
2
2%
112
Yes
No
Maybe
NA
blank
N=
46
41%
20
18%
15
14%
30
27%
3
3%
111
Yes
Mostly
Other
Not Really
No
blank
N=
81
73%
17
15%
9
8%
4
4%
0
0%
3
3%
111
Libn
Help
Used
Sugg
No Help
blank
N=
73
69%
31
29%
2
2%
8
7%
106
A majority increased their
understanding of finding information
(78% of 114), 24% to cite, and 27% to
evaluate information. A further 24%
learned skills other than these.
Of those responding to the
questions, 80% learned
technological skills (N=112) and 41%
felt they learned skills useful in other
areas of their life (N=111)
Fewer than 5% (N=111) did not find
all the information needed, and no
one was unable to find something
useful.
About 88% (N=111) found at least
most of what they needed (73%
found exactly what they asked for).
Of students who found what they
needed, librarians helped them find
it 69% of the time; about 30% found
it by using the librarian's suggestions;
only 2% found the information
without assistance.
Location totals
Alice Statler: 12; Chinatown/North Beach: 5; Downtown: 10; John Adams: 2; Mission: 14; Rosenberg: 71; Southeast: 0. Total: 114
2/9/2016, p.3 of 3