Light bulb moments: identifying information research threshold concepts for fourth year engineering students

Abstract

The librarians in the Dorothy Hill Physical Sciences and Engineering Library undertook a project to identify information research threshold concepts which fourth year undergraduate students must know to produce high quality research assignments. The methodology used to identify threshold concepts was to survey students, librarians and academics. A suggested threshold concept in information research is the critical evaluation of information resources to establish their authority, quality and credibility. This paper aims to demonstrate how a threshold concept approach clarifies the student experience in information research and provides a framework for the design of future information skills training.