Millennial Undergraduate Research Strategies in Web and Library Information Retrieval Systems

Abstract

This article summarizes the author's dissertation regarding search strategies of millennial undergraduate students in Web and library online information retrieval systems. Millennials bring a unique set of search characteristics and strategies to their research since they have never known a world without the Web. Through the use of search engines, they have come to expect that searches can be completed using an easy, single search box that produces complete articles on just about any topic. However, the reliability and quality of much of the information on the Web is questionable. Conversely, information that resides in library information retrieval systems is often of high scholarly content, but there is not a single, user-friendly system for millennials to use. A case study investigation was conducted at the State University of New York at Oswego, a public undergraduate university in Central New York. The goal of the study was to identify the search strategies of a sampling of millennial undergraduate students in both Web information retrieval systems and library information retrieval systems in order to expand upon existing theories about millennials and to suggest interface design enhancements, which could make online library information retrieval systems easier for millennials to use. The findings recommend improving database search functionality, such as natural-language searching, spell-checking, and uniform full-text wording and placement. Results also suggested that increasing the availability of full-text articles would contribute to millennials’ use of library information retrieval systems.