Surprise 1: Grade Nine Bootcamp is the one that sticks. A positive correlation was found between what and how students are taught about research in their freshman year of high school and how they conducted research in college. Ninth grade is viewed as a "critical period" for training.
Surprise 2: Lazy doesn't mean Slothful. Students value and practice efficient practices--there's only so much time for research.
Surprise 3: Wikipedia--The Open Secret. Even though professors warn against using it, students typically depend on Wikipedia anyway.
Surprise 4: When I need Help I ask my Friend. They tend not to ask a librarian even though they are aware that librarians are available to help. If their friend remembers anything from ninth grade bootcamp, all the better.
Surprise 5: The Calculations that go into Evaluating Results. Student seldom go beyond the first page of Google results and use the bold keywords as a test to whether they should invest time skimming an abstract.
Not-so Surprising Conclusions:
- Students are comfortable with technology, but are by no means expert searchers.
- Students need significant support to perform college-level research
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