Project Information Literacy (PIL) is ongoing research project, based in the University of Washington's Information School. They are currently collecting data from early adults enrolled in community colleges and public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. to understand how early adults conceptualize and operationalize research activities for course work and "everyday life." The project focuses especially on how early adults resolve issues of credibility, authority, relevance, and currency in the digital age.
A recent study analyzed assignment handouts distributed to undergraduates on 28 college campuses across the U.S. The findings of the study suggest that handouts for academic research assignments provide students with more how-to procedures and conventions for preparing a final product for submission, than guidance about conducting research and finding and using information in the digital age.
76% of students surveyed considered written guidelines about course-related assignments to be the most helpful materials an instructor can provide.
Written guidelines for research assignments play an integral role in helping students define situational context - how to meet the instructor's expectations.
Students tend to use handouts to define information-gathering context - to find and use appropriate information sources.