Students' Citing of Online Resources in Their Essays

• In Event: 31.032 - Multisourcing as a Teaching and Learning Activity

Abstract

This study examined 140 upper-secondary students’ citations (quality and frequency) of online resources when composing essays after online research about either allowing the genetic modification of organisms (GMO) or the effects of social media (SM) on people’s quality of life. Students first filled in a graphic organizer and then composed essays while referring to their notes in the graphs. Results showed that students seldom cited sources in their essays. Most of the students’ citations were accurate but less often rich in source features. Students frequently cited media sources when writing about SM and typically cited ideological or political communities when writing about GMO. Regression analysis indicated that students’ grade was a significant predictor of the number of citations in essays.

Authors

• Eva Wennås Brante, Malmö University

• Carita Kiili, University of Oslo

• Julie Coiro, University of Rhode Island