Helping First Year Students Think Like Psychologists: Supporting Information Literacy and Teamwork Skill Development

Abstract

The current research implemented and evaluated (a) a programme targeting the development of information literacy skills (ILS) (Study 1) and (b) a team skills development programme (Study 2), with first year psychology students in Psychology 1A and Psychology 1B, respectively. In Study 1, five online ILS modules were developed. Students completed pre and post measures of learning and evaluative measures and applied these skills in the completion of several other assessment tasks. There was an improvement in all pre to post measures and students reported liking the modules and evaluated them as useful. In Study 2, students were required to complete a group research project. Ratings of group processes (e.g. productivity and cohesiveness), were obtained early and late in the programme, as well as summative evaluative ratings. The objective (mean final group mark) and subjective (evaluative) measures indicated that the groups functioned effectively. Focus group data obtained for both studies corroborated the quantitative findings. Both programmes appeared to be effective and the findings are discussed in light of their relevance to ‘thinking like a psychologist’.