Influence of an information literacy course on students' information search behavior.
The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of an information literacy course on students' information gathering behavior.


METHODS
Two student groups, consisting of 69 (Group One) and 177 (Group Two) students, were compared in their performance on a literature review assignment. Group one did not have an information literacy course, while group two was the first class to receive a newly introduced course in information literacy. Assignment references served as the dependent variables and included the following categories: total number of references, number and percentage of peer reviewed journal references, number and percentage of non-peer reviewed journal references, number and percentage of website references, number and percentage of authority opinion references, and number and percentage of textbook references. Referenced websites were further divided into the following: .com, .org, .edu, .gov. for both total number and percent utilization.Independent T-tests were performed between the information literacy course status and each of the dependent variables.


RESULTS
Descriptive data (prior education, cumulative GPA, average age of student groups) was similar for both groups. Independent T-test analysis revealed a strong association (p < .05) between increasing both the number and percentage of peer reviewed references and having the information literacy course.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of an information literacy course did influence the information gathering behavior of students. Students showed an increased reliance on peer-reviewed references.
Weinert
Daniel J
DJ
Palmer College of Chiropractic, 1000 Brady Street, Davenport, IA 52803, USA. weinert_d@palmer.edu
Palmer
Erin M
EM
D002684:Chiropractic / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D010380:Peer Review; D011642:Publications; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology