2023 RPC Grant findings: Relationship between information literacy workshops and student success

Undergraduate students who completed at least one foundational information literacy workshop from the Wright State University Libraries had significantly higher GPAs, semester completion rates, and retention rates than their closest-matched counterparts who did not complete a library workshop. The study that identified these relationships was made possible by funding provided by the 2023 ALAO RPC grant.

After a previous study funded by the 2018 ALAO RPC grant identified a strong relationship between completion of at least one Research Toolkit information literacy workshop and student retention, this project intended to identify the impact of online completion of Research Toolkit workshops on indicators of student success compared to the face-to-face workshops.

Results (2023):

On average, Research Toolkit Workshop (RTW) participants had significantly higher (p=0.0138) semester GPAs than non-RTW participants. On average, RTW participants had significantly higher (p=0.0031) semester completion rates than non-RTW participants. A significant association (p=0.0110) was found between RTW participation and retention. The estimated odds ratio was 2.4692, meaning the odds of an RTW participant returning the following semester was roughly 2.5 times higher than the odds of a non-RTW participant returning.

Summary of Findings (2018 – 2023)

For undergraduate students, results from both studies revealed significant differences in GPA and completion rate between Research Toolkit Workshop (RTW) participants and paired (nearest neighbor) non-RTW participants with RTW participants, on average, having higher GPAs and higher completion rates than non-RTW participants. Similarly, results from both studies revealed a significant association between RTW participation and retention wherein RTW participants returned the next semester at higher rates than non-RTW participants.

Grant funding for this project was provided by the Academic Library Association of Ohio’s Research and Publication Committee. The statistical analysis was conducted by Aaron Skira, Ed.D., Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, and Ying Chen, Data Analyst in Institutional Research and Effectiveness. Additional support was provided by Matt Shreffler, Head of Resource Delivery Services, University Libraries. Submitted February 2024 by Mandy Shannon (University of Dayton).

–Marilia Antunez, Research and Publications Committee Co-Chair, University of Akron
–Sarah Nagle, Research and Publications Committee Co-Chair, Miami University