Research Assignment Expectations by

did not define what a monograph was

egzerrenner — 2025-10-09 16:14:19 UTC

2025-10-09 16:14:28 UTC

Using terminology that students don't understand

cseale5 — 2025-10-09 16:14:35 UTC

Professors ask for sources that don't exist like peer-reviewed articles on current events

Complex Instructions

2025-10-09 16:14:40 UTC

Too many directions, over complicated instructions, lack of clarity

oaks9_1 — 2025-10-09 16:14:53 UTC

the word "research" means several different things

2025-10-09 16:14:55 UTC

Using language that does not make sense to students

"Write til you're done" - no word count or page length expectations

cmiller588 — 2025-10-09 16:14:55 UTC

Haven't updated the instructions since ever.

2025-10-09 16:14:56 UTC

emilyatthelibrary — 2025-10-09 16:14:58 UTC

Students have limited prior experience with research projects, citation, etc.

tacit expectations

2025-10-09 16:15:06 UTC

instructors who are very familiar with research often don't realize how many of their expectations are unspoken, and assume students know what they're asking them to do

2025-10-09 16:15:10 UTC

Putting so much emphasis on the few peer reviewed sources needed, that students didn't realize they could, or even should, find some other sources as well.

We forget, in our earned expertise, that our students are maybe at the basic level at the moment.

2025-10-09 16:15:10 UTC

2025-10-09 16:15:16 UTC

students except things to be concrete when things with research arent. They don't like that things are set in stone

2025-10-09 16:15:18 UTC

asking 1st year students in an intro class to using peer-reviewed articles from PsychArticles.

2025-10-09 16:15:20 UTC

No precise written instructions.

hwhitaker6 — 2025-10-09 16:15:20 UTC

requiring peer-reviewed sources when that type of material doesn't fit the research assignment

Oftentimes students don't closely read the assignment instructions so have lots of questions without reading carefully

2025-10-09 16:15:21 UTC

2025-10-09 16:15:22 UTC

Just getting started can be difficult

2025-10-09 16:15:25 UTC

Large difference between faculty expectations and student understanding of the research process.

2025-10-09 16:15:29 UTC

professors ask to look for applications of theories and students don't know how to approach that

Faculty assume a level of familiarity with this type of assignment that students do not have.

2025-10-09 16:15:29 UTC

Students may be used to different types of research than the types done in my department.

2025-10-09 16:15:30 UTC

They're geared towards a level of knowledge that not everyone has

Students don't understand different types of journal articles.

2025-10-09 16:15:30 UTC

"They all have data, I need one that makes an argument" is something I've heard before on reference

2025-10-09 16:15:30 UTC

Not recognizing how literal and rigid students can be in thinking about an assignment

Clear instructions with some examples are not giving

2025-10-09 16:15:33 UTC

2025-10-09 16:15:35 UTC

Students do not have adequate research preparation before getting to college

When faculty don’t really know what they want

2025-10-09 16:15:35 UTC

I have seen faculty using an assignment they were given by a colleague and they aren’t necessarily clear on what the want from the students themselves.

Instructor guided students to create research questions that were far too specific for them to be able to find sources for.

adavidson002_1 — 2025-10-09 16:15:42 UTC

Time management

2025-10-09 16:15:44 UTC

Students don't think of how long it takes to read and understand sources.

locking them into a research topic before they do research

egzerrenner — 2025-10-09 16:15:45 UTC

2025-10-09 16:15:46 UTC

Students don't know how to synthesize the information in the resources to actually write a research paper.

Doesn't define sources accepted, how many are needed, jurisdiction or area of research

2025-10-09 16:15:46 UTC

2025-10-09 16:15:50 UTC

Students are still uncomfortable with assignments that require or push Critical thinking. They are used to getting all of hte expectations laid out

the assignment has no clear rubric

2025-10-09 16:15:51 UTC

Instructors try to teach the databases in their directions.

2025-10-09 16:16:06 UTC

2025-10-09 16:16:10 UTC

Requiring physical resources when so much is electronic.

2025-10-09 16:16:15 UTC

Assuming that the modern student experience is similar to the professor's undergrad experience

Context Collapse

2025-10-09 16:16:15 UTC

there has always been a disconnect between the colloquial and academic understanding of "research" and it's not always clear that students have the experience to know the difference

lack of clarity

2025-10-09 16:16:16 UTC

Lack of clarity in the assignment, even just the verbiage of the assignment description. Overly complex or vague ... its a pain.

Research fear

2025-10-09 16:16:20 UTC

They're afraid because they have no idea what it is and when you tell them "do it" and they say "how" you say "it depends"

2025-10-09 16:16:25 UTC

Not clarifying or giving specific examples of what types of sources they need to use (ex: scholarly sources)

2025-10-09 16:16:32 UTC

Instructor describes the final product wanted fairly well but not enough detail on how get there.

checking the box

2025-10-09 16:16:40 UTC

assignments that have students find any "peer-reviewed source" leading students to not care what it's about so they are not getting a real sense of the research process

2025-10-09 16:16:56 UTC

Assume students know how to use databases.

"Can't use the internet" confuses students about whether they can use electronic resources

cmiller588 — 2025-10-09 16:17:03 UTC

Students use wrong tool

2025-10-09 16:17:19 UTC

e.g. had success with one databases and try to use it for a topic it doesn't fit.

Teachers not teaching

2025-10-09 16:17:27 UTC

"just go to the library and they'll help you"

K12 Student Training

2025-10-09 16:17:27 UTC

Students are used to assignments in the K12 context where there is one answer or a prepared answer that they are reporting. The open ended nature of research is a new approach to knowledge formation.

2025-10-09 16:17:28 UTC

Over- or under-specific requirements

2025-10-09 16:17:45 UTC

No experience constructing research questions/hypotheses, etc.

Students ack of background knowledge

2025-10-09 16:17:53 UTC

2025-12-16 17:45:45 UTC

Students were asked to research the origin of a specific language and our library was limited in the resources we could offer on topic. Some languages had way more than others. Some had next to nothing. The students and librarians were frustrated.