Wendy Beautyman

An Ethnographic investigation into the cognitive and affective characteristics of Key Stage 2 (KS2) children in the context of their information seeking behaviour

Supervisors: Dr Alison Pickard, Dr David Wainwright, Matthew Pointon

Title of work: An Ethnographic investigation into the cognitive and affective characteristics of Key Stage 2 (KS2) children in the context of their information seeking behaviour 

Description: 
The research study investigates the way in which key stage 2 children (aged between 7 and 11 years old) are taught to look for information. The study examined how children in a state run primary school were taught to develop information seeking strategies that will allow them to become lifelong literate users of information.

I loved investigating how children set about finding information because I am curious to understand what motivates people to search for information. Being involved with this research study allowed me to observe several groups of children for one academic school year and see how they developed their information seeking skills in that time. I passionately believe that if we are able to give children the information seeking tools they need, they can then apply those skills to find whatever they need in any area of their lives.

At the end of my study I hope to be able to offer insight into the ways in which children are taught to search for information and be able to offer a framework that can be used that will inform and guide the ways in which children are taught to look for information.