BPST311 Furlow Fall2010

Research Tips for BPST 311: Critical Thinking, Research, and Presentation Paul Boger Stafford Reference Librarian pboger @umw.edu

World of Information Online databases and books Online Library Resources Web Resources MySpace Company Sites Shopping Blogs YouTube Government Sites News Print Resources Books Videos Magazines Newspapers Journals

Popular vs. Scholarly

Popular vs. Scholarly
Popular Resources
Written for the General Reader
Written by Paid Staff Writers
Advertisements – sell issues
Scholarly Resources
Written by Experts for Experts
Carefully Evaluated before Publishing
Share knowledge
Not as easy to determine with web resources!

What to Look for on the Web
Authority -
Notice the URL (edu, org, gov, com, net)
Authors - check for an “About Us” link
Currency
Check the Dates
Accuracy
Supported by facts and research
Spelling
Reliability
Sources of information listed
Fact or opinion - bias

What is Most Appropriate for Academic Level Research?
Credible Authors
Information Supported by Facts
Objective Information
Accessible Information
Current Information
Evaluate your sources - YOU are the judge of the content used in your assignments

Where do I begin? How do I find articles on my topic?

Library Research Tools
Library Catalog
Titles of Books
Titles of Journals, Magazines and Newspapers
Searches Simpson Library, CGPS Library , and 2 online books collections
Databases
Articles in Journals, Magazines and Newspapers
Company and Industry Information
Search Engines – publicly available resources

Where do I begin? Where can I find information to start my research?

Databases – 24/7
Database A-Z list
Databases by Subject
Research Guides
Click the drop-down menu by “Research by Subject”
Click on Professional Studies (BPS) – to access suggested research resources
Click “GO”

Research Guide
Click on the “Databases” option

Research Guide
Click on the name of a database and begin searching
If you need assistance, contact the library

Can I use the databases from home? jsmith password Yes!
You will have to log-in to the databases when off-campus
Contact the Library if you have access problems

Recommended Databases:
Try different keywords in different databases
Different databases will provide different information
Academic Search Complete

Search by Keyword
Search by Topic

Click on the title of a report to view the document

Click “View PDF” to print and save document
Click “CiteNow” to format your citation
Click “Bibliography” for more sources

Click “Issues and Controversies”

Search by Keyword
Search by “Pro and Con”
Pick a “Headline”

Click the “Sidebars” to locate additional information
Click “Related Articles” to find more information
Print and email articles

Enter your keywords
Consider using some of the “Limit your results” options
Click Search

Click on a Subject term to refine your results
Consider using some of the “Limit your results” options
Click PDF and HTML links for full text
Click “Locate Journal Article” if not full text through the database

“ Locate Journal Article” page
Is the article available in a UMW database? NO.
What if the article is not available in a database? Use ILLIAD.

- Omnifile Full Text Mega
Enter your keywords in the search boxes
Considering refining your search using the “Limit” options
Click “Go”

Click “PDF” or “HTML” links to access articles
Click “Locate Article” if not available full text through the database
Use the tabs at the top to limit to “Peer Reviewed” or “Full Text”
Use the publisher’s subject headings as your own search terms
- Omnifile Full Text Mega

“ Locate Journal Article” page
Is the article available in a UMW database? YES.
Click a database link to retrieve article
If not online, request thru ILLIAD

What if my materials are at the main campus Library? What if UMW doesn’t have what I need?
Use Illiad to request materials not located at the Stafford Library
Create an online Illiad Account
Submit requests through Libraries’ website
Request books, articles, dissertations
Delivered online or to the Stafford Library
$2 fee for articles located at Simpson Library

Illiad : document delivery and interlibrary loan

Try different databases
Try different keywords
Use an “asterisk” for multiple word endings - *
Phrase Searching - quotation marks
Avoid stop words like: in, an, of, for, on, by
Ask Librarians for assistance
Writing Center

Search Engines
Search the general web
Limit yourself to a domain - .gov, .edu, .org
Search for scholarly literature
Limited full text
Might ask you to pay for materials

If you use Google Scholar to search for articles, you can link to the UMW Libraries collection
Click “Scholar Preferences”

Search for your library
Click “Find Library”
Place a check mark next to your library
Click “Save Preferences”

APA Style Manual - On reserve in the Stafford Library (call number BF76.7.P83 2010) - http://www.zotero.org/ (Firefox Only)
Citation features in various databases (EBSCO, Wilson, Gale)
NOTE: check for errors

Need help? Have Questions?
Come to the Library
Mondays - Thursdays 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Fridays 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Contact the Library Staff
[email_address]
540-286-8025
IM: cgpslibrary
Set up a Research Appointment
[email_address]
540-286-8066

& Take A Break! Served at 5:30 pm (Monday through Thursday)

BPST311 Furlow Fall2010

by boger68a on Sep 13, 2010

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BPST311 Furlow Fall2010 — Presentation Transcript