Introduction to Library Research Part 1: The research process and searching strategies Welcome! Contact me if you have questions. Elaine Settergren: [email_address] Jan 2009 – Elaine Settergren

Today’s Library Lessons The Research Process Three Types of Searching Subject Searching Citation Chasing Keyword Searching Boolean operators! Narrow and Broaden your searches

The Research Process

Three Types of Searching

Subject Searching

Citation Chasing

Keyword Searching

Boolean operators!

Narrow and Broaden your searches

What is research anyway? Research is a PROCESS Step 1: Choose a topic Step 2: Exploratory research Step 3: Working bibliography Step 4: Research question / tentative thesis Step 5: Focused research Step 6: Final thesis

Research is a PROCESS

Step 1: Choose a topic

Step 2: Exploratory research

Step 3: Working bibliography

Step 4: Research question / tentative thesis

Step 5: Focused research

Step 6: Final thesis

Choose a topic Understand the assignment Pick a topic that interests you Start general Explore possible avenues to your topic. Think about related issues. Brainstorm : What causes road rage? Why are people angry while driving? Has road rage increased recently? Topic: road rage

Understand the assignment

Pick a topic that interests you

Start general

Explore possible avenues to your topic.

Think about related issues.

Brainstorm : What causes road rage? Why are people angry while driving? Has road rage increased recently?

Topic: road rage

Exploratory research Read some basic works on your topic Reference materials, textbooks Use your topic term(s) in your search A basic search on “road rage” to shows us a selection of what’s been written on the topic Get ideas for future searches Anger? Psychology? Aggressive driving?

Read some basic works on your topic

Reference materials, textbooks

Use your topic term(s) in your search

A basic search on “road rage” to shows us a selection of what’s been written on the topic

Get ideas for future searches

Anger?

Psychology?

Aggressive driving?

Exploratory research Why not skip this step? You need it to: Get a basic understanding = intelligently refine your research question Start gauging the scope of your topic. Is it feasible? * There may be so much written on your topic you will never fit it all in one class paper * OR it may be really hard to find information on your topic. It’s not cheating to adjust your topic to make it feasible. 3. Get ideas for keywords, topics, sources

Why not skip this step? You need it to:

Get a basic understanding = intelligently refine your research question

Start gauging the scope of your topic.

Is it feasible?

* There may be so much written on your topic you

will never fit it all in one class paper

* OR it may be really hard to find information on your topic.

It’s not cheating to adjust your topic to make it feasible.

3. Get ideas for keywords, topics, sources

Use your sources efficiently Articles Focus on: Abstract, introduction, conclusions E-books Search the book for relevant material You don’t have to read the whole thing! But DO read enough to UNDERSTAND the CONTEXT

Articles

Focus on: Abstract, introduction, conclusions

E-books

Search the book for relevant material

You don’t have to read the whole thing!

But DO read enough to UNDERSTAND the CONTEXT

Working Bibliography Start a bibliography and get in the practice of making proper citations for everything right away. Why? Need citations later anyway Harder to lose your work Easier to go back (to check info, for “chaining”)

Why?

Need citations later anyway

Harder to lose your work

Easier to go back (to check info, for “chaining”)

Sample Working Bibliography Brewer, A. (2000, January). Road rage: what, who, when, where and how?. Transport Reviews , 20 (1), 49-64. Retrieved July 18, 2007, from EBSCO MegaFILE database. Mann, R., Zhao, J., Stoduto, G., Adlaf, E., Smart, R., & Donovan, J. (2007, July). Road Rage and Collision Involvement. American Journal of Health Behavior , 31 (4), 384-391. Retrieved July 18, 2007, from EBSCO MegaFILE database. Lawton, R. and Nutter, A. (2002). A comparison of reported levels and expression of anger in everyday and driving situations. British Journal of Psychology,3 93 , 407-423. Retrieved July 18, 2007, from ProQuest Psychology Journals database. Joint, M. (1995, March). Road rage. The Automobile Association Group Public Policy Road Safety Unit. AAA. Retrieved July 18, 2007, from http://www.aaafoundation.org/resources/index.cfm?button=agdrtext#Road%20Rage.

Brewer, A. (2000, January). Road rage: what, who, when, where and how?. Transport Reviews , 20 (1), 49-64. Retrieved July 18, 2007, from EBSCO MegaFILE database.

Mann, R., Zhao, J., Stoduto, G., Adlaf, E., Smart, R., & Donovan, J. (2007, July). Road Rage and Collision Involvement. American Journal of Health Behavior , 31 (4), 384-391. Retrieved July 18, 2007, from EBSCO MegaFILE database.

Lawton, R. and Nutter, A. (2002). A comparison of reported levels and expression of anger in everyday and driving situations. British Journal of Psychology,3 93 , 407-423. Retrieved July 18, 2007, from ProQuest Psychology Journals database.

Joint, M. (1995, March). Road rage. The Automobile Association Group Public Policy Road Safety Unit. AAA. Retrieved July 18, 2007, from http://www.aaafoundation.org/resources/index.cfm?button=agdrtext#Road%20Rage.

Research Question and Tentative Thesis Research Question Based on Exploratory research Usually more specific than your brainstorming question Open ended Tentative Thesis Best guess to the answer of your research question You’ll try to support this with your research

Research Question

Based on Exploratory research

Usually more specific than your brainstorming question

Open ended

Tentative Thesis

Best guess to the answer of your research question

You’ll try to support this with your research

Research Question and Tentative Thesis Compare: Research question: What causes road rage? Tentative Thesis: The relatively recent phenomenon of road rage is caused by the latest influx of traffic and stress.

Compare:

Research question:

What causes road rage?

Tentative Thesis:

The relatively recent phenomenon of road rage is caused by the latest influx of traffic and stress.

Does that sound like a lot of work? Well don’t be depressed – in reality, you could easily go through steps 1-4 in an afternoon. The heavy-duty work comes next!

Well don’t be depressed – in reality, you could easily go through steps 1-4 in an afternoon.

The heavy-duty work comes next!

Focused Research Answer your research question Refine your tentative thesis with specific information With the road rage example, we might look for: Case studies of road rage victims Research papers on aggression or anger Scholarly psychological analysis Facts, figures, statements from authorities

Answer your research question

Refine your tentative thesis with specific information

With the road rage example, we might look for:

Case studies of road rage victims

Research papers on aggression or anger

Scholarly psychological analysis

Facts, figures, statements from authorities

Final Thesis Use your research and the arguments you’re going to use in your paper to revise your thesis. At this time, you can take your tentative thesis revise it to better reflect your findings, and settle on your final thesis statement. The final thesis often doesn’t finalize until you are working on your rough draft. There’s also a lot of wiggle-room here. You can go back for more research and more thesis refining, as many times as you need to.

Use your research and the arguments you’re going to use in your paper to revise your thesis.

At this time, you can take your tentative thesis

revise it to better reflect your findings, and

settle on your final thesis statement.

Final Thesis Oh NO! My research findings are the opposite of my thesis statement! Don’t trash it! Not every research paper has to prove that something is – lots of research proves that something is not the answer.

Example Final Thesis Example: Research question : Is hypnosis a good weight loss strategy? Tentative thesis : Hypnosis helps you lose weight. Research shows : Hypnosis has never been proven to aid weight loss. Final thesis : Hypnosis has potentials to be a good weight loss strategy, but several medical studies show hypnosis to have no effect on weight loss or dieting.

In sum… Start with a question or general idea Research to find information, facts Build thesis statement that is based on reality (the information that you found)

Start with a question or general idea

Research to find information, facts

Build thesis statement that is based on reality (the information that you found)

THIS IS BACKWARDS Brainstorm a specific thesis right away Decide your arguments for the paper Start writing your paper Now start your research! 5. Despair and sorrow

Brainstorm a specific thesis right away

Decide your arguments for the paper

Start writing your paper

Now start your research!

5. Despair and sorrow

Tragedy of Backwards Research You might find: No facts to support your arguments Lots of data that disproves your thesis Research may partially support your thesis, but not with the arguments you had planned (and started writing out) You = Rewriting your paper =

You might find:

No facts to support your arguments

Lots of data that disproves your thesis

Research may partially support your thesis, but not with the arguments you had planned (and started writing out)

You = Rewriting your paper =

OK! Let’s research! When you jump right in to research you may find that you are…

www.sba.gov “ Begin the endnotes on a new page after the last page of the paper and preceding the bibliography.” www.google.com/unclesam James Knox Polk was born in Mechlenburg County, NC on Nov. 2, 1795. Matsushita is the largest manufacturer of electrical consumer goods in the world… Certosina: a style originally associated with Carthusian monasteries, made with pieces of wood, bone and mother-of-pearl arranged in geometrical patterns Alveolitis: inflammation of the alveoli … by emphasizing different components of the syllogism covered in section A. Vibrissae: stiff hairs within the nostrils at the anterior nares Epoetin Alpha: Trade and other names: Epogen, epoetin alfa. Drug class: hormone. www.msbcollege.edu 156846843516553131354321 6541321651 651681606546465404 65354 3541651035466 4384 654 6 364 3541 654065460454 540543 6361 4 FEELING OVERWHELMED BY INFORMATION?

No need to panic!

Make sense of the information overload! Plan your search Use the Research Project Calculator tool: http://rpc.elm4you.org/ Set aside the time! Trial and Error : Discover synonyms and related terms Keep track of what & where you search and what you find to stay organized Choose the right research tool Match the sources to the topic Look for recent news on the web or newspapers Look for scholarly info in a database

Make sense of the information

overload!

Plan your search

Use the Research Project

Calculator tool:

http://rpc.elm4you.org/

Set aside the time!

Trial and Error : Discover synonyms and related terms

Keep track of what & where you search and what you find to stay organized

Choose the right research tool

Match the sources to the topic

Look for recent news on the web or newspapers

Look for scholarly info in a database

3 Ways to Search Subject Searching Citation Chasing Keyword Searching

Subject Searching

Citation Chasing

Keyword Searching

Types of searching Subject Searching “ What’s the secret word?” Databases and catalogs have indexes of words that their search already “knows” Using the Subject Index will help you: Find the most efficient search terms for that resource Get ideas for new search terms to try

Subject Searching

“ What’s the secret word?”

Databases and catalogs have indexes of words that their search already “knows”

Using the Subject Index will help you:

Find the most efficient search terms for that resource

Get ideas for new search terms to try

Subject Searching These are all ways to search by subject: Search the subject index Some databases offer subject suggestions . Click on these to access the subjects. Or click on subject headings in your search results or in the article record.

These are all ways to search by subject:

Search the subject index

Some databases offer subject suggestions . Click on these to access the subjects.

Or click on subject headings in your search results or in the article record.

Types of searching Citation chasing “ Please sir, can I have some more?” One great resource = many great resources!!! Use the Bibliography! Pros of citation chasing: Authors usually cite sources that discuss similar topics You’ll have all the information for easily searching the databases Con of citation chasing: No guarantees that the cited sources will also be in available online in the Globe Education Network library

Citation chasing

“ Please sir, can I have some more?”

One great resource = many great resources!!!

Pros of citation chasing:

Authors usually cite sources that discuss similar topics

You’ll have all the information for easily searching the databases

Con of citation chasing:

No guarantees that the cited sources will also be in available online in the Globe Education Network library

Types of searching Keyword “ Okay does ANYTHING mention left-handed Indonesian stunt kites?” Always remember: Keyword searching = “everywhere” including author names, summaries and sometimes even full text of article (book, website, etc.) Keyword searching by default is kind of “stupid” (unless we help it out) Here’s an example…

Keyword

“ Okay does ANYTHING mention left-handed Indonesian stunt kites?”

Always remember:

Keyword searching = “everywhere”

including author names, summaries and sometimes

even full text of article (book, website, etc.)

Keyword searching by default is kind of “stupid” (unless we help it out)

Potential problems of keyword searching Topic = cats , as in : A basic keyword search will give you results about But also author’s last name of “ Cats ”, even articles he wrote, even though they may be about new socket gears or something unrelated to: CATS

Topic = cats , as in :

A basic keyword search will give you results about

But also author’s last name of “ Cats ”,

even articles he wrote, even though

they may be about new

socket gears

or something unrelated to:

Potential problems of keyword searching And what about: Reviews of “ Cats: the musical ”? Excerpts from the book “ Cat’s Cradle ?” Or writers using the word just once in an article, like in a saying or cliché: “ The cat’s out of the bag: Apple introduced its new iPhone today at …” All of this could come up when just keyword searching on “cats”

And what about:

Reviews of “ Cats: the musical ”?

Excerpts from the book “ Cat’s Cradle ?”

Or writers using the word just once in an article, like in a saying or cliché: “ The cat’s out of the bag: Apple introduced its new iPhone today at …”

The Good News about Keyword Keyword is very useful when you: Are using specific terminology Building specific search strings Need to search full-text Need to do any sort of broad search Okay - does ANYTHING mention left-handed Indonesian stunt kites?”

Keyword is very useful when you:

Are using specific terminology

Building specific search strings

Need to search full-text

Need to do any sort of broad search

Keyword Word Choices Word (term) choices are important Be selective. Choose descriptive words. Strategies Brainstorm Select from thesis Broader, narrower, and related terms Time , Place , Population , and Viewpoint Trial and error

Word (term) choices are important

Be selective. Choose descriptive words.

Strategies

Brainstorm

Select from thesis

Broader, narrower, and related terms

Time , Place , Population , and Viewpoint

Trial and error

Strategies Brainstorming Keywords How many keywords can you think of that are related to the word “pitch”?

How many keywords can you think of that are related to the word “pitch”?

Selecting Search Terms It’s good to have options so you can try different terms in different databases Say your topic is: The economic impact of the great dust storms of the 1930’s on the farmers of the great plains. What are the important terms here?

It’s good to have options so you can try different terms in different databases

Say your topic is: The economic impact of the great dust storms of the 1930’s on the farmers of the great plains.

What are the important terms here?

Selecting Search Terms The economic impact of the great dust storms of the 1930’s on the farmers of the great plains . Using the word “ impact ” on its own is useless. It’s not descriptive enough of the topic. Using agriculture instead of farmers is a good option.

The economic impact of the great dust storms of the 1930’s on the farmers of the great plains .

Using the word “ impact ” on its own is useless. It’s not descriptive enough of the topic.

Using agriculture instead of farmers is a good option.

Selecting Search Terms You can use these strategies to narrow or broaden your search: Time , Place , Population , and Viewpoint i.e. original topic: dust bowl narrowed topic: The economic impact of the great dust storms of the 1930’s on the farmers of the great plains .

You can use these strategies to narrow or broaden your search:

Time , Place , Population , and Viewpoint

i.e. original topic: dust bowl

narrowed topic:

The economic impact of the great dust storms of the 1930’s on the farmers of the great plains .

Strategies Brainstorming Keywords Notice that some are broader or narrower keywords. Others are related . Fruit Agriculture Apples Canning

Notice that some are broader or narrower keywords. Others are related .

Keyword Strategies Use quotation marks for phrases “ total quality management” “ right to choose” “ macaroni and cheese” Truncation Symbols (* ? !) take place of letters Politic* = politician, politicians, political, politics Wom?n = woman, women Combining with Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT

Use quotation marks for phrases

“ total quality management”

“ right to choose”

“ macaroni and cheese”

Truncation

Symbols (* ? !) take place of letters

Politic* = politician, politicians, political, politics

Wom?n = woman, women

Combining with Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT

Boolean Operators: AND AND makes your search more specific The more ANDs you include the more specific/narrow your search becomes children AND anxiety  only items with both words Children in Iowa Anxiety in Iowa Anxiety in Children Anxiety is Okay Children in Anxiety Children are Okay

AND makes your search more specific

The more ANDs you include the more specific/narrow your search becomes

children AND anxiety  only items with both words

OR broadens the search The more ORs you include the more broad your search becomes wages OR salaries  items with either term Wages for Mediocre Work Salaries of Good Salesmen Getting Paid to Sleep Dogs Earn Salaries Minimum Wage Raise Your Wages Boolean Operators: OR May or may not be included in the results because it’s singular and you were searching plural

OR broadens the search

The more ORs you include the more broad your search becomes

wages OR salaries  items with either term

NOT excludes unrelated terms e.g. jazz NOT Utah  leaves out items about the Utah Jazz basketball team Jazz Through Time 2004 Utah Jazz Lineup Music Is Nice History Of Utah Jazz Music Weekly: Jazz Scene in Utah History of Jazz Music Boolean Operators: NOT

NOT excludes unrelated terms

e.g. jazz NOT Utah  leaves out items about the Utah Jazz basketball team

Boolean Operators Combine these as much as you need Cats AND declaw* AND humane A more specific search Gender AND (movies OR film) Combine them! Get fancy! (Gender OR women) AND (movies OR film) NOT “adult film”

Combine these as much as you need

Cats AND declaw* AND humane

A more specific search

Gender AND (movies OR film)

Combine them!

Get fancy!

(Gender OR women) AND (movies OR film) NOT “adult film”

Refine – Do it Again ! Too much? – Narrow it! Specific terms Quotation marks AND , NOT Too little? – Broaden it! Broader terms Synonyms OR All wrong? BE CREATIVE – brainstorm more keywords Try a different database/search tool/source Ask the librarian for help!

Too much? – Narrow it!

Specific terms

Quotation marks

AND , NOT

Too little? – Broaden it!

Broader terms

Synonyms

OR

All wrong?

BE CREATIVE – brainstorm more keywords

Try a different database/search tool/source

Ask the librarian for help!

Stay tuned for Part 2: Using the GEN Online Library and Evaluating Sources Questions? Comments? Contact the Online Librarian : Elaine Settergren [email_address] http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/ Read the Library Lowdown Blog!