Introduction to Library Research Part 2 : The Globe Education Network (GEN) Online Library and Evaluating Sources Welcome! The session will begin 8/11/09 at 9 a.m. Elaine Settergren, [email_address] April 2009 – Elaine Settergren

Today’s Library Lessons GEN Online Library Databases and E-journals Academic Search Premier [EBSCO] Academic OneFile [Gale] ProQuest Newsstand 360 Search E-Journal Portal E-books Recommended websites Evaluating Sources Types of sources Academic vs. trade vs. popular Websites

GEN Online Library

Databases and E-journals

Academic Search Premier [EBSCO]

Academic OneFile [Gale]

ProQuest Newsstand

360 Search

E-Journal Portal

E-books

Recommended websites

Evaluating Sources

Types of sources

Academic vs. trade vs. popular

Websites

Where to look? Like Shopping Choose your source based on what you’re looking for

Like Shopping

Choose your source based on what you’re looking for

GEN Online Library http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/ The online library contains: Over 39,000 journals online, spanning ≈30 years in 84 databases. Over 7,500 e-books . Recommended web sites . Online help And more – explore the site!

http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/

The online library contains:

Over 39,000 journals online, spanning ≈30 years in 84 databases.

Over 7,500 e-books .

Recommended web sites .

Online help

And more – explore the site!

Databases What are library databases?

What are library databases?

Databases What are library databases? 1) A private collection of e-"stuff” 2) A specific search engine for finding and getting the "stuff"

What are library databases?

1) A private collection of e-"stuff” 2) A specific search engine for finding

and getting the "stuff"

Databases Private? proprietary Not for “free” on the internet (Google, MSN, etc.) Example: Consumer Reports website Must buy a subscription Library databases such as EBSCO Academic Search Premier e-versions of Consumer Reports full-color reviews, charts and buying guides Free (for you – library pays!) 

Private?

proprietary

Not for “free” on the internet (Google, MSN, etc.)

Example:

Consumer Reports website

Must buy a subscription

Library databases such as EBSCO Academic Search Premier

e-versions of Consumer Reports

full-color reviews, charts and buying guides

Free (for you – library pays!) 

Databases The library pays so that you don’t have to! But that’s why you must: 1) Go to the library website 2) Log in Password: firstname.lastname Username: last 4 digits of your SS#

The library pays so that you don’t have to!

But that’s why you must:

1) Go to the library website

2) Log in

Password: firstname.lastname

Username: last 4 digits of your SS#

Databases “ Stuff”? Professional sources E-journals, articles , newspaper stories etc. Professional reports E-books and e-book excerpts laws and legal docs, business intelligence, financial data, images general documents Databases have professional sources that include: articles from journals, reports, trade publications and news

“ Stuff”?

Professional sources

E-journals, articles , newspaper stories etc.

Professional reports

E-books and e-book excerpts

laws and legal docs, business intelligence, financial data, images

general documents

Databases have professional sources that include: articles from journals, reports, trade publications and news

Let’s Tour the Databases EBSCO, Gale, and ProQuest 360 Search E-journal portal

EBSCO, Gale, and ProQuest

360 Search

E-journal portal

Academic Search Premier [EBSCO] Interdisciplinary Many Scholarly Many Full text

Interdisciplinary

Many Scholarly

Many Full text

Academic OneFile [Gale] Interdisciplinary Many Scholarly Many Full text

Interdisciplinary

Many Scholarly

Many Full text

ProQuest Newsstand News: local, national, international Current events and editorials

News: local, national, international

Current events and editorials

First let’s explore: 360 Search Search many databases at once! Great for: Searching by topic (“research by topic” guides) Finding an article, if you already know the title.

360 Search

Search many databases at once!

Great for:

Searching by topic (“research by topic” guides)

Finding an article, if you already know the title.

E-Journal Portal When you know the journal you want, find it fast!

When you know the journal you want, find it fast!

E-Books Find them in the GU/MSB catalog, some databases, and Books 24x7 Search the Online Catalog for library e-books Follow catalog link on library homepage Search Narrow to “electronic” Follow the “online access” link in the catalog record See the e-book guide here: http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/research-guides/guides-to-resources/e-books-guide/ for details

Find them in the GU/MSB catalog, some databases, and Books 24x7

Search the Online Catalog for library e-books

Follow catalog link on library homepage

Search

Narrow to “electronic”

Follow the “online access” link in the catalog record

See the e-book guide here:

http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/research-guides/guides-to-resources/e-books-guide/

for details

Books24x7 Not part of the GEN Library, but is part of GEN Online. Business and IT topics only (so far) Access through SkillSoft Our help page for Books24x7 can be found here: http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/research-guides/guides-to-resources/e-books-guide/books-24x7-help/

Not part of the GEN Library, but is part of GEN Online.

Business and IT topics only (so far)

Access through SkillSoft

Our help page for Books24x7 can be found here:

http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/research-guides/guides-to-resources/e-books-guide/books-24x7-help/

Web sources Research by Topic By program/gen ed Selected by GEN Librarians

Research by Topic

By program/gen ed

Selected by GEN Librarians

Help! General Research Guides Research by Topic Guides Ask the librarian. I’m happy to help!

General Research Guides

Research by Topic Guides

Ask the librarian. I’m happy to help!

APA Citation Tips In-Text Author’s name Date of publication Page # (sometimes) This will lead the reader to the References at the back of your paper . References Name Date Article Title Journal Title Journal Volume # Page #s Date you accessed it Database This will lead the reader to the source.

In-Text

Author’s name

Date of publication

Page # (sometimes)

This will lead the reader to the References at the back of your paper .

References

Name

Date

Article Title

Journal Title

Journal Volume #

Page #s

Date you accessed it

Database

This will lead the reader to the source.

Additional Tips If you already have a citation, you’ll know where to look! Cheney, C. L. (2005). Brothers gonna work it out: Sexual politics in the golden age of rap nationalism . New York: New York University Press. Retrieved from NetLibrary. Garrity, B., & Concepcion, M. (2007, May). A Hip-Hop History Lesson . Billboard . 119(18), p. 8. Retrieved from EBSCO MegaFILE database.

If you already have a citation, you’ll know where to look!

Cheney, C. L. (2005). Brothers gonna work it out: Sexual

politics in the golden age of rap nationalism . New

York: New York University Press. Retrieved from NetLibrary.

Garrity, B., & Concepcion, M. (2007, May). A Hip-Hop

History Lesson . Billboard . 119(18), p. 8. Retrieved from EBSCO MegaFILE database.

Evaluating Sources What does it matter where I find it, as long as I get the information? Remember the shopping analogy? There are also quality issues.

The Secrets of Sources Credible sources make your argument stronger Your teachers are watching! Your bosses will be watching !

Credible sources make your argument stronger

Your teachers are watching!

Your bosses will be watching !

Types of Sources Scholarly /Peer Reviewed/Academic materials vs. Trade /Professional Publications vs. Popular Sources Spectrum of credibility Not everything fits neatly into a category There are also other categories: consider Newspapers for instance

Scholarly /Peer Reviewed/Academic materials

vs.

Trade /Professional Publications

vs.

Popular Sources

Scholarly/ Peer-Reviewed/Academic Characteristics : Scholarly communication Research findings Always cites sources Few illustrations

Characteristics :

Scholarly communication

Research findings

Always cites sources

Few illustrations

Trade/Professional Characteristics : For workers in a specific field Written by professionals for professionals Purpose: keep reader’s updated “ how to” Usually numerous illustrations

Characteristics :

For workers in a specific field

Written by professionals for professionals

Purpose: keep reader’s updated

“ how to”

Usually numerous illustrations

Popular Characteristics : Readers = general public Written by journalists/editors to inform or entertain Rarely cites sources Many illustrations and ads – “glossy”

Characteristics :

Readers = general public

Written by journalists/editors to inform or entertain

Rarely cites sources

Many illustrations and ads – “glossy”

What do you think? Family Practice Management New England Journal of Medicine Health

Family Practice Management

New England Journal of Medicine

Health

How to evaluate a website?

Finding Respectable Websites Who is backing/endorsing/publishing/writing the information? Why? Selling stuff? Joke? To inform? To entertain? Fair? Balanced? Objective? How does it compare ? Can you trust the information? How? Does the website cite its sources? Explain its research? Anything?

Who is backing/endorsing/publishing/writing the information?

Why?

Selling stuff? Joke? To inform? To entertain?

Fair? Balanced? Objective?

How does it compare ?

Can you trust the information? How?

Does the website cite its sources?

Explain its research? Anything?

Website Evaluation Compare Check the info against something else Corroborate Check enough sources to get the whole story Confirm, verify Context Does the context of the website affect the information?

Compare

Check the info against something else

Corroborate

Check enough sources to get the whole story

Confirm, verify

Context

Does the context of the website affect the information?

Where to look? For news about the recent outbreaks of swine flu. For research about the effects of second hand smoke For historical information about earthquakes in California For opinions about health care reform in the U.S.

For news about the recent outbreaks of swine flu.

For research about the effects of second hand smoke

For historical information about earthquakes in California

For opinions about health care reform in the U.S.

In conclusion… Exploratory research = Explore! Focused research = “ shop ” and trial & error What sort of info do you want? Overview? In-depth? Statistics? Scholarly? Popular? Trade? Book? Article? Recent? Historical? What type of searching? What keywords/subjects? Where will you look? Databases? Which one? Library catalog for books? Websites? Which search engine? Not successful? Ask a librarian or try a new strategy.

Exploratory research = Explore!

Focused research = “ shop ” and trial & error

What sort of info do you want?

Overview? In-depth? Statistics?

Scholarly? Popular? Trade?

Book? Article? Recent? Historical?

What type of searching? What keywords/subjects?

Where will you look?

Databases? Which one?

Library catalog for books?

Websites? Which search engine?

Not successful? Ask a librarian or try a new strategy.

Questions? Comments? Contact the Online Librarian : Elaine Settergren [email_address] http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/