This document provides an overview of resources and strategies for education majors conducting research at Holy Names University Library. It discusses developing focused research topics, using keywords and Boolean operators to refine searches, exploring library databases and other sources, and applying proper citation styles. The librarian, Nicole Branch, offers assistance on topic development, database searching, and citations.

1. Topic Specific
Research for
Education
Majors
Holy Names University
Library

2. Nicole Branch, MLIS
Research Librarian
Liaison Librarian, Education
branch@hnu.edu
510.436.1060

3. Objectives
 Become familiar with HNU library resources for
research related to education topics.
 Understand advanced Google search and
Google scholar.
 Develop an understanding of how to define &
refine keyword searches.
 Learn basics of APA citation style.

4. Foundational Concepts
Save time
Find more relevant information
Spend more time with relevant
information

5. Define Your Topic
 How do racial stereotypes of Latin
American students impact academic
achievement?

6. Define Your “Listening”
 I am interested in research about how/if
racial stereotypes of Latino students
impacts academic achievement.

7. Refining Your search
 What kind of information do I need? Are there
specific criteria in my assignment (i.e. “five
scholarly articles and one book”)?
 Is there a timeframe relevant to my topic?
 Are there broader or narrower terms?
 Are there broader or narrower aspects to my
topic?
 Is there a geographic relevance to my topic?
 Are there relevant population aspects related
to my topic?

8. Sample Topic
 Topic: Do racial stereotypes of Latin American
students impact academic achievement?
 Keywords: Racial stereotype – Latin American –
Academic achievement
 Kind of information: Scholarly, data, practitioner
 Timeframe: 2007-2012
 Broader/narrower terms: Race/racial, Hispanics,
Minorities, education
 Broader/narrower aspects: Comparison between
Latino and Asian American stereotypes
 Geographic: United States, California, Oakland
 Population: Latino, High School, College,
elementary, Mexican-American

9. Boolean Operators
stereotypes
Latino/a
academic
achievement

10. AND
Stereotypes
Latino/a
academic
achievement
AND

11. OR
stereotypes
Latino/a
academic
achievement
OR

12. Not
stereotypes
Latino/a
academic
achievement
NOT

13. Getting Started
 Using Research Guides
 Databases
 Statistical information
 Books

14. Searching
 HNU Databases
 Advanced Google Search
 Google Scholar

15. Citation Basics
What are citations?
When to cite?
 Citation basics

16. Two Sides of Citation
 Citations in-text.
 Reference list or works cited list.
 Every citation in-text must be in your
reference list; every item in your reference
list must be in your text.

17. In-Text Citations
 Reference ideas, summaries and quotes from
other works using parentheses in the body of
your paper. The basic format is (Last name,
Year) in APA.
 If the author is named in the sentence, only
include the year in parentheses.
 For direct quotes include the page number
(Last name, Year, p. #).
 The period comes after the close
parentheses.

18. Reference List Citations
Position A Position B Position C Position D Position E Position F
Book Author(s):
Last Name,
Initials.
Date of
publication:
(Year).
Title: Italicized.
Only capitalize
the first word and
proper nouns of
title and sub-title.
End with a period.
City of
publication and
publisher:
City: Publisher.
End with a
period.
None. None.
Article Author(s):
Last Name,
Initials.
Date of
publication:
(Year).
Title of article:
Capitalize only
first word and
proper nouns of
title and subtitle.
End with a period.
Title of
periodical:
Italicize and
capitalize all
major words.
End with a
comma.
Volume and issue:
volume number
(issue number).
Italicize volume
number, do not
italicize issue
number. End with
a comma.
Pages:
##-##.
End with a
period.

19. Reference List
Hudley, C., & Gottfried, A. E. (2008). Academic motivation and
the culture of school in childhood and adolescence. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
Tenenbaum, H. R., & Ruck, M. D. (2007). Are teachers’
expectations different for racial minority than for European
American students? A meta-analysis. Journal of Educational
Psychology, 99, 2, 253-273.

20. Line Spacing
 Double space entire document, including
reference list. Do not double-double
space (i.e., between paragraphs).

21. Paragraphs
 Indent the first sentence of a new
paragraph 5-7 spaces (one-half inch).

22. Font
 Use standard 12-point font.
 Times New Roman is the APA preferred
font.

23. Margins
 Use one-inch margins throughout.
 Align margins flush left and “ragged” right
(i.e. don’t align the right margin flush or
“justified.”)

24. Running Header
 On the title page, type Running Head:
and the title of your paper (shortened to
50 characters or less and in all capital
letters).
 On subsequent pages, include only the
title in all caps.

25. When in doubt, look it up
 The APA Publication Manual
 MLA Handbook for Writers of Research
Papers
 Purdue OWL

28. Occupy APA!
Occupy APA: A Citation Sit-In
 October 22
 5-7 pm

29. Questions?
 Any last questions about
 Topic Development
 Database searching
 Citations

30. Feedback
Go to:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/infosearch
 Feel free to contact me at any time!
 Nicole Branch
Research Librarian
Librarian Liaison, Education
 510.436.1060
 branch@hnu.edu
 @ the research help desk!
 Monday-Thursday 1:00-8:00
 Friday By Appointment
 Saturday 10:00-3:00