This document provides instructions for conducting research. It outlines three main steps: getting ready, set, and go. The getting ready step involves choosing a topic, listing keywords, and searching the library catalog for background information. The set step is constructing an effective search strategy using keywords, related terms, Boolean operators, and databases. The go step is when the research is conducted by reading sources, taking notes, organizing ideas, writing drafts, and documenting sources using APA citation format.

1. HOW TO DO RESEARCH
GET READY, SET, GO

2. GET READY
 Choose a topic
 List keywords, synonyms and concepts
 Search the library catalog
 Read background information

3. Choose a Topic
 Of interest to you
 Manageable
 Specific
 Brainstorm
 List keywords, concepts,
synonyms
 Formulate a question or
hypothesis

4. Search the Library Catalog
 Find books and media:
new titles, encyclopedias and reference books
 Read for background information
 Note sources in bibliographies
Check dates for recency
Check for availability in catalog

5. Search the Library Catolog
Use Library Search

6. Library Catalog Search

7. Library Catalog Result

8. Read for Background

9. Find Databases & e-Journals
Click on Down Arrow

10. Select Your Home University
Click on GO

11. A-Z Databases at UMBC

12. Use Subject List to Find Databases

13. Selected Subject Databases

14. Get Set: Construct a Search Strategy
 What are effective interventions for schools, parents and law
enforcement to stop youth violence and juvenile delinquency?
 Concepts/Keywords
intervention prevention school parents law enforcement violence
crime youth
 Related terms
programs strategies accommodations partnerships community
police family teens young people
 Slang or alternative forms
kids hits going down cops
 Acronyms
DEA FBI ATF ICE AAA ALA Teen

15. Use Advanced Searching Techniques
 quotations “ “ to search for multiple terms as a complete phrase
“youth violence” “law enforcement”
 truncation * to include all variant endings:
counsel* (counselor counseling)
 Parentheses ( )
Sets the order of search. Terms in parentheses are searched
first:
“school programs” AND (youth violence OR juvenile
delinquency )
If more than one set is used the one on the left is searched
first

16. Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT
 Combine search terms for a narrow result:
“law enforcement” AND “youth programs”
 Combine synonyms or closely related terms for a
wider search:
interventions OR partnerships
 Excludes terms from the search result:
“youth violence” NOT “juvenile delinquency”

17. General Databases
 Academic Search Premier
 JSTOR
 Project Muse

18. Keyword Searching in EBSCO

19. Delimiters for Keyword Search

20. Search Result in EBSCO

21. Full Text Article with EBSCO Tools

22. Keyword Searching in JSTOR

23. Search Result in JSTOR

24. Delimiters for JSTOR

25. Full Text Article from JSTOR

26. Subject Related Databases
 PsycINFO
 Social Sciences Citations Index
 SocIndex with Full Text
 ProQuest Criminal Justice Periodicals
 Violence and Abuse Abstracts

27. Delimiters for PsycINFO

28. Keyword Search in ProQuest

29. Search Result in ProQuest

30. PDF Full Text

31. Full Text from ProQuest/Sage

32. Searching on the Internet
 Search in Google but evaluate the site before using the
information
 Information is written by anyone
 It is not authoritative or peer reviewed by experts in the field
 It is not organized and is difficult to find. Popular items come up
first.
 Is flexible with search terms and recognizes phrases or natural
languagae

33. Websites
 Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: Early Intervention and
Comprehensiveness as Critical Factors
 Effective Intervention for Serious Juvenile OffendersWebsites
 Prevention and Intervention Programs for Juvenile Offenders

34. Go
 Read sources, take notes
 Organize ideas
 Make an outline
 Write first draft
 Document sources
(footnotes or endnotes)
 Write a bibliography
 Revise first draft
 Proofread final draft

35. APA CITATION FORMAT
 Citing Sources Using the APA Publication Manual
http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/citing_apa.html
 APA Style Help
http://www.apastyle.org/apa-style-help.aspx
 How to Write an Annotated Bibliography
http://www.umuc.edu/library/tutorials/bibliograph
y/bibliography-text.shtml