1. Choose a topic and narrow it down using background research from encyclopedias, books, and magazines. 2. Develop research questions to focus your search. 3. Use the library catalog to find books and databases like ProQuest, EBSCO, and Gale Reference Library to find scholarly journal articles. 4. Evaluate websites and sources for relevance, authority, objectivity, and publication date before using them in your research.

2. RESEARCH SOURCES
ENCYCLOPEDIAS SEARCH TOOL:
Provide short entries/articles for an LIBRARY CATALOG
overview of the topic and its main
ideas .
SEARCH TOOL:
PERIODICAL BOOKS
DATABASE Give more information for an in-depth
exploration of one or more aspects of
the topic.
(Example: Case study books, textbooks)
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Lengthy scholarly research studies on an
extremely focused aspect of a subject.

3. RESEARCH SOURCES
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Very brief news reports that focus on SEARCH TOOL:
current events or topics currently in the PERIODICAL
news. DATABASE
MAGAZINE ARTICLES
As short as encyclopedia articles, but
instead of an overview, magazines narrow
the focus to one or two specific aspects of
a topic.

4. TYPES OF RESOURCES
Scholarly Sources
 It has abstract in the beginning
 It may have a list of keyword
 Article has a research problem
 Mentions studies that have addressed the problem in the past
 Has a purpose statement
 Has research question and hypothesis
 Uses qualitative, quantitative or mixed method approach to conduct research
 Has a conclusion at the end
 Has a bibliography or reference list at the end
Popular Sources: Magazine articles like Style, Newsweek, Time etc.
Newspaper sources: LA Times, Whittier Daily News etc.
Primary Sources: Original writings created at the time when the event occurred.
Secondary Sources: Sources that evaluate, summarize, analyze written by experts
from that field after the event has occurred.
Source:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/history/resources/pu
bs/usingprimarysources/index.cfm

5. MAGAZINES VS. SCHOLARLY JOURNALS
Magazines Scholarly Journals
Audience: Experts in the field,
students
Audience: Large group of
people Lengthy, technical language
Brief, non-technical language Author are experts in the field &
credentials are always listed
Author is journalist or
freelance writer Peer-reviewed
Look: Graphics, images, Look: Graphs, charts, statistical
advertising data, plain cover
No references References at the end
Examples: Cosmopolitan, Examples: Child Development,
Newsweek, Sports Social Science Quarterly,
Illustrated etc. Journal of Applied
Psychology etc.

6. BACKGROUND RESEARCH
Background research is needed to understand your
topic and narrow it down.
Research Source: Encyclopedias like Encyclopedia of
Gods : Over 2,500 Deities of the World (in the
library) and eBooks like Encyclopedia Britannica
and Gale Virtual Reference Library for reference
books online.
Check out Library Catalog for books on topics for
research papers.
Is the information relevant?
Identify search terms
Is the information from a legitimate source?

7. NARROW YOUR TOPIC
Questions To Ask Yourself
Who?
What?
Background Research Which?
When?
Where?
Why?
Source: OSU Tutorial from
liblearn.osu.edu/courses/english110/old%20stuff/narrow_topic.ppt

8. Example
Topic :
Religion
Why? : Evaluate:
Causes & Reasons
and Results & Who? : Age;
Outcomes. Race; Gender:
Indians
Where? : Place:
India.
What? : Types:
Hinduism; Buddhism?
When? : Time Class System?
period: Current,
historical or period
of life?: Indus
Valley Civilizations

9. Research Question
Mix and Match two elements together and form a research
question and form a topic of your choice.
New Topic: The Influence of Caste System on Hinduism.
Read the requirements of the assignment: How many
pages? How many sources are required? What kind of
sources are required?
What are the search terms and related terms that you
would use? For example: Brahmins, Shudras, Hindus etc.

10. Checklist for Evaluating Websites
Author: Credentials & professional affiliations, contact address, about link
Check the URL (Uniform Resource Locator or website address) because it may be the name & type of organization
sponsoring the webpage. E.g. .edu, .com, .gov, .net etc.
Reason for webpage: Its purpose
Determine the origin of the document
Timeframe: Current or past view. What time period does your topic require?
Objectivity : Point of View or Bias
Bibliography: Citations and references to other sources
Coverage: Relevance to the assignment. Is the source too narrow? Too broad? Can you understand it?
Format, Organization, Appearance: Is it Easy to read?
Source: http://libguides.uwb.edu/content.php?pid=103537&sid=778496
Source:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/history/resources/pubs/usingprimarysources/index.cfm#evaluating

11. START RESEARCH FROM THE LIBRARY
HOMEPAGE
FIND BOOKS
FIND JOURNAL,
MAGAZINE, AND
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLES

12. DATABASES TO EXPLORE
• Gale Virtual Reference Library
• Proquest
• EBSCO
• Gale Trial Database (Through Access Rio)
• ARTstor Digital Library (For images) (Set up
an account on campus first)

13. ACCESS RIO FOR OFF CAMPUS DATABASE USE
Click on Library Tab

14. GALE VIRTUAL REFERENCE LIBRARY DATABASE FOR
BACKGROUND RESEARCH

15. TWO SEARCH TOOLS TO FIND GOOD
SOURCES
PROQUEST
RESEARCH LIBRARY
(Journal Articles)
LIBRARY CATALOG
(Books)

16. EBSCO: For Articles
Through Online Databases link on http://library.riohondo.edu/
For Home Access: Login Access Rio, click on library tab and click
on EBSCO in the middle column.

17. WHERE TO SEARCH
For Books: Library Catalog http://library.riohondo.edu/
For Scholarly Articles: Databases: Proquest, EBSCO, Gale Reference Library, Gale Trial Database (Through
Access Rio)
 Off Campus Users: Access Rio
For Controversial Topics: Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context, Issues and Controversies, SIRS
Check out Controversial Topics Books Link on the library homepage http://library.riohondo.edu/
For Current Issues: CQ Researcher, EBSCO, Proquest, Gale Opposing Viewpoints, Issues and Controversies
For Biographies: Gale Biography in Context
For Historical Books : Google Books at http://books.google.com/
For Historical Newspapers: Google News Archives Search at http://news.google.com/archivesearch
For Statistics Data & Charts: Social Science Database
For Population Stats: US Census Bureau database
Legitimate sources: Google Books, Google Scholar
For Periodical Holdings List: Access from our library homepage. Direct url at
http://library.riohondo.edu/Research_Help/Periodical%20Holdings%20List%20-%202010-2011.pdf
(Check out the listings by subject in the end).

18. CITATION HELP
In the Library:
•Books: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
•Handouts: Available at the reference desk & on the
Libguide for the class.
Online:
•Son of Citation Machine
http://citationmachine.net/
•Easy Bib
http://www.easybib.com/
IMP: Always double check your citations with the
handbook or the handouts given to you in the
library. DONOT rely on online citation
generators for correct and accurate citations.