This document outlines an instruction session on researching skills for an Upward Bound program. It discusses finding background information online before searching specific databases, using keywords and synonyms, Boolean operators and phrase searching, and evaluating websites using criteria like currency, reliability, authority and purpose/point of view (CRAP test). Students are guided to develop a search strategy on a topic and evaluate sample websites. The presentation emphasizes skills for effective online research.

1. Upward Bound:
Learning how to
research
Laksamee Putnam
lputnam@towson.edu
Research & Instruction Librarian
Slides: http://bit.ly/upb2014c1

2. First…
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 Cook Library Reference:
 410.704.2462.
 IM/email
 Phone: 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Albert S. Cook facebook profile!
 Slides: http://bit.ly/upb2014c1

3. Agenda
 Pre-class reading Discussion
 Background reading/Internet searching
 Keywords
 Evaluating Resources

4. Wikipedia Woes and Google Gaffs
 What are the pros and
cons of so much
information being online?
 What do you do to be
sure you’re finding
credible resources?
 How do you evaluate
the information you find
while researching?
 Why is it important to
support your argument
with valid sources?
New York Times (2013) If a Story Is Viral, Truth
May Be Taking a Beating http://nyti.ms/1d7MUUB
Google Analytics (2012) Google analytics in real life
– Site search.
http://youtu.be/cbtf1oyNg-8
DuckDuckGo (2012). There are no “regular results”
on Google anymore.
http://vimeo.com/duckduckgo/bubble

5. Web “Pre-Searching”
 Why start your search online?
 Find background information
 Help solidify research topic
 Find new terminology to use as keywords
 Find links and/or citations to other sources

6. Improve Google
Cryogenic and organ
 Advanced Google
searching
 Duck Duck Go
Pop culture and society
 Cook Library’s Guide
to the Web
Check out the Subject Gateways

7. Keywords are critical!
 Sample topic:
 What are the challenges of cryogenics?
 First, break the question down into key
concepts:
 What are the challenges of cryogenics?

8. More on keywords…
 Expand your list to include synonyms then add to it
once you have done some background reading.
 What are the challenges of cryogenics?
challenges cryogenics other stuff…
organs
ethics
technology
cryonics
cryosurgery
cryobiology
NASA
United States
Alcor

9. Create keywords
 Enter your research topic on your worksheet
 Fill in keywords/synonyms
 What helped you find synonyms?

10. Search Tip #1
Boolean “search connectors”
AND OR NOT
internet AND children
 Combining >1 topic
instruct OR teach
 Combining synonymous
terms
Which is better?

11. Search Tip #2
 Use truncation!
 Educat* finds
 Educate
 Education
 Educating
 Educator
 Etc…

12. Search Tip #3
 Phrase Searching…
 Use quotations to keep a keyword phrase intact
(words will be searched in the specific order)
 Examples:
 “No Child Left Behind”
 “school reform”

13. Putting it all together…
 What are the challenges of cryogenics?
(organs OR embryo) AND cryogenics
(ethics OR religion) AND “life preservation”
(technology OR MRI) AND cryo*
challenges cryogenics other stuff…
organs
ethics
technology
cryonics
cryosurgery
cryobiology
NASA
United States
Alcor

14. Create a search strategy
 Using the keywords on your worksheet and
the search tips mentioned here create a
search strategy

15. Evaluate what you find
 Go to one of the websites below and analyze
it
 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3
 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb4
 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb5
 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb6
 http://bit.ly/cosmicweb7

16. Currency
Reliability
Authority
Purpose/Point of View
Check for CRAP

17. Check for CRAP
 Currency
 How recent is the
information?
 Can you locate a date
when the resource was
written/created/updated
?
 Based on your topic, is
this current enough?
 Why might the date
matter for your topic?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/3937374193/s
izes/m/in/photostream/

18. Check for CRAP
 Reliability
 What kind of
information is included
in the resource?
 Does the author
provide citations &
references for
quotations & data
 Where am I accessing
this information?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/

19. Check for CRAP
 Authority
 Can you determine who
the author/creator is?
 What are their credentials
(education, affiliation,
experience, etc.)?
 Who is the publisher or
sponsor of the work/site?
 Is this publisher/sponsor
reputable
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/

20. Check for CRAP
 Purpose/Point of View
 Is the content primarily
opinion?
 Is the information
balanced or biased?
 What is the purpose
of the information? Is it
to inform, teach, sell,
entertain or persuade
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/in/
photostream/

21. Group work
 Complete Part 2 of your worksheet
 Work together!
 Find a reliable website
 Find a “bad” website

22. Thanks for listening!
 Complete the paper worksheet!
 Next class:
 Watch 2 videos and prepare for discussion
 Use your keywords to find books/articles

23. Questions?
 Feel free to contact me:
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Or any reference librarian:
 Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
 410.704.2462.
 IM – tucookchat