Transcript Using Library Resources

Using Library Resources
Introduction to Research Methods
“Choosing a Good Topic and
Conducting Research”
Objectives
Students will be able to:
Identify critical information for documenting a source
and use an approved style format for documentation
Identify critical information to record on note cards for
different types of information (general sources,
scientific research, technical manuals and procedures,
interviews with community members
Complete note cards on a variety of sources
Use library resources and questions to generate and
refine ideas for an independent research project.
Use a checklist to evaluate note cards, and to identity
needed improvements.
How will this HELP?
By using the information from the library and
community experts to answer a variety of
questions and blending your interests with
a new information discovered in the
library, you will design and conduct a
BETTER scientific research project.
5-Stage Model for Relating Library and Scientific Research
STAGE
Use Appropriate Library
Resources
1. Establish an
interest


Popular magazine
Newspaper



Documenting
Scanning
Making note cards


What general topic (X) interests you?
What general action of (X) interests
2. Narrow the
topic

Textbooks, K-12




General references Books,
encyclopedias, dictionaries,
handbooks



Using descriptors
Locating information in books,
general indexes
Documenting
Scanning
Making Note cards
What specific topic (X) interests you?
What materials are readily available
for you to conduct experiments on (X)?
What specific action of (X) interests
you?
How could you measure or describe the
action of (X)?




Using scientific indexes
Documenting
Scanning
Making note cards

3. Clarify the
variables
4. Refine the
procedures
5. Interpret the
unexpected



Scientific indexes
Scientific abstracts
Scientific journal articles
Use Library Research Skills
Relate Library & Scientific Research









Laboratory manuals K-12
Handbooks and manuals
Sourcebooks
Community resources





Using community resources
Conducting interviews
Documenting
Scanning
Making note cards


Appropriate resources

Using library skills



What variable will you change to
conduct experiments on (X)?
What specific changes will you make in
(X)>
What action of (X) will you investigate
What specific observations or
measurements will you make in (X)?
What specific materials or organisms
will you use?
What specific procedures will you
follow?
How will you collect and analyze data?
How can you explain unexpected
events?
How do I organize important
information?
Use a concept map
Write the specific topic that interests you in one
circle
Write the specific action that interests you in
another circle
Brainstorm about what things about the specific
topic capture your interest as well as what
captures your attention about the specific action.
Use the Four Question Strategy
Cuttings
Asexual Reproduction
Flowers
ACTION
Growth
Spores
TOPIC
Plants
Leaves
Sexual Reproduction
pollen
Stems
Roots
seeds
4 Question Strategy
Q1- What specific topic interests you about
plants? Leaf cuttings
Q2- What materials are readily available for you
to conduct an experiment on leaf cuttings?
Varieties, ages of leaves, rooting solutions, light, fertilizer,
hormones, soil
Q3- What specific action of plant growth
interests you? Root propagation
Q4- How could you measure or describe the
action of the root propagation? Number of roots, length
of roots, internal development, amount of vascular tissue
Taking Notes
You will find it easier to
take and use notes if
you use a similar format
each time.
Mentally divide your
index card into (4) parts
A. Organizer
B. Reference
C. Points of Interest
D. Reactions
ORGANIZER (A)
Topic….Location…Card
Number….Call Number
REFERENCE (B)Used
appropriate style manual
POINTS OF INTEREST
(C)Key words and
phrases….page numbers
REACTIONS
(D)Thoughts….Other
references
How to set up my notecards
ORGANIZER (A)
TOPIC….LOCATION
REFERENCE (B)
USE APPROPRIATE STYLE MANUAL (MLA)
AUTHOR(S), TITLE OF ARTICLE, PUBLISHER, DATE, PAGE(S),
POINTS OF INTEREST (C)
Key words or phrases to be used in report
REACTIONS (D)
Thoughts…Other references
SAMPLE
Organizer
African Violets (Saintpaulias)
Westlake Media Center
Reference
Davidson, R. (2000). Growing exotic indoor plants. New
York: Gardening Press, Inc.
Points of Interest
Most popular flowering potted plant- many colored
flowers
(p. 113)
Plants have short central trunk from which leaves radiate
(p. 113)
Leaves covered by hairs-can damage by rubbing (p. 113)
Grow best around 65 F (18 C); some cold-tolerant plants
can survive temperatures around 55 F (p. 115)
Reactions
Interesting- My grandmother grows violets
No other articles or books given
Referencing and taking notes on
Journal Articles
Journal articles are usually very long.
Your challenge will be to record only the
most important information. For points of
interest, focus upon the following:
Purpose of the Investigation
Design of the experiment
Methods and Materials
Major findings and conclusion
Purpose of the Investigation
Major reason given for doing the
experiment
Hypothesis to be tested
Design of the Experiment
The independent variables
Levels of independent variables
Dependent variables
Control group
Constants
Repeated trials
Methods and Materials
Unusual items used
General procedures
You do not need to write every step!!!!!
Major Findings and Conclusion
What did the investigator learn
Potential applications of the experiment
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Organizer
Fertilizer mixes and growth
section)
Reference
Mason, T.G. (1999). Influence of fertilizer mix on flowering of
African violets. Journal of Houseplant Cultivation, 35 (2), 117-125.
Points of Interest
1.
2.
3.
4.
Reactions
Lawson Valley Univ. (reference
Purpose: People only want to buy violet plants with many
flowers-need to determine best mix of nitrogen and potash
fertilizer- hypothesize that high ratios of nitrogen(10-10-5)
will give flowering (p. 117)
Experimental Design-Four different mixes of fertilizer used
(5-10-5; 10-10-5; 5-10-10; and 10-10-10). Control was the
10-10-10. Used 60 plants per group. Counted the number
of flowers produced over a 1 year period. (p. 118)
Methods: Grew plants in greenhouse climate, same soil mix,
individual containers. Minimum of 18 hrs. light per day from
commercial gro-lights. Applied various mixes of fertilizer in
tablet form monthly (p. 118-119)
Findings: High potash to nitrogen fertilizer (5-10-10)
promoted best flowering (p. 124-125)
Other experiments-method of applying fertilizer, combination of
light and fertilizer
What must I turn in tomorrow?
Concept Map
4-Question Strategy
Experimental Design (IV, DV, Constants,
materials/methods)
3 Note Cards
NOW PRACTICE!!!
Choose one of the given topics, Pick out the IV (specific
topic) and DV (specific action), Create a concept map
that will include your interests, then complete the 4-Q
strategy, then locate 3 resources and use the notecard strategy to organize important information.
(1) Bean Plants on Growth
(2) Disinfectants on killing germs
(3) Music and Driving accidents
(4) Glue on Sticking wood
(5) Tobacco on cellular development
(6) Planarian on regeneration
APPLYING THE FOUR
QUESTION STRATEGY
Practice designing experiments on your
own using the general topic of motors.
Brainstorm responses to the 4 questions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
What materials are readily available for conducting experiments
on ___?
How does ___ act?
How can I change the set of ___ materials to affect the action?
How can I measure or describe the response of ___ to the
change?