Transcript Starting Your Research

Starting Your Research
Library Instruction
Spring 2006
Mary S. Woodley
818-677-6302
[email protected]
http://library.csun.edu/mwoodley/LRS300.ppt
What is the assignment?
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Paper, Presentation, Annotated Bibliography?
Due date – when is the last date for ILL
Types of publications?
Citation Style?
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Ready reference available on the Web
http://library.csun.edu/Find_Resources/e-books/estylegd.html
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General works in the Oviatt Library, search
Subject heading
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Authorship -- Style manuals
or
Report writing -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Specific Style Guide, search
Keyword:
MLA style
Why Cite?
Avoid Plagiarism -- To plagiarize means to:
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Steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own;
Use (another's production) without crediting the source;
Commit literary theft;
Present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing
source.
(Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary definition of "plagiarize," retrieved
June 20, 2005)
http://library.csun.edu/Research_Assistance/plagiarism.html
CHOOSING THE BEST RESOURCE
Information Need:
Does your topic cover current events?
Suggested Information
Resources:
Newspapers, magazines, Internet
Do you need general information on a specific topic, written in
a non-specialist style?
Newspapers, magazines, Internet
Do you need in-depth information on a specific topic, written
for the college student and above by authorities in the
field?
Scholarly journal
Do you need more detail and/or has the topic been written
about for awhile?
Books
Do you need an overview, quick facts, statistics on a topic?
Reference books, Internet
Basic Search Strategies:
Words to Search by
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Jargon
Keyword
Controlled vocabulary – Subject
words/phrases
Think of different ways to express the
same idea
Indians
California
Daily Life
housing
Spanish culture
Native Americans Economic
California
activities
Mission Life
Indigenous
Legends
people California
Ranchos or
pueblos
Chumash (etc)
Presidios
Religion and
beliefs
Basic Search Strategies:
Putting concepts together
Boolean operator and
Indian
Economy
Spanish
Missions
Venn diagrams serve as a visual expression of the Boolean
operations
Basic Search Strategies:
Putting concepts together
Boolean operator or
Native
Americans
Indians
Truncation
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Symbol used at the end of a word to retrieve variant endings of that word.
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Allows you to search the "root" form of a word with all its different
endings.
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Broadens or increases search results. Truncation = OR
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Example: teen* retrieves teen OR teens OR teenager OR teenagers
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However: vio* retrieves violence, violent, but also violets, violin, etc.
Need a book?
1. Search the Library's online catalog. Try
searching using the keyword search.
2. Write down the floor location of the book
and the call number where the book will
be found on the shelf
How Call Numbers Work
Need an article?
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Popular magazines
Trade publications
Scholarly publications
All three may be available in print or online or
both
Types of Periodicals:
Scholarly Journals
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Authors are authorities in their fields.
Authors cite their sources in endnotes, footnotes, or
bibliographies.
Individual issues have little or no advertising.
Illustrations usually take the form of charts and
graphs.
Types of Periodicals:
Scholarly Journals
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Articles must go through a peer-review or refereed
process.
Scholarly/academic articles that are read by academic or scholar "referees" for advice
and evaluation of content when submitted for publication. Referees recommend to the
editor/editorial board whether the article should be published as is, revised, or
rejected. Also sometimes know as "peer-reviewed" articles.
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Articles are usually reports on scholarly research.
Articles use jargon of the discipline.
Popular Magazines
and Newspapers
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Authors are magazine staff members or free lance writers.
Authors often mention sources, but rarely formally cite
them in bibliographies.
Individual issues contain numerous advertisements.
There is no peer review process.
Articles are meant to inform and entertain.
Illustrations may be numerous and colorful.
Language is geared to the general adult audience (no
specialized knowledge of jargon needed).
Internet Resources vs.
Surfing the Web
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Internet Resources include:
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Internet accessible databases and journals
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Use a Web interface
Usually require subscription
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Exception: ERIC Wizard
Equivalent to print indexes and journals
Authoritative and reliable
Surfing the Web:
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Use free search engines
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E.G.: Yahoo, Google, HotBot
Critical evaluation required
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Anyone can put up a Web page!
Evaluating Print & Electronic
Resources
World Wide Web sites come in many sizes and styles. How do you distinguish a
site that gives reliable information from one that gives incorrect information?
Below are some guidelines to help.
Types of Web Sites: the url is a key
.gov
.edu
.org
.com
Authority
Content & Coverage
Timeliness
Accuracy
Objectivity