Session 3:Research

Research and Information Literacy

ENG 216A

Professor Susan Acampora

Course Objective #2,

• Develop and execute an effective research strategy

• Select appropriate research sources • Select related search terms • Use appropriate research methods and

advanced tools to find relevant research materials

Discussion:

• Identify appropriate databases for research topics and determine their purpose and coverage

• Introduction to multidisciplinary sources such as: Credo, Academic Search Complete

• Build a selection of search terms using database thesauri, subject/keyword fields, and other tools

• Distinguish between keyword and subject searching, basic and advanced searching

• Create and apply effective search strategy using Boolean logic, limiters, modifiers, and trunctation

Homework:

• Read Lester and Lester Chapter 1 Writing from Research Pages 1 – 10 and Chapter 3 Organizing Ideas and Setting Goals Pages 33 -40

• View selected videos from EBSCOhost training tutorials: http://support.epnet.com/training/tutorials.php

Review: Finding a Topic

Homework Review

• Topic Idea: The N-Word• Academic Focus: The Impact of the N-Word• Question: Why do many African Americas used the N-

Word amongst themselves?• What are the consequences of using a racial slur as part

of everyday language?• Thesis: Media and popular culture associate the use of

the N Word with cool and camaraderie, but it is ultimately destructive to the self esteem and self-image of African-Americans.

Developing a Search Strategy: Selecting Terms

Media and popular culture associate the use of the N Word with cool and camaraderie, but it is ultimately destructive to the self esteem of African-Americans.

N Word Media and popular culture

Destructive Self-Esteem

“er” vs “a” Hip Hop Impact Self-image

Racial slurs MTV Consequences Self Respect

Slang Gangsta Culture Why? Why Not? Self-worth

Example 2: The Bermuda

Another Example:

• Topic Idea: The Bermuda Triangle• Academic Focus: The Science behind BT• Question: What do we really know about the

Bermuda Triangle? Have any scientific studies been done? What is really going on?

• Thesis: Often believed to be a myth or attributable to the supernatural, the Bermuda Triangle can and should be explained by science.

• Thesis: Often believed to be a myth or attributable to the supernatural, the Bermuda Triangle can and should be explained by science.

Bermuda Triangle

Myth Supernatural Science

Nature’s mysteries

Hoax Aliens Technology

Devil’s Triangle

Legend Atlantis Natural Causes

Unexplained Phenomena

Hysteria EnvironmentaCauses: Magnetism

Your Turn

Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3

keywords keywords keywords

• Thesis: Write your thesis

1. The Pre-Test Question: Which of the following should not be included in a well-formed

reference question? * – All relevant subjects related to your topic– The format of the resources needed (books,

articles?)– The type of research preferred (scholarly,

popular, trade?) A broad subject category related to the topic

– YOUR QUESTION SHOULD BE CLEARLY AND NARROWLY DEFINED!

The Reference/Research Question

How can this question be better constructed?

I need information on art therapy and the elderly?

What’s missing?

Remember to include:

• All major subject variables in your thesis statement• Types of Information: Scholarly, Popular, News,

Trade-based• Types of Research: Primary (original work),

Secondary (analysis), or Tertiary (catalog, handbook, encyclopedia, or database)

• Format of Information: print, electronic, media, journal articles, books, websites

• Special Requirements:• Publication Date Range (last ten years)• Peer-Reviewed Journal• The use of a particular database

An example of a well-constructed reference/ research question• Could you help me find scholarly, peer-reviewed articles,

published within the last 10 years, that explore the benefits of using creative arts therapy with depressed elderly hospital patients?

This will give you and the librarian a clear picture of what you need and how to proceed in researching your subject.

Homework Exercise See HandoutPart 1: Using one of your thesis statements developed in Session 2 create a well-constructed a research/reference question to ask a librarian or to use yourself as you organize your research strategy.

Example of Poor Question: I need information on art therapy.REMEMBER: Be specific and detailed as to what exactly you want to find!

Write Your Question Here:

REMEMBER

• You need to design your question so that it will orient you and a librarian toward locating – -relevant information on your topic I– - in the format that is required by your project.

Identifying Search Terms

Finding Related Search TermsIn Session 2 , to find related terminology we explored

– Encore,– The classic Library catalog, – Online database subject directories, – Discussion lists, – Internet keyword searches

Pre Test Question:The most effective database to use to find reliable information on Brown vs Board of Education is: *

• Google• Wikipedia CREDO• e-books

CREDO is a multidisciplinary Reference Resource

Tertiary sources (compile other sources)

For example: Encyclopedias, Handbooks, Guidebooks Help students • find related terminology • locate other resources• start their research

Today there is also CREDO:CREDO is a multidisciplinary encyclopedia of encyclopedias!

CREDO REFERENCE An Online Tertiary Resource of Tertiary

and Secondary Sources• Credo (formerly xrefer or Credo Reference)• Began in 1999• A subscription database available at Gill Library• Full-text online versions 1200 published reference works• General and subject dictionaries and encyclopedias• Links between reference works and links to Gill Library • Topic Pages• Mind Mapping Tool

Locating Databases by Subject

The Databases Page: Searching for Articles

Subject Specific Databases

Interdisciplinary Databases

• Academic Search Complete

• Gale Academic OneFile

• Gale Expanded Academic ASAP

The Search Strategy

• Connecting your terms with Boolean Operators

• Wildcards and Truncation• Modifiers and Limiters

Boolean Logic

Online databases such as library catalogs or databases use a technique called Boolean Logic

This allows you to combine your search terms to help you find exactly what you need

Boolean OperatorsAND, OR, NOT

Boolean Operators

• AND = narrow your topic

• OR = broaden your topic

• NOT = will eliminate the term it preceeds

AND

• Use “AND” when you want to narrow search results to include ALL of your selected subjects.

• Art AND Elderly AND Depression

• Note: Most databases default their searches to AND when you enter multiple terms in a search box.

OR

• OR combines search terms so that each search result contains at least one of the terms.

• For Example:– Elderly OR Aged OR Geriatric OR Old

NOT

• USE SPARINGLY!!• Use NOT when you MUST eliminate a term from your search results• For example: Autism NOT Asperger’s

but be CAREFUL

For example: Looking for Archaeology in Mexico but not New Mexico

Don’t use “Mexico” NOT “New”

While you will avoid “New Mexico” You will also miss “New Discoveries in Mexico”

• Use only to narrow very broad searches

Example from Ebscohost Help

Developing a Search Strategy with Boolean Logic

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoUzX78rg5o

Example

• Your question:

• How can I find peer-reviewed articles on the relationship between the use of creative art therapy in treating depression in elderly hospital patients, preferably in full text online?

Searching Databases

Use the Advanced Search (default)

Keyword vs Subject Searching

• Most databases default your search to look for keyword anywhere in the article record.

• If you are finding too many search results or too many unrelated search results

– Try Subject Searching which looks for your term in the subject field of each record

Thesaurus or Online Subject Guide

• When using the Subject search the database will search for keywords in the subject section by default.

• Remember the online subject guide to find exact subject terms used in the database.

Wildcards and Truncation

• Use the wildcard and truncation symbols to create searches where there are unknown characters, multiple spellings or various endings

• Never as the first character of a search term

Wildcard Symbols ? #

• ?• #

• For example: – Wom?n to find woman or women– Colo#r will look for color or colour

Truncation Symbol *

• Replace the ending of a search term with an * to find all variations of that word.

For example, type comput* to find the words computer or computing.

Search Options

Limiters and Modifiers

Let’s Start Searching

• Go to the Library Home Page