Research Skills

Lynn Winkworth, MCLIPHead Librarian

Headington School, Oxford

Research Skills

From Sheffield University…. The classic definition is that “research” leads to an original contribution to knowledge in a particular field of inquiry by defining an important question or problem and then answering or solving it in a systematic way

From the American Library Association…..Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information

What is Research?

Information Literacy

What this mean in reality?

Research SkillsStep 1: Define Topic

Ask the following:

➢ Can I write up my research within the given word count?

➢ Is my chosen topic too broad? The evolution of the British Parliament from Anglo Saxon

roots to Elizabeth I

➢ Is my chosen topic too narrow?The Oxford Parliament: 21st March 1681 – 28th March 1681

➢ Is my chosen topic within the parameter of the assignment?

Consider:

➢ Am I interested in my topic?

Research SkillsStep 2: Key Words / Phrases

Identify key words /phrases relating to your topic – remember to include alternative terminology

➢ Have I discovered enough information to support my topic?➢ Do I need to redefine my topic at this stage? ➢ Do I need to refine my results?

Questions:

Use Boolean operators to combine your key words

➢ OR will broaden your search – useful when using synonyms➢ AND will narrow your search – all keywords used must be

found➢ NOT narrows your research by removing all terms that

follow this operator from your results – Use with caution as good results can be eliminated

Research SkillsStep 3: Ask questions….

What resources do I need?

What do I need to find out?

What do I already know?

How/where do I find the information?

Step 4: Find - Locate – Record

Companies…

Conferences…

Research SkillsStep 5: Select and Evaluate

Select - Ask is this relevant?

Not Very

Essential

Not at all

Might be Could be

Evaluate Critically

Who are the author/s? What is their background?

Are they attached to an academic institution?

Is this a primary/secondary source?Have the authors been referenced elsewhere?

Does the resource have a bias?

What is the domain of the website? Who was it written for?

How do I know I can trust this resource?

How old is the resource? Have I used Wikipedia?

Where did the authors find their information?

Research SkillsStep 7: Record Everything!

Record the bibliographic details of each and every resource you find – and keep the information safe!

Remember: Reference as you go along….. It is amazingly complicated to do it afterwards!

WHY?Material you refer to in your academic writing MUST be referenced to ensure you avoid plagiarising and ensure academic honesty

Step 8: The Writing Up

SynthesiseParaphrase

Quotations

Summarise

Your thoughtsYour ideas

Research SkillsBibliography

American Library Association (2018) Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. Available at: http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=Home&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=33553(Accessed 1st May 2018)

California University Berkley Library (2018) Evaluating Resources: Home Available at: https://Guides’.ib.berkeley.edu/evaluating-resources#documentation(Accessed: 3rd May 2018)

Deakin University (2018) Summarising, Paraphrasing and Quoting Available at:http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/studying/study-support/referencing/summarising-paraphrasing-quoting(Accessed: 3rd May 2018)

Research SkillsBibliography

North Hennepin Community College (2017) Basic Steps in the Research Process Available at:http://www.nhcc.edu/student-resources/library/doinglibraryresearch/basic-steps-in-the-research-process(Accessed 3th May 2018)

Sheffield University: 301 Student Skills and Development Centre (n.d.) Dissertation Planning Available at: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/301/study-skills/research(Accessed: 1st May 2018)

Virtual Library (n.d.) The Research Process Available at: https://www.virtuallibrary.info/research-process.html(Accessed 3rd May 2018)

Research SkillsImages Research SkillsFront cover and page 2http://librarypbc.org/wp-content/themes/pbc/assets/images/people-avatar-8.jpegPage 5https://www.tes.com/lessons/zXzw-4AxxxOieQ/who-what-when-where-why-howPage 6http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gyHjSt6eJnc/UfMV1kZXuEI/AAAAAAAAw1w/_Zc_Nf-U4tY/s1600/CoronationDress.jpeghttps://news.images.itv.com/image/file/36766/image_update_abfa407bc6467e1d_1338302786_9j-4aaqsk.jpeghttp://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/82ba40c955c203d075d48bda39779acf3897f255.jpghttps://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/09/09/blogs/09iht-retrospective-Dead-King/09iht-retrospective-Dead-King-blog480.pnghttp://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39254000/jpg/_39254266_calais238.jpghttps://1legal.net/images/img/blog/blogpost-1536582252.jpgPage 7https://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/memorabilia-and-ephemera/ephemera/official-souvenir-programme-coronation-queen-elizabeth-ii-1953-vintage-hd_101394627https://cdn3.bbend.net/media/com_news/story/2015/02/13/107009/main/d5771540a4cff195a89bb39da02e7b03.jpg

Referencing Skills

Lynn Winkworth, MCLIPHead Librarian

Headington School, Oxford

Referencing SkillsWhat is Referencing?

Referencing is the process by which you acknowledge other people’s workwithin your own

It allows the reader to locate your resources and validate your argument

It provides a link between what you have written and the evidence it is based upon

When you identify resources used in your work by using citations and add them to your Bibliography/Reference list at the end of your work

NOTE: Reference List = Includes resources ONLY cited in your workBibliography = Includes ALL the resources used including

background reading

Referencing SkillsWhy Reference?

To demonstrate knowledge and evaluation of the work of others

To highlight relevant points by summarising, quoting or paraphrasing the original text.

To distinguish your thoughts and ideas from others

To give credit to the original author/creator of the work you are referring to in your essay

To allow the reader to consider the value and interpretation of the resources you have used

To enable the reader to locate the sources you have used

To establish credibility of your ideas and arguments

To AVOID PLAGIARISING

Referencing SkillsWhat is Plagiarism?

Using the work / ideas of others without citing and referencing them would be construed as plagiarism and is a very serious academic offence

This term us used to describe the unacknowledged use of some else’s work

This includes using material from any sources – published or unpublished, whether print, online or audio visual without acknowledgement

It is regarded as the stealing of intellectual property

How do you ensure you avoid plagiarism within your work?

Referencing SkillsFirst: Possible causes of plagiarism

Not consulting references guides that can assist you

Poor Organisation Poor Time Management

Not understanding good academic practice

Not following published University Guide Lines

HOWEVER - MOST STUDENTS PLAGIARISE UNINTENTIONALLY!

Referencing SkillsSecond: Follow these guidelines….

Record references to all sources used [and page numbers] – even if you think you may not need them. It can be very difficult to find them later on if you do

Within your notes, highlight each piece of information needing a reference – that way you are unlikely to miss any

Allow time for referencing – it cannot be rushed

Organise your notes and research material – this will help accuracy

Allow time to check your final draft for accurate referencing

Know which referencing styles to use - do not “mix and match” within your essay

Remember to reference Paraphrases, Summaries and Quotations

Create Reference List / Bibliography – make sure you know which one!

Referencing SkillsThird: Which Style?

A. Harvard – An author date referencing style. Use if you do not have an essay naturally littered with Authors!

Using this style you insert into the text [called in-text citation] the author and date of the publication you have used to source the information. Page numbers must be included for quotations

For example: An essay on cave sediments might include the following:Sandra Bowdler attributed the large accumulation of angular roof detritus between 18,000 and 15,000 years ago to the effect of frost (Renfrew and Bahn 2017)

The reference in the bibliography/reference list would look like this:Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P. (2017) Archaeology: Theories, methods and practice. London: Thames and Hudson

Note: No footnotes are used in the Harvard Referencing Style

Referencing SkillsB. Modern Humanities Referencing Association (MHRA) - a numerical

style Use if you do have an essay naturally littered with Authors!

Using this style you insert into the text a number (usually in superscript format) that will link to the reference at the bottom of your page. It should include page numbers. This is the footnote.

Note: Footnotes must only include references unless directed otherwise.

Using the same example as before the in-text citation would look like this: Sandra Bowdler attributed the large accumulation of angular roof detritus between 18,000 and 15,000 years ago to the effect of frost.1

The reference in the bibliography/reference list would look like this:Renfrew Colin and Bahn Paul. Archaeology: Theories, methods and practice. (London: Thames and Hudson 2017)

The footnote would look like this:1. Colin Renfrew and Paul Bahn Archaeology: Theories, methods and practice. (London: Thames and Hudson 2017) p. 242

Referencing SkillsFootnotes – MHRA style

Ibid – meaning “in the same place” – is used in the footnotes to show two or more consecutive references are from the same source - use until the next source is different

For example:1. Colin Renfrew and Paul Bahn Archaeology: Theories, methods and practice. (London: Thames and Hudson 2017) p. 242.2. Ibid page 453. Ibid page 64

The new source of reference:4. Paul Bahn (Ed) Written in bones (Kent: Grange Books 2007)5. Ibid page 1076. Ibid page 159

If the next source is different, you need to put the reference in full – even if you have used it before:7. Colin Renfrew and Paul Bahn Archaeology: Theories, methods and practice. (London: Thames and Hudson 2017)

Referencing SkillsTop Tips…..

Know which reference style you should be using

Be positive - references validate your work, your understanding and arguments

Make decisions – look at the balance of paraphrases, quotations and summaries you have used in your work

Remember - Ask for help….

Be organised – record safely all potentially useful sources as you find them. It is incredibly difficult to find references afterwards, and extremely time consuming

Be consistent – do not mix referencing styles

Manage your time well – do not leave everything to the last minute

MORE HASTE = LESS SPEED! TAKE YOUR TIME AND DO IT WELL!Information taken from: Pears, R and Sheilds, G (2016) Cite Them Right 10th Edn London: PalgraveImage front cover: http://librarypbc.org/wp-content/themes/pbc/assets/images/people-avatar-8.jpeg