RSOC 9: Ways of Understanding Religion

Library Research WorkshopJanuary 11, 2016

Nicole Branch

Please sit with your groups!

Image courtesy of Thomas Walden Levy.

Purpose

• Find scholarly research to better understand the religious traditions you will be exploring

• Use knowledge to prepare for your observations and analysis

Image courtesy of Flickr user wwwuppertal

Objectives

• Locate background information

• Distinguish scholarly sources from popular

• Access and evaluate scholarly sources

• Begin to describe your sources

Research Process

• Step 1: Identify keywords• Step 2: Find background information• Step 3: Choose the right databases• Step 4: Find scholarly sources• Step 5: Repeat• Step 6: Organize and synthesize sources

Identifying Keywords

Activity 1

• Divide your groups into two• Each subgroup will work with one of the

traditions you have selected• Brainstorm searchable keywords• Record these on the worksheet for this class• Class guide

Image courtesy of Flickr user Christian Ostrosky

Finding Background Information

• Can help prepare you for your experience

• Can help narrow your topic

• Can provide additional keywords to prepare you for search

Activity 2

• Go to GVRL and run a search

• Record related terms and synonyms you find on the worksheet

• Record narrower aspects of your topic

Identifying Sources

Characteristics of a scholarly source

• words "Journal," "Transactions," "Proceedings," or "Quarterly,” in title

• written for professors, students or researchers. Clear indication of authorship and affiliation/bio/scholarly credentials

• articles are reviewed by a board of experts or "peer reviewed”

• follow a typical format: abstract, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, with footnotes and bibliography

• may include tables, graphs or illustrations to support research

• very little advertising

Characteristics of a scholarly source

Activity 3

• Go to Academic Search Complete and search using your keywords

• Limit your search by ‘scholarly (peer reviewed) Journals’

• Find a good one and record the information about the article in your form

Describing & Synthesizing Sources

• Put sources in context of topic

• Narrow in on important points

• Bring sources together

Activity 4

• On the form, briefly describe your article

• Convene with your larger group

• Take turns explaining your source and why it is useful to the group

Questions?

• Nicole Branch, nbranch@scu.edu

• Elizabeth McKeigue, emckeigue@scu.edu