Introduction to Introduction to ResearchResearch

Search Strategies & ResourcesSearch Strategies & Resources

R. Savia & M. Banda, InstructorsR. Savia & M. Banda, Instructors

2010 February - L. Dobson, Librarian2010 February - L. Dobson, Librarian

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Library HelpLibrary Help

► Ask the Library – Ask the Library – chat, phone, email, in personchat, phone, email, in person

► Book a TutorBook a Tutor

► Research & Writing Help on Library WebsiteResearch & Writing Help on Library Website Library Classes Handouts BlogLibrary Classes Handouts Blog Annotated Bibliographies Annotated Bibliographies subject guide onlinesubject guide online RefWorks – RefWorks – citation managercitation manager

APA Citation StyleAPA Citation Style

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Research & Writing Help – Annotated Bibliographies SUBJECT GUIDE

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Research & Writing Help – RefWorks bibliography & citation manager

Research & Writing Help – APA Style

Examples:Examples:► Research at the University of Toronto websiteResearch at the University of Toronto website

http://www.research.utoronto.ca/

► See handoutSee handout

► Centennial Libraries licensed databases – search for Centennial Libraries licensed databases – search for peer reviewedpeer reviewed journal articles, case studies, journal articles, case studies, surveys, surveys, etc.etc.

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““Peer reviewed” articlesPeer reviewed” articles

► Also called “refereed” or “academic” or Also called “refereed” or “academic” or “scholarly”“scholarly”

► Well researched, authoritative workWell researched, authoritative work► A committee of scholars must approve A committee of scholars must approve

quality before the editor publishesquality before the editor publishes► Many are articles reporting on original Many are articles reporting on original

research doneresearch done

Most library databases allow you to limit Most library databases allow you to limit to peer reviewed if you wantto peer reviewed if you want

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Your handout – example of Your handout – example of a research study…a research study…

►Thesis?Thesis?►Literature review?Literature review?►Methodology?Methodology?►Findings?Findings?►Conclusion(s)?Conclusion(s)?

ResearchResearch

SourcesSources

E-resources at Centennial LibrariesE-resources at Centennial Libraries

►Over 100 Over 100 databasesdatabases

►SearchSearch One at a timeOne at a time Many at one time Many at one time

using vendor aggregators using vendor aggregators – see list to the right….– see list to the right….►►

Almost all at once Almost all at once through BIG searchthrough BIG search

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A word about articles & e-A word about articles & e-resourcesresources

Journal & Newspaper Journal & Newspaper articles:articles:

► Published in issues Published in issues regularly (weekly, regularly (weekly, monthly, etc.)monthly, etc.)

► Each issue contains Each issue contains several articles (essays) several articles (essays) by different authorsby different authors

E-resources (“databases”):E-resources (“databases”):► Licensed electronic Licensed electronic

resources that let you resources that let you search thousands of search thousands of articles at one timearticles at one time

Journal articles: scholarly or general Journal articles: scholarly or general level?level?

Scholarly articlesScholarly articles ► are are documenteddocumented (in- (in-

text citations, text citations, footnotes or endnotes). footnotes or endnotes).

► Most are Most are peer peer reviewed reviewed = highest = highest research qualityresearch quality

General articlesGeneral articles► are are notnot documented documented

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What newspapers offer…What newspapers offer…e.g. in Lexis Nexis, CPI.Q databases, e.g. in Lexis Nexis, CPI.Q databases,

etc. etc. ► Current info – news!Current info – news!

► Hot topicsHot topics

► Debates, different Debates, different viewpoints & opinionsviewpoints & opinions

► Analysis & background infoAnalysis & background info

► Tips on research studiesTips on research studies, , government policies & government policies & other publicationsother publications

Centennial College intranet site: https://my.centennialcollege.ca/staff/intranet_home.jsp

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A word about StatisticsA word about Statistics

► ESTATESTAT: an e-resource (database) : an e-resource (database) popular data from Statistics Canadapopular data from Statistics Canada

► Statistics Canada Statistics Canada (Internet website) (Internet website) Much is free, some are fee-based. Much is free, some are fee-based. Do not Do not pay for Stats Canada datapay for Stats Canada data –ESTAT or other –ESTAT or other sources may provide free datasources may provide free data

►Many Many other other sources…sources…

Ask the Library staff for helpAsk the Library staff for help

York University Libraries offer a lot of help on using Canadian statistical sources.York University Libraries homepage: http://www.library.yorku.ca/ Click on “Resources” ---Statistical data…

Remember the more research you do, Remember the more research you do, the better you will be able to identify the better you will be able to identify the important authors the important authors and and publicationspublications

►Define your thesis – what do you want Define your thesis – what do you want to argue or explore specifically?to argue or explore specifically? (Browse (Browse resources to get background information and to resources to get background information and to clarify the issues. Revise your thesis if necessary, clarify the issues. Revise your thesis if necessary, once you see what’s out there.)once you see what’s out there.)

►Do a literature search, & try to find Do a literature search, & try to find previous research published relating to previous research published relating to your specific thesis and subject areayour specific thesis and subject area

► Select 5-10 sources for an annotated Select 5-10 sources for an annotated bibliography bibliography (analyze & evaluate)(analyze & evaluate)

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AND AND (Boolean operator that (Boolean operator that

combinescombines))Your 3rd term or string

Your 2nd term or stringYour 1st term or string

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OROR(Boolean operator the (Boolean operator the collectscollects))

Your 1st term O R

Your 2nd term

► Get Get background information background information – books, encyclopedias, – books, encyclopedias, Internet…Search Centennial websites (including intranet) if Internet…Search Centennial websites (including intranet) if your proposal is locally based.your proposal is locally based.

► Find out Find out the issues the issues - electronic databases (‘e-resources’) - electronic databases (‘e-resources’) for journal & newspaper articles for journal & newspaper articles

► If you are lucky, you may find that someone has written a If you are lucky, you may find that someone has written a

“literature review” “literature review” on your thesis or area. This is an on your thesis or area. This is an article that summarizes what’s been published. Recommend article that summarizes what’s been published. Recommend you search e-resources (BIGsearch or multiple databases you search e-resources (BIGsearch or multiple databases using EBSCO, ProQuest or Gale vendor aggregators for this: using EBSCO, ProQuest or Gale vendor aggregators for this: limit “literature review” with quotes in title field – or any limit “literature review” with quotes in title field – or any field…) field…) See handout example.See handout example.

Revise your thesis?Revise your thesis?

Once you have done some searching, you Once you have done some searching, you maymay find that you will need to revise your thesisfind that you will need to revise your thesis

Possible Reasons:Possible Reasons:► You can’t find supporting research on your thesis or topicYou can’t find supporting research on your thesis or topic► Your area is discussed, but not in the way you expectedYour area is discussed, but not in the way you expected► Your thesis is too general – you discover that it has too Your thesis is too general – you discover that it has too

many aspects (‘sub-topics’) to handle in one proposalmany aspects (‘sub-topics’) to handle in one proposal► You see a lot of research on a related aspect that you find You see a lot of research on a related aspect that you find

more interesting and/or more practicalmore interesting and/or more practical

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►Citation: author, title, publication infoCitation: author, title, publication info►Notes: brief description & some Notes: brief description & some

evaluationevaluation

Examples:Examples: On On Library website: Subject Guide Library website: Subject Guide

---“Annotated Bibliographies”---“Annotated Bibliographies” See handoutSee handout

Subject Guide on Libraries website

Example of a Citation with an Example of a Citation with an Annotation (note)Annotation (note)

Staub, E. (1988, April). The evolution of caring and nonaggressive Staub, E. (1988, April). The evolution of caring and nonaggressive persons and societies. persons and societies. Journal of Social Issues,Journal of Social Issues, 44(2), 81-100. 44(2), 81-100. Retrieved September 10, 2009, from Academic Search Premier Retrieved September 10, 2009, from Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) database.(EBSCO) database.

Ervin Staub, a leading theorist in the area of prosocial behavior, Ervin Staub, a leading theorist in the area of prosocial behavior, has written an article which places prosociality in a global has written an article which places prosociality in a global context. The author explores the ways that personalities and context. The author explores the ways that personalities and even whole societies can be shaped towards the reduction of even whole societies can be shaped towards the reduction of intergroup hostility. Central among these change agents are intergroup hostility. Central among these change agents are parents and teachers, who through the socialization process, parents and teachers, who through the socialization process, promote positive connections and caring values. Staub promote positive connections and caring values. Staub concludes by arguing that concludes by arguing that familiesfamilies institutions, and cultures institutions, and cultures can be transformed by creating systems of positive reciprocity can be transformed by creating systems of positive reciprocity among individuals and groups.among individuals and groups.