Researching Tips & Strategies
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Transcript Researching Tips & Strategies
RESEARCHING TIPS &
STRATEGIES
Melanie Wilson
Academic Success Center
MSC 207
Summer 2008
Introduction
Researching is a key component of academic
success.
Understanding how to research, find, and evaluate
information will help you in all of your classes and
in life!
Objectives:
In
this presentation, I will:
Identify
what research is
Identify where to search
Identify how to search
Identify tools for searching
Research is…
According to Merriam Dictionary:
1
re·search
careful
or diligent search
the collecting of information about a particular subject
Research is:
Finding
the BEST information on a topic
Finding information to support an argument or
hypothesis
Evaluating information
Truths about Researching
Researching is a multi-step process
Researching takes times
The SUCCESS of a research paper is based on the
quality of the information and sources you use.
It is nearly impossible to write a good paper with
weak sources.
If you use strong resources – you’ll have a strong
end product.
Tips for Research Success
Tips for Research Success Video Clip
Source: Transitioning2College
http://www.transitioning2college.org/module_tips_for_research_success.html#
Finding information
Places to conduct research:
Library
Catalog
Library Website
Research Databases
The Internet
Google
Scholar
Google News
Google Uncle Sam: Government Documents
Google Books
ALWAYS start at the library…
(Remember you don’t need to go to the library to utilize
its resources.)
WHY?
The library has loads of FREE, QUALITY resources at your
fingertips
Books
Newspaper Articles
Magazine Articles
Databases
Statistics
The library also has information experts that are eager to
help.
Navigating the Kent Library Page
http://library.kent.edu
Online catalog.
Search by:
Keyword
Author
Title
Subject
Search materials in the Kent
State Library – such as books &
journals.
Search for full-text scholarly journal,
magazine, and newspaper articles in
the Research Databases.
Online Reference Shelf links to
reference books such as dictionaries,
encyclopedias, & statistical sources
available online– FREE to Kent State
students.
Searching the Online Catalog
Search by:
Keyword (searches all fields of a record including: title,
author, subject, table of contents)
Keyword is a good place to start if you have no specific
information on a resource
Title (searches for the exact title left to right… use keyword
if you don’t know the exact title)
Author (searches for the author’s name)
Search last name first
Subject (searches the subject term assigned to a material–
you must be familiar with the LC subject heading to use this
field)
http://library.kent.edu
Searching the Research Databases
If you want to find current information or scholarly
publications, you can search the research
databases.
The key to searching research databases is
choosing the right one.
Below are some good places to get started:
Academic
Search Complete
Lexis-Nexis Academic
Masterfile
JSTOR
Talking to Databases
Using the language databases understand will
greatly improve your search results.
Talking to Databases
Source: Transitioning 2 College.
http://www.transitioning2college.org/module_talking_to_databases.html
Developing a Search Strategy
STEPS FOR SEARCHING
1.
Choose a database related to your topic
2.
Use your topic statement to formulate a search
strategy
3.
Break your topic into main ideas/key terms
4.
Brainstorm and think of synonyms for you main
ideas
5.
Fill in a search strategy worksheet
Connecting Search Terms
When searching, combine synonyms with OR and
main ideas with AND
AND
Search Strategy Example
Topic:
What is the effect of television violence on children?
Main Ideas:
Television, violence, children
Similar Words:
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3
television
violence
children
TV
aggression
teenagers
media
preschoolers
Source: Transitioning 2 College. http://www.transitioning2college.org/
Example Search Statement
(television OR TV OR media) AND
violence AND teen*
(television OR TV) AND (violence
OR aggression) AND (teen* OR
children)
Using Truncation
Some words have multiple forms
Databases are only able to search the exact
word you enter
For example:
Teen, teens, teenaged, teenager, teenagers
If you truncate teenagers to teen*, you will
retrieve all forms of the word
Search Strategy Form
Source:
http://www.transitio
ning2college.org/
Searching the Net
The internet contains a wealth of information
Benefits:
Easy
to use
Quickly updated & current
Hub of multi-media
Weaknesses:
Quality
control
Always changing
Internet Search Tools
If you must use the internet for research, these tools
will help lead you to more reliable sources
Google
Benefit:
Scholar
connects directly to Ohiolink
Google
News
Google Uncle Sam (Government Documents)
Google Books
Wikipedia
Evaluating Resources
The most important part of research, especially on the
web, is evaluation. As a researcher, you need to be
able to distinguish the good from the bad.
Scope
Currency
Who is the author or institution publishing the site? What are their credentials? Do they
have expertise in the area?
Accuracy
Is the site recent? Does it have an date listed?
Authority
What area does the site cover? Does it go into an appropriate amount of depth?
Does the information have an obvious bias? Does the information contain citations?
Quality
Are there errors or spelling mistakes on the site? Is it well written? Is it edited or peerreviewed?
Web Resource Caution
When using the internet --- BE CRITICAL!
Find out who is behind a site?
What is their motive?
Who is sponsoring it?
Who published the material?
An
expert, a professor with a PhD, a professional?
5 Tips for Research Success
Links to Research Tools
Tutorials of Researching:
Online Tutorials: http://www.library.kent.edu/page/10773
College Research: Transitioning to College: http://www.transitioning2college.org/
Resources & Databases for Research:
Online Reference Shelf: http://www.library.kent.edu/page/10113
Databases Alphabetical: http://www.library.kent.edu/page/10078
Subject Guides: http://www.library.kent.edu/page/10114
Resources for Evaluating:
KSU library Evaluation Sheet & Criteria: http://www.library.kent.edu/page/10475
Resources for Citing:
REFWORKS: http://www.refworks.com/refworks
Academic Success Center: http://www.kent.edu/asc/Cite.cfm
Citing Resources: http://www.library.kent.edu/page/10603
Materials from today’s lecture are available at:
http://www.kent.edu/asc/research.cfm
GOOD LUCK!
Remember to start early and take advantage of
the library.
FIND, EVALUATE, USE, CITE
If you have any questions e-mail me at
[email protected].