Transcript Looking for Hitch: A Frenzied Strategy for Research

Native Americans in the Movies:
Some Strategies for Research
Native Americans in the Movies:
Some Strategies for Research
Gary Handman
Media Resources Center
Moffitt Library
[email protected]
643-8566
1. Describe the types of writing and research
about film
2. Introduce selected sources for finding books
and journal articles in film studies & related
fields
3. Discuss how to select article databases (and
determine what’s in them)
4. Discuss how to develop search strategies
The (Library)
Information Universe
•Books
•Journals (Magazines) &
Newspapers
•Government docs
•Maps
•Media (video, sound
recording, etc.)
•Computer files (e.g. CDROMS)
•Online Resources
Dissertations
•Manuscripts
•Ephemera
The Information Universe
But how do you find this
stuff?
The Information Universe
Library Catalog(s)
Journal/Newspaper
Indexes
Library Catalogs
Pathfinder and
Melvyl
Inventory of what the
Library owns:
Books
Journals (BUT NOT what’s
inside of them!!!!!!)
Media
Manuscripts, documents,
maps…etc. etc. etc. etc.)
Search by:
•Author
•Title
•Subject (keywords)
The Information Universe: Books
In the zone : the twilight world of
Rod Serling / <1997>
Author: Wolfe, Peter, 1933Published: Bowling Green, OH :
Bowling Green State University
Popular Press, c1997.
Location(s):
MAIN: PN1992.77.T87 W66
Call #
(It really does mean
something!)
Get da Book in da Stax
The Information Universe: Finding Articles
Article Databases
(Indexes/Abstracts)
•
Databases produced by different
commercial publishers; often
look/act differently from one
another.
•
Regularly updated
•
Allow subject/author searching in
a group of journals in a particular
discipline or topical area.
•
Some indexes also offer
abstracts AND/OR FULLLLL
TEXXXXT!
Choosing an Articles database (index)
•Look at the listings of article databases
available via the library www.lib.berkeley.edu:
includes listings by SUBJECT, NAME, etc.
•General Databases are often good places to
start (particularly for newsy/topical issues)
Articles/Reviews
(how do you find this
stuff?)
Article databases
(aka Indexes)
Film-related (not many exist)
General news
Literary and Arts
Other disciplines: e.g. Women’s
Studies, American Studies, Ethnic
Studies, History…etc.
Article Databases
(how do you know which
ones to use?)
Jumping Off point for
Finding Online Indexes:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/
Once You Find a
Journal Citation,
How Do You Find the Article?
•Some indexes provide holdings info
[UC eLinks]
•Some indexes link to full-text
If neither…use Pathfinder
to look up the JOURNAL
by title
How to Begin? Before you click: THINK
•Formulate a concise, concrete statement of the
research problem
•Formulate your search in terms of
keywords and key phrases:
The impact of television advertising
and television violence on school
performance and pre-adolesecent
social interaction.
How to Begin? Before you click: THINK
•Think of synonyms for key words/phrases
Academic achievement
Grades
…etc.
Commercials
Ads
…etc.
Children
Youth
Adolescents
…etc.
The impact of television advertising
and television violence on school
performance and pre-adolesecent
social interaction.
Media
TV…etc
Socialization, relationships,
peer interaction…etc.
Once you’ve found something that looks promising,
Check out the “official” subject headings
Common Search Features:
--Save list of good stuff
--Mail Articles/Citations to yourself
Remember Also:
•Not every topic has lots written
about it, either in books or journal
lit.
--Research on very current topics
--Research on extremely specific
topics
--Research on topics off the
beaten academic track or off
the popculture radar
What to do if too much is turning up:
•Narrow your topic:
•e.g.: geographically, chronologically; by race,
gender, ethnic group;
•Specific focus or aspect of the topic (e.g. ethical,
social, economic, political aspects)
What to do if nothing is turning up:
•Broaden your topic / go for the more general / select
a different angle
•Rethink your search strategy (new keywords, new
concepts, etc.)
•Bail out and choose another topic
Connecting from off-campus
Instructions at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/
HELP/CONNECTING FROM OFF CAMPUS
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/FilmBibMenu.html
a growing listing of bibliographies on various film topics
and individual films compiled by MRC (includes bibs for
genres, filmmakers, national cinemas, and individual film).
…being driven totally bananas by your
research?
Call me:
Gary Handman
643-8566
[email protected]