Library Research Public Safety Management Anthony Valenti Campus Director Learning Resources

Agenda Identify Research Needs Doing the Research Selecting a topic Determining research needs Doing the Research Library catalog Library databases Skills for searching Using Research Results Evaluating research results Citation

Identifying Research Needs Select a topic assigned by your instructor. a subject that interests you. a real information need that you have. something discussed in class about which you want to know more. Start with broad subjects and then focus on a more specific aspect of the broader topic. Sometimes it helps to formulate a question. National Security – Patriot Act – Does the Patriot Act infringe on civil rights?

Identifying Research Needs Determine your research needs What is the final result? Research paper, speech, informal report? Who is your audience? Simple, general, advanced? What is the scope A paragraph, a page, five pages? All these questions will help you determine your sources

Identifying Research Needs Popular or Scholarly Sources? Criteria Popular Scholarly Audience General, no special knowledge of subject required Scholars, experts, or others with knowledge about subject Author Professional writer or layperson Academic scholar or recognized professional Content General interest items: current events, hot topics, etc. Research reports or comprehensive reviews of specific areas of study Style Uses everyday language that anyone can understand Uses technical language or jargon specific to experts in the subject area Publisher Trade publisher for mass market sales Scholarly or academic publisher for limited interest market Purpose To inform the general public about a subject of mass appeal To share the results of new research or to inform other experts of a new discovery or theory.

Identifying Research Needs Primary or Secondary Sources? Secondary sources are removed one or more steps from the original item, time or creator. There is a layer of interpretation made by a second party summaries or analyses of other people's research. biographies and articles about people. reproductions of original artwork, i.e. a postcard from a museum. reviews of literary or artistic works. analyses or histories of past events.

Edison College Electronic Catalog Includes Books, Journals, and A/V Titles Searchable by Author, Title, Subject, or Keyword Make sure the default is Edison College You do not need to log in to search; However, you do need to log in to view fines and fees, place holds, access e-books, etc. http://www.edison.edu/learningresources/index.shtml

Edison College Access to Electronic Resources Go to the Library website: http://www.edison.edu/library/ Locate the silver search box on the top of the page. Click on Articles in Databases tab. You will see a log in screen. Select Edison as your college if not the default Enter your Connect Card Number, (8 digit Edison ID Number) and your PIN (Default is last 4 digits SS#) Select a database. The default setting is to display databases by Subject. You may also click on the Alphabetical button to see databases listed by name. Begin Your Search

Edison College Electronic Resources Online databases Indexes to articles, book chapters, thesis or other documents: EBSCO, ProQuest, etc. Academic Search Premiere Criminal Justice Abstracts Reference Resources: Online versions of Reference Works: Grove Art Online, Valueline, etc. Encyclopedia of Public Administration Restricted to Edison College community Sorted alphabetically or by subject Your topic will determine what database to use http://www.edison.edu/learningresources/index.shtml

Skills for Online Searching Subject or Keyword Search Identify Key Concepts “Patriot Act” and “Civil rights” Controlled Vocabulary Different databases may use different terms. EX: “Senior Citizens” or “Elderly Persons” Look to see if database has a thesaurus Boolean Logic AND, OR, sometimes NOT Limits Full Text, Scholarly (Peer Reviewed), Date, etc.

Search Results If Full Text If Citation or Abstract Print, Download, or E-mail article If Citation or Abstract Click on Find Text? link. Perhaps it is available full text in another database. Request Interlibrary Loan for article.

Using the Internet for Research The Internet can provide information; however, proceed with caution! Anyone can post anything at anytime on the Internet. The Web is populated with an abundance of unreliable and inaccurate information. People who publish on the Web have an agenda. Be particularly suspicious of .com sites, which are trying to sell you something. Most scholarly sources are not on the Internet. Only a small percentage of all journals and an even smaller number of books are available on the Internet. Navigating the vast amount of information available on the Internet can be overwhelming. Only a small percentage of search results generally are relevant. http://www.martinlutherking.org/

Evaluating Research Results Authority Who wrote or compiled the information? What are their credentials? Are they experts or scholars? Currency What is the date of publication? What time period is covered by the information? Accuracy What is the overall reliability of the information? Are the facts and statistics verifiable? Scope What is the completeness of coverage? Is it comprehensive or selective? What is the focus and is it relevant?

Evaluating Research Results Objectivity What is the point of view taken in the material? Is there an obvious bias? Does the author provide factual information or are they expressing an opinion? Documentation Does the material cite the sources for information presented? Are complete citations provided? Is the information unknown?

Citing Research Results A citation is the basic information about a source that identifies it and allows others to locate it. The citations used in a research paper or other work is usually compiled into a bibliography or list of references at the end of the paper or work. Citations are also commonly called references or cited works. Why do we have to cite Materials? To give proper credit for works, ideas, etc. to the people who created them To allow others to locate these materials if they are researching the topic. Citation guides are available on the library’s web page. http://www.edison.edu/learningresources/index.shtml

Citing Research Results Plagiarism Plagiarism is presenting another person’s work—words, ideas, images, etc.—as your own, and not citing the source. Plagiarism is theft. When you plagiarize, you are stealing someone else’s intellectual property, or original work. Colleges and universities have strict rules against plagiarism. Breaking these rules can result in a failing course grade, suspension, or even expulsion. To review Edison College’s rules on plagiarism, review the Edison College Catalog, available online at http://www.edison.edu/catalog/.

Research Assistance On the Library Web Page From the Librarian Research Guides Public Safety Management Tutorial Public Safety Management Pathfinder http://www.edison.edu/learningresources/index.shtml From the Librarian Anthony P. Valenti Campus Director, Learning Resources 239-732-3776 apvalenti@edison.edu