Research Skills
Where do you start? General topic Research question
Locate the best sources
Information Sources Books Magazines Newspapers TV, video, film Internet People (interviews, surveys)
Evaluate information Balance Reliability Relevance Also! Pick a topic that has lots of available information
Use your library! Public Library Search Online –www.library/ie/public/ Online catalogue Inter-library loans Physical & Digital resources Journals, Maps, Census Records, Newspapers Specialist librarians
Finding a library book Search library catalogue Use key words Watch spelling Use synonyms Ask the librarian for help Find out Dewey Decimal Number Search shelf for books on the same topic
Finding a library book Dewey Decimal Classification Each subject has its own Dewey number: History = 910s-999 European History = 940s History of Ireland =941.5 Biographies = 921
Searching the Internet The research results/findings you get from the Internet are only as good as the websites you use
Searching the Internet Don’t just accept the first result Don’t stop once you’ve read Wikipedia Try other websites such as: Biography.com Britannica.com History.com
What next? Take effective, accurate notes Be organised! Organize your information in a logical manner Keep your research question in mind Don’t plagiarise! Blend the information from different sources – include your own analysis
Back up what you say If you make a statement in an essay, back it up! Say where you found the information Say who said it first – use quotes! You can disagree with the facts, but you need to show you know what you’re talking about