RESEARCHING TIPS & STRATEGIES Summer 2008 Melanie Wilson Academic Success Center MSC 207

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

Finding information  Places to conduct research:  Library Catalog Library Catalog  Library Website Library Website  Research Databases 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 Online catalog. Search by: Keyword Author Title Subject Search materials in the Kent State Library – such as books & journals. Online catalog. Search by: Keyword Author Title Subject Search materials in the Kent State Library – such as books & journals. Online Reference Shelf links to reference books such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, & statistical sources available online– FREE to Kent State students. Search for full-text scholarly journal, magazine, and newspaper articles in the Research Databases.

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)

Searching the Research Databases  If you want to find current information or scholarly publications, you can search the research databases.research databases.  The key to searching research databases is choosing the right one.  Below are some good places to get started:  Academic Search Complete Academic Search Complete  Lexis-Nexis Academic Lexis-Nexis Academic  Masterfile Masterfile  JSTOR JSTOR

Talking to Databases Using the language databases understand will greatly improve your search results. Talking to Databases Source: Transitioning 2 College.

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 1Concept 2Concept 3 televisionviolencechildren TVaggressionteenagers mediapreschoolers Source: Transitioning 2 College.

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: 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 Scholar Google Scholar Benefit: connects directly to Ohiolink  Google News Google News  Google Uncle Sam (Government Documents) Google Uncle Sam  Google Books Google Books  Wikipedia 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  What area does the site cover? Does it go into an appropriate amount of depth?  Currency  Is the site recent? Does it have an date listed?  Authority  Who is the author or institution publishing the site? What are their credentials? Do they have expertise in the area?  Accuracy  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 peer- reviewed?

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:  College Research: Transitioning to College: Resources & Databases for Research:  Online Reference Shelf:  Databases Alphabetical:  Subject Guides: Resources for Evaluating:  KSU library Evaluation Sheet & Criteria: Resources for Citing:  REFWORKS:  Academic Success Center:  Citing Resources: Materials from today’s lecture are available at:

GOOD LUCK!  Remember to start early and take advantage of the library.  FIND, EVALUATE, USE, CITE If you have any questions me at