Advanced Higher History Research Skills

Research steps Clearly define your selected topic Clearly define your selected topic Identify appropriate keywords Identify appropriate keywords Identify suitable information sources Identify suitable information sources Search sources to find relevant information Search sources to find relevant information Evaluate information found Evaluate information found Use the information ethically and responsibly Use the information ethically and responsibly

Planning your search What is the scope of your subject? What is the scope of your subject? What do you already know? What do you already know? What do you need to find out? What do you need to find out? You may like to produce a mindmap to help you decide which areas you are going to research. You may like to produce a mindmap to help you decide which areas you are going to research. Choose relevant keywords which you will use to search for information Choose relevant keywords which you will use to search for information Decide where you will begin to look for information Decide where you will begin to look for information

Choosing web sources for your topic es/information/5locate/adviceengine.html es/information/5locate/adviceengine.html es/information/5locate/adviceengine.html es/information/5locate/adviceengine.html  Web sources subscribed to by East Ren : spx?articleid= spx?articleid=2153 Librarians internet index Try the advanced search option in Google Try the advanced search option in Google

Evaluate Information Sources Check each source using the “5W’s and 1 H” system Who wrote the information? Check their credentials. Who wrote the information? Check their credentials. What is the coverage of the article – does it give information not found elsewhere? What level of information does it give? Is the level appropriate for your needs? What is the coverage of the article – does it give information not found elsewhere? What level of information does it give? Is the level appropriate for your needs? When was the information last updated? Is it recent enough to be valid? When was the information last updated? Is it recent enough to be valid? Where does the information come from? What does it link to – are the links still current? Where does the information come from? What does it link to – are the links still current? Why has this site been written? Why will this information be useful? Is the information biased in any way? Why has this site been written? Why will this information be useful? Is the information biased in any way? How good is the information? Is it accurate and reliable? How good is the information? Is it accurate and reliable? How well documented is the work? Can you find a bibliography?

Using sources in your dissertation Do NOT plagiarise the information – if you are going to use direct quotes put these in inverted commas and make sure you cite the sources correctly. Do NOT plagiarise the information – if you are going to use direct quotes put these in inverted commas and make sure you cite the sources correctly. If not quoting then make sure you write the information in your own words. If not quoting then make sure you write the information in your own words. Finish your essay with a bibliography citing each source you have used. Finish your essay with a bibliography citing each source you have used.

Citations Every time you consult a source make a note of the url, book details etc, so that you can find it easily if you decide to use the information in your work. Every time you consult a source make a note of the url, book details etc, so that you can find it easily if you decide to use the information in your work. The source should be referenced in the bibliography and as a footnote within your work if you quote directly from it or refer to it. The source should be referenced in the bibliography and as a footnote within your work if you quote directly from it or refer to it. Check out this website for a handy guide Check out this website for a handy guide mhra.shtml mhra.shtml

Citing an Online Source Author’s name (Date of Publication). Title of work. [accessed date] eg Kent Bach, ‘Performatives’, in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy [accessed 3 October 2009]

Citing a book Author’s Surname, Initial or first name, Book Title in Italics ( place of publication : Name of publisher, date of publication), page number if putting as footnote eg Dahrendorf, Ralf, Society and Democracy in Germany (New York: Norton, 1979), p 76

Using Footnotes When quoting from a source the quote should be in inverted commas and a note reference number should be placed at the end of the sentence where possible. When quoting from a source the quote should be in inverted commas and a note reference number should be placed at the end of the sentence where possible. The footnotes should be at the bottom of the page and follow the format used in the bibliography, including the page number quoted. However, author names should be forename followed by surname, whereas in the bibliography they should be surname, forename. The footnotes should be at the bottom of the page and follow the format used in the bibliography, including the page number quoted. However, author names should be forename followed by surname, whereas in the bibliography they should be surname, forename. If you cite the same source more than once, the subsequent footnotes can be shortened, all you need is the author’s surname, first few words of the title and the page number e.g. If you cite the same source more than once, the subsequent footnotes can be shortened, all you need is the author’s surname, first few words of the title and the page number e.g. Worsley, Classical architecture, p.25 Worsley, Classical architecture, p.25

Useful website for a handy guide to using references in both footnotes and bibliography. mhra.shtml mhra.shtml mhra.shtml mhra.shtml

Bibliography In your Bibliography you should list all the sources you have consulted, whether you have quoted from them in the body of your work or not. In your Bibliography you should list all the sources you have consulted, whether you have quoted from them in the body of your work or not. It is not necessary to put the page number of any book used, but otherwise the format is the same as for footnotes. It is not necessary to put the page number of any book used, but otherwise the format is the same as for footnotes.