Gary Handman It’s About Time: Doing Research Online: A Crash Course

1.Describes organization of library information 2.Introduce selected sources for finding books, journal articles, and visual resources online 2. Introduce a group of basic moves and features common to many online catalogs and indexes.

The Information Universe BooksBooks Journals (Magazines) & NewspapersJournals (Magazines) & Newspapers Government docsGovernment docs MapsMaps Visual Resources (video, sound recording, photographs, etc.)Visual Resources (video, sound recording, photographs, etc.) Computer files (e.g. CD- ROMS, data files)Computer files (e.g. CD- ROMS, data files) DissertationsDissertations ManuscriptsManuscripts The Web?????The Web?????

The Information Universe Why/when books? Why/when journals

The Information Universe The guy next to me is soooo hot! But how do you find this stuff?

The Information Universe Library Catalog(s) Journal/Newspaper Indexes

The Information Universe --Pathfinder --MELVYL (CDL cat) An inventory of what the library owns Search by Author, Title, Subject keywords Searchable by key words & phrases Whole books and journals owned, NOT what’s inside of those publications

The Information Universe: Books Title: The ecstasy of catastrophe : a study of apocalyptic narrative from Langland to Milton Author: Hendrix, Howard V., Published: New York : P. Lang, Date: c1990. Location(s): Main Stack PR149.A74.H Subject Headings: English poetry -- Early modern, History and criticism. English literature -- Middle English, History and criticism. Apocalyptic literature -- History and criticism. Apocalyptic literature -- History and criticism. Milton, John, Criticism and interpretation. Main Stack PR149.A74.H Get da Book in da Stax Call #

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-- short description of article content I know! I’ll do my paper on Marilyn Manson!

Choosing an Articles database (index) Look at the listings of article databases available via the library includes listings by SUBJECT, NAME, etc. Your research focus may require you to poke around in the literature of various disciplines. General Databases are often good places to start (particularly for newsy/topical issues)

All databases are not created equal (or by the same company)…

But Remember: Not everything is online!!!!!: Article Databases: Generally only go back yrs online (some exceptions – e.g. Historical Newspapers) Not every publication is indexed Fairly small (but rapidly growing) subset of the books and journal universe is currently available in full-text Online is Cool

Remember Also: Not every topic has lots written about it, either in books or journal lit.Not every topic has lots written about it, either in books or journal lit. --Research on very current topics --Research on radically specific topics --Research on topics off the beaten academic track or off the pop culture radar

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 The impact of television advertising and television violence on school performance and pre-adolesecent social interaction. Children Youth Adolescents …etc. Commercials Ads …etc. Academic achievement Grades …etc. Media TV…etc Socialization, relationships, peer interaction…etc.

The Information Universe What to do if nothing is turning up: Tweak your topic: Broaden it / select a different angle Rethink your search strategy (new keywords, new concepts, etc.) Bail out completely and choose another topic

A few cautionary words about research on the Net LibraryLand The Net Google Rocks! Scholar.google????

Common Search Features: --Save list of good stuff --Mail Articles/Citations to yourself

Connecting from off-campus HELP: Connecting from Off Campus

…being driven over the edge by your research? Call me: Gary Handman