1. Library Research Science Research Anthony Valenti
Campus Director Learning Resources

2. Agenda
Library Databases
Evaluating Sources
Citation and Plagiarism

3. Edison College Access to Electronic Resources
Go to the Library website:
Locate the silver box on the right hand side of the page. Find the words Library Databases.
You may select a database from the drop down menu OR click on “All Databases” to see a list of databases by subject
You will see a log in screen. Select Edison as your college if not the default
Enter in your 14 digit number off your library card and your PIN (created by you at Circulation Desk)
Select a database
Begin Your Search

4. Edison College Electronic Resources
Online databases
Indexes to articles, book chapters, thesis or other documents: EBSCO, ProQuest, etc.
Reference Resources: Online versions of Reference Works: Grove Art Online, Opposing Viewpoints, etc.
Restricted to Edison College community
Sorted alphabetically or by subject
Your topic will determine what database to use
Recommended Biology databases (with searching demonstration)
Academic Search Complete (General database)
Science Resource Center (Natural Sciences database)
Medline Via EBSCO (Health and Medicine database)

5. Skills for Online Searching
Subject vs. Keyword Search
Boolean Logic
AND, OR, sometimes NOT
Limits
Full Text, Scholarly (Peer Reviewed), Date, etc. .

6. 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.

7. 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?
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?

8. 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.

9. 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

10. Two types of plagiarism:
Intentional
Copying a friend’s work
Buying or borrowing paper
Cutting and pasting blocks of text from electronic sources without documenting
Web publishing without permissions of creators
Unintentional
Careless paraphrasing
Poor documentation
Quoting excessively
Failure to use your own “voice”

11. COMMON KNOWLEDGE
Information that is easily observed – the sky is blue, but not a detailed explanation of why the sky is blue.
Commonly reported facts – George Washington was the first president of the United States, but not the information that historians have to say about Washington.
Common sayings such as proverbs – “Waste not, want not;” “Look before you leap.”
Common knowledge does not need to be cited, but be sure that what you are using really is common knowledge.
When in doubt cite it!

12. Research Assistance Anthony P. Valenti
Campus Director, Learning Resources
Instruction Evaluation – Please take some time to complete the online evaluation on Library’s Web page.