1. Overview of Library Research
Anthony P. Valenti
Campus Director, Learning Resources

2. Agenda Identify Research Needs Doing the Research
Selecting a topic
What Sources Should I use?
Doing the Research
Library catalog
Library databases
Skills for searching
Using Research Results
Evaluating research results
Citation
-Plagiarism

3. Identifying Research Needs
Select a topic
assigned by your instructor.
a subject that interests you.
a real information need that you have.
Start with broad subjects and then focus on a more specific aspect of the broader topic. Sometimes it helps to phrase it as a question
Video Games – Effects on behavior – Does playing violent video games lead to violent behavior in children?
Video Games – Education – Can video games be integrated into School Curriculum?

4. Identifying Research Needs What Sources Should I use?
Reference Books - Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, etc.
Provides a good overview of a subject. A good tool to use if you are trying to focus on a specific topic
Print Books and E-Books
Will provide more in-depth analysis of a subject
Journal Articles – In print and/or available online via databases
Current research, reports and studies related to a specific subject
Internet Resources – Use cautiously! More Later.

5. Edison College Electronic Catalog
Includes Books, Journals, and A/V Titles
Searchable by Author, Title, Subject, or Keyword
Make sure the default is Edison College
You do not need to log in to search; However, you do need to log in to view fines and fees, place holds, access e-books, etc.

6. Edison College Access to Electronic Resources
Go to the Library website:
Locate the silver search box on the top of the page. Click on Articles in Databases tab.
You will see a log in screen. Select Edison as your college if not the default
Enter your Connect Card Number, (8 digit Edison ID Number) and your PIN (Default is last 4 digits SS#)
Select a database. The default setting is to display databases by Subject. You may also click on the Alphabetical button to see databases listed by name.
Begin Your Search

7. 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 Online, etc.
Restricted to Edison College community
Sorted alphabetically or by subject
Your topic will determine what database to use
Recommended General database (with searching demonstration)
Academic Search Complete (EBSCO)

8. Skills for Online Searching
Subject or Keyword Search
Identify Key Concepts
“Video Games” AND “violence” AND “children.” Not, “Does playing violent videogames lead to violent behavior in children?”
Controlled Vocabulary
Different databases may use different terms. EX: “Senior Citizens” or “Elderly Persons”
Look to see if database has a thesaurus
Boolean Logic
“AND” restricts your search results
“OR” expands your search results
Limits
Full Text, Scholarly, Date, etc.

9. 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.

10. Evaluating Research Results
Authority
Who wrote or compiled the information? What are their credentials? Are they experts or scholars?
Bias
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?
Currency
What is the date of publication? What time period is covered by the information?
Documentation
Does the material cite the sources for information presented? Are complete citations provided? Is the information unknown?

11. 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 allow others to locate these materials if they are researching the topic.
To give proper credit for works, ideas, etc. to the people who created them
Citation guides are available on the library’s web page.

12. Citing Research Results
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is presenting another person’s work—words, ideas, images, etc.—as your own, and not citing the source.
Plagiarism Tutorial on Library Web Page