1. Doing Good Research An Overview Master of Public Administration Program Fall 2010 Faculty Larry Geri Doreen Swetkis Lee Lyttle

2. Overview When doing research remember there are… 1.Many Dimensions of Public Policy Issues 2.Information comes from many sources 3.Different types of media for different purposes 4.Good Starting Places 5.Ways to get specific ‘how-to’ help when you are ready to start

3. Many Dimensions of Public Policy Issues Legal, Environmental, Political, Scientific, Cultural, Historical, Artistic, etc. Think carefully about what you are focusing on in your area of research.

4. Information from Many Sources All Sources are not accurate, authoritative, or reliable Pay close attention to the value and drawbacks of your sources The Internet Ever-changing and largely unmediated Libraries It not just a storehouse of dusty books, to meet people, or to sleep. A place with millions of points of view The location of many Peer-reviewed sources (Sources that include processes to establish accuracy and fairness in academic publishing) Word of Mouth

5. Organize Your Approach to Research D ifferent types of media for different purposes Looking for… A succinct overview of a current issue in the general public domain (Newspapers, Magazines, TV News and Documentaries, radio) Opinions and a broad range of Points of View (Surveys, op-ed columns, blogs, tweets, e-mails, social networks) Concise scholarly treatises and targeted studies of your topic (Journal articles, conference papers, reports) In-depth research or exploration of your research area (Non fiction books, book chapters, threaded scholarly articles) Investigation of how the issue plays out in life, emotional responses, and the social context (Fiction literature) Writing and Reporting Helpers (Encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, biographies, maps, etc.)

6. Good Starting Places for Scholarly Material Multidisciplinary Databases Academic Search Complete is huge and broad in coverage of journals and magazines. You can screen non-scholarly resources out of your search if you wish. Many public policy journals appear here.Academic Search Complete is huge and broad in coverage of journals and magazines. You can screen non-scholarly resources out of your search if you wish. Many public policy journals appear here.Academic Search CompleteAcademic Search Complete EBSCO includes several different very good databases.EBSCO includes several different very good databases.EBSCO EBSCO JSTOR includes only premier, central academic journals in full text.JSTOR includes only the premier, central academic journals in full text.JSTOR

7. Special Interest Databases Legal Westlaw is a premier legal database to look up the law and court cases in full text at all levels of government and across the nation.Westlaw is a premier legal database to look up the law and court cases in full text at all levels of government and across the nation.Westlaw Access Washington for Washington State dataAccess Washington for Washington State dataAccess WashingtonAccess Washington USA.gov for US Governmental dataUSA.gov for US Governmental dataUSA.gov Environmental Environment Complete provides research and public policy discussions about environmental issues.Environment Complete Economics and Social Sciences Social Science Full Text and SocIndex These databases focus on academic journals in the social sciences and sociology, including lots of public policy and social justice issues.Social Science Full Text and SocIndex These databases focus on academic journals in the social sciences and sociology, including lots of public policy and social justice issues.Social Science Full TextSocIndexSocial Science Full TextSocIndex

8. Health Health source provides nearly 550 scholarly full text journals focusing on many medical disciplines. Coverage of nursing and allied health is particularly strong.Health source Educational ERIC is the main index for research in the field of education. Almost any scholar or professional doing any kind of research in the field of education will start here.ERIC Psychology PsycInfo The most authoritative and thorough source for the profession of psychology and the research done in that field.PsycInfo

9. Non-Mainstream Databases Alternative Press Index tracks news, reviews and features spanning punk, metal, hardcore, pop-punk and everything in between.Alternative Press Index Alt-HealthWatch Alternative medicine. 170 full-text journals, plus reports, proceedings, pamphlets, and book excerpts.Alt-HealthWatch Ethnic Newswatch Collects full-text news and commentary publications from rather than about various US ethnic groups. Consider this resource to help counterbalance the mainstream press.Ethnic Newswatch Left Index serves to provide the perspective of the political left.Left Index

10. As You Search… Be flexible with your keywords. Have some synonyms! Your words or phrases may not be the ones used by the authors of the articles, or the database companies. Save and organize your notes Write down entire useful citations when you first see them.

11. Remember… Finding relevant and reliable information requires critical thinking and organizationFinding relevant and reliable information requires critical thinking and organization It is a practiced skill!It is a practiced skill! Simple ‘Google/Yahoo/Bing’ searching won’t get you everything you need… but they do have their place in your research process. Simple ‘Google/Yahoo/Bing’ searching won’t get you everything you need… but they do have their place in your research process.

12. For Strategies on Searching Your Specific Topic and One-on-One Help Visit the Library Reference Desk or Liza Rognas, Reference Librarian at 867- 5851 or Lee Lyttle, Office Hours in Lab I Room 3011 Call for an appointment 876-6678