1. Research
WHAT TO KNOW
AND WHERE TO GO

2. Research: methodical investigation into a subject in order to discover facts, to establish or revise a theory, or to develop a plan of action based on the facts discovered
Encarta Dictionary
WHAT IS RESEARCH

3. What?

4. Research: Creating a method Planning Investigation Discovery
Action based on facts

5. Where do I start? Identify a variety of information sources
Identify characteristics of information on the web
Identify characteristics of library resources

6. Where do I go to find sources?

8. THE LIBRARY Printed materials Books Magazines Articles e-books
Online encyclopedias
Electronic resources
Web browsing
The library usually provides useful information for academic research and is an environment conducive to studying.

9. Library resources Go through a review process
Free or discounted for your use
Organized
Meant to be kept permanently
Come with personal assistance

10. THE WEB Current information Library links Company information
Government information
Expert and popular opinions

11. THE WEB
Most information on the web does not go through a review process.
Some information on the web is not free.
Information on the web is not organized.
Most information on the web is not comprehensive.
Most information on the web is not permanent.

12. Magazines Articles Popular interest Current events Periodicals
Found at newsstands, libraries, and the web
Some articles are written for people who are not necessarily specialists in the topic area.

13. Journals Articles are written by scholars
Editorial board reviews articles
Specific topics or narrow fields of research
Periodic intervals
Continued….

14. Journals Come in print format or on the web as electronic journals
Library purchases subscriptions to most journals
Previous studies on your topic
Bibliographies that point to other relevant research

15. Newspapers Articles daily Current events Periodicals
International, national and local events
Editorials
Commentaries
Expert or popular opinions

16. Books Cover virtually any topic Fact or fiction
Electronic books (e-books)
A lot of information on a topic
Summaries of research to support an argument
Usually has been seriously reviewed prior to publication

17. Encyclopedias Factual articles Background information on a topic
Find key ideas, important dates or concepts
Two types of encyclopedias
(general and subject)

18. Library Catalogs Identify items in the library Books, ebooks Journals
Magazines
Newspapers
Videos

19. IvyCat Books by title, author, or subject heading
Contains more than books
Guided keyword search
Journals
Call numbers used to find items in the library
Find information about your account (books checked out, etc.)

21. Where do I go to find Ivy Tech’s virtual library?

27. Article Databases
Find articles on your topic in magazines, journals or newspapers
Periodical indexes or databases
Citations of articles in magazines, journals, and newspapers
Some contain abstracts or brief summaries of the articles
Most contain the full text
Accessible from the library Web site

31. Choosing a topic

32. Broaden or narrow a topic Identify keywords for a topic
When choosing a topic
Broaden or narrow a topic
Identify keywords for a topic
Understand the difference between keyword and subject searching
Use connectors and truncation in constructing a search

33. When broadening or narrowing a topic ask yourself …. Who? What? When?
Where?
Why?
How?
How often?
To what extent?

34. You may also ask yourself…
What am I trying to find out?
What will my research prove?
What answer am I searching for?

35. Write out your topic as a sentence or a question.
Example: How do advertisers market their products to women?
Notice the keywords in green.

36. If your subject is marketing then a keyword might be products.
computers
cigarettes
products
toys
liquor
clothes
Once you discover your keywords try branching off of them with other related words as in the diagram above.

37. Try using a diagram to brainstorm.

38. DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!
PLAN AHEAD
CREATE A STRATEGY
DON’T PROCRASTINATE

39. Find a quiet place
away from distractions.
Make sure you are
comfortable.

40. Make good use of your time.
Class Times
Start and end dates
Deadlines
L.R.C. office hours
Writing Center hours

41. The Learning Resource Center (L.R.C.) For more information contact:
Hours of operation
Richmond
Mon.-Thurs.: 9a.m. - 7p.m.
Fri.: 9a.m. - 6p.m.
Sat.: 9a.m. - 12p.m.
Connersville
Mon.-Tues.: 9a.m. – 5p.m.
Wed.- Fri. 9a.m. – 5.p.m
For more information contact:
Susana Dunn
Phone: ext. 1188

42. To schedule an appointment or for more information contact:
Writing Center
Hours of Operation
Johnson Hall
Room 3408
Mon.-Thurs.: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Students with appointments are given priority, but walk-ins are welcome!
To schedule an appointment or for more information contact:
Phone: ext. 3408

43. Now you know what to know and where to go! Remember what you’ve
learned and let it guide you
through the research process.