RESEARCH STRATEGY

Jacqueline A. Gill, Associate [email protected]

RESEARCH STRATEGY

Jacqueline A. Gill, Associate [email protected]://learningthelibrary.com

Research StrategyDevelop a research question

Think of keywords

Choose a resource to search

Look for information

Read

Evaluate the information you find

Modify your search

Take notes

Cite sources

Research StrategyDevelop a research question

DEVELOP A RESEARCH QUESTION

A good way to begin your research is to locate and read short articles that will give you a broad overview of a topic. You can find these articles in a variety of reference materials.

Browse books, articles, web sites, and course textbooks Watch/read the news Browse through encyclopediasSpecialized/Subject Specific DictionariesAlmanacs Handbooks Biographical Sources

Research Strategy

THINK OF KEYWORDSWhat is a keyword? A keyword is any

searchable word in an online record.• State your topic as a question. • Determine what words best describe your

topic.Example:• How did New Deal programs influence

the arts in America?Keywords:• New Deal• United States• Depression Art• Federal Aid to the Arts

Think of key wordsThink of keywords

Research StrategyCHOOSE A RESOURCE TO SEARCH

Depending on your topic, different types of resources (the web, newspapers, magazines, journals, books, etc.) may be more appropriate than others. You need to be aware of what kind of information is in each type of resource and who is the intended audience.

Choose a resource to search

Books Reference Sources

Scholarly journals

Popular Magazines

Newspapers Web

Time frame At least 1 year – several years after the event

Several months – years after the event

Several months – years after the event

1 week - 1 month after the event

1 day - 1 week after the event

Immediate 7 yrs

Audience General public - scholars, researchers, and students

General public, specialists

Scholars, researchers, and students

General public General public General public - scholars, researchers, and students

Examples: Negotiating ethnicities in China and Taiwan; The Press of Ideas; Women & Art

Dictionary of Art; World Book Encyclopedia; World Almanac

Journal of Child Development;Radical pedagogy, etc.

Time; Newsweek; National Geographic

The New York Times; Washington Post; Wall Street Journal

CNN, Entertainment weekly, Amer. Med. Asn

Research StrategyLook for information

LOOK FOR INFORMATION

Begin your search by looking at these various resources.

Books CUNY+ catalog; Public library catalogs; WorldCat database

Journals, magazines CCNY Library – Databases A-Z

Newspaper articles CCNY Libraries – Databases A-Z EBSCOHOST, Lexis-Nexis, New York Times Historical

Articles in Books CUNY+ catalog; WorldCat database

Bibliographies A list of resources about a particular topic. Bibliographies can be found in books and journal articles.

Book reviews A criticism of a book or article. Book reviews can be found in Choice; Library Journal; Publisher’s Weekly, etc.

Government Documents

Books, journal articles, reports, statistics

Research Strategy

READ & EVAULATE THE INFORMATION YOU FINDQuantity - Enough resources are needed to support your argument. Diversity - Variety is necessary. Include many different resources.Date of Publication - When was the source published? Quality and Reliability -• What is the purpose of the publication?• What is the author saying?• What are the author’s conclusions?• Does the author agree or disagree with other authors who

have written on the same subject?

Read

Evaluate the information you find

Research Strategy

MODIFY YOUR SEARCH

•Make sure that the topic you have chosen is not too big.

•Narrow your topic and focus on an aspect of the subject that interests you.

•Write your topic down as a clear statement will to help guide you during your research.

Modify your search

Research StrategyTake notes

TAKING NOTES

•Skim through your books and articles to get the main ideas.

•Make notes of the important points.

•Use index card system for recording notes.

•Be sure to put the page number and author of the source on each note card.

• When you are taking notes, try to make them as short as possible.

•Record facts that refute your thesis as well as support it.

Research StrategyCite sources

CITE SOURCES

Whenever you quote, paraphrase, summarize, or otherwise refer to the work of another, you are required to cite its source, either by way of parenthetical documentation or by means of a footnote. Offered here are some of the most commonly cited forms of material.

MLA Style: Documenting Sources from the World Wide Web by the Modern Language Association of America Electronic Reference Formats Recommended by the American Psychological Association by the APA Online! Citation Styles by A. Harnack and E. Kleppinger Internet Citation GuidesRef Works – creates bibliographies from exported citations

Jacqueline A. Gill, Associate [email protected]

Questions?Visit the Reference Desk on the 2nd Floor and

speak to any librarian.