The University Writing Center Presents:

Conducting Research

Overview“Where do I begin?” Research Questions and Thesis Statements

SourcesIdentify and EvaluatePrimary vs. SecondaryPrint vs. Online

Additional Resources

“Where do I begin?”

Start early and give yourself enough time to review your sources carefully.

Set a schedule for yourself.

Start with a working thesis or research question to guide your search. It may change!

Keyword Selection

Research QuestionAppropriate: “Why does ‘road rage’

occur and how can it be prevented?”

An inappropriate question makes a false assumption or has bias:

“Why are women bad drivers?”

Thesis StatementsEnumerative: Road rage occurs when a variety of

stress factors reach a breaking point resulting in aggression, and can usually be prevented by staying alert, obeying traffic laws, and being a considerate driver.

Umbrella: Road rage occurs when a number of stress factors result in aggression on the part of the driver, but the steps one can take to prevent it are straightforward and simple.

KeywordsChoose keywords that

are as specific as possible

Refine your search using the words which fit your criteria

Know Boolean Operators

Check the online catalog of your library to help find the most precise search terms

Boolean OperatorsANDORNEARNOT

Search Engines

Google, Yahoo, other web engines

Google Scholar

Library online catalog

Database Searches

Primary and Secondary Sources

In the humanities, primary sources are the texts you are writing about.

In the sciences, you will often work with experimental results or data discovered by others.

Secondary sources are reviews, critiques, observations, and opinions of primary sources.

Types of SourcesPrint sources, such

as books and journal articles.

Online sources, such as websites.

Video and audio recordings

Live performancesInterviews

*Image from: sitemaker.umich.edu/atc042706

“Advantages and Benefits of Print Sources”

Print Sources:Extensive publication processClearly stated authors and

affiliationsSource information tends to be

clearly marked (works cited)Tends to be less biasedAuthor qualifications are almost

always necessary to get published

Publication information is always clearly printed on the document

Evaluating Online Sources

Typically, “.org,” “.edu,” and “.gov” sites are credible and authoritative.

• “.org” should be copyrighted by organizations• “.edu” can be used for any school• “.gov” can be used for political parties

Evaluating Online Sources

Evaluating SourcesApply the CRAAP test*:

Currency: When was the source created?

Relevance: Does it support your paper topic?

Authority: Who created the source?

Accuracy: How reliable is the information?

Purpose: Why was the source created?

*From: http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/evalsites.html

Evaluating Sources

Let’s try it out on the journal Shakespeare Studies:Currency: Contains articles from 1965-presentRelevance: Contains critical articles on Shakespeare’s

plays and poems, but little biographical informationAuthority: Published by Fairleigh Dickson University

PressAccuracy: All articles are peer-reviewed Purpose: Provides new insights into the works of

Shakespeare

“What about Wikipedia?”

Wikipedia fits the bill in all areas except for one: Authority.

Who is writing the material? Anyone and everyone.

Wikipedia entries are constantly changed and updated the more people use the site.

Let’s Practice!

Locating Print Sources at James E. Walker LibraryVoyager online catalogueJournal Locator

print on the 1st floor databases available electronically

Databases atJames E. Walker Library

Research Gateway Databases A-Z IndexResources by Subject

Click on the Need Help? link to chat with a librarian.

Reference CoachJames E. Walker Library homepage:

Library Services and click on Reference and Instruction

Don’t Forget Your Most Important Resources!

The University Writing Center James E. Walker Library

Room 362615-904-8237

http://www.mtsu.edu/uwc/

James E. Walker Library http://library.mtsu.edu/