WEEK 3: JOURNALS

WHERE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION

I have compiled some really great resources to help you with your topics.

Let’s check out the class site:http://inf1100.wikispaces.com/

REVIEW Last week we looked at different types of research. Looking

for a quick fact, compiling different resources to form a big picture, and analyzing data to solve a problem.

When you start thinking about your research topic (in future classes), say to yourself “Can this question be answered quickly?” If so, it might not be a good research topic IF your assignment is to write a long paper.

Does this make sense? The TYPE of research you do will depend of what the question is.

I don’t want you overly concerned about this. I just wanted you to be aware that sometimes research will be quick and other times it might take you weeks, months, or even years to do.

For this class, we will be focusing on finding different resources to form that big picture.

QUICK EXAMPLE

What if my research topic was, “Zombies: Pop Culture’s Obsession with the Walking Dead.”

I found this website. Does it help?http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/zombie

How about this one?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie

And this one?http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/zombies/

PRIMARY VS. SECONDARY SOURCES

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHartnessLibrary#p/c/748297966B083400/10/s13KpDtKAys

EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY SOURCES**Memoirs**Diaries**Autobiographies**Interviews with people**Public records**Transcripts of speeches**Letters, emails, memos, listservs, blogs, discussion threads,

newsgroups, and other correspondence**Artifacts**Photographs and works of art**Newspaper articles reporting AT THE TIME the event took place**Surveys**Government documents

EXAMPLES OF SECONDARY SOURCES Books and textbooks Review articles from scholarly journals Scientific reports Technical reports Conference papers and proceedings Theses and dissertations Handbooks Databases Newspaper articles that analyze events Magazine articles Dictionaries and encyclopedias

PERIODICALS

Any idea what they are?

PERIODICALS A periodical is published on a regular or recurring basis.

This can be daily, weekly, monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, or annually.

Among periodicals are scholarly journals, popular magazines, trade publications, and newspapers.

An important feature of a periodical is CURRENCY.

Because they are published frequently, they are expected to provide up-to-date information.

There is a handout on the class site that explains this further.

SO WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Each group has three different journals.

Please take a look at each one and write down on your sheet the differences you notice about each one.

Then we will discuss what types of journals these are and what role they play in searching for information.

POPULAR VERSUS SCHOLARLY http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHartnessLibrary#p/c

/748297966B083400/9/xUSEpPwC_1w

EXAMPLES OF SCHOLARLY JOURNALS

The main thing to remember about scholarly journals is that they are VERY expensive. Therefore, you would NOT find them in bookstores or grocery store aisles.

You would find them in libraries (public and academic).

If the title sounds boring, it is more than likely scholarly.

EXAMPLES OF POPULAR MAGAZINES

The thing to remember is that popular magazines can be bought at bookstores, grocery stores, newsstands, and airports.

They also have a lot of advertising inside. Think pretty people!

ONE MORE: TRADE PUBLICATIONS

Trade publications are periodicals written for a specific industry or business.

They are usually published by an association tied to that trade.

The authors of the articles in trade publications are typically practitioners or professionals in that specific field.

The goal of these articles is to inform others working in that industry.

EXAMPLES OF TRADE PUBLICATIONS

Make note that some trade publications can be purchased at bookstores like Barnes and Noble so it is a good idea to look through the magazine and visit the website to determine if it is trade or popular.

NEWSPAPERS

Newspapers are of a local, regional, national or international venue.

They can be general or topic-specific.

The usually cover current news and events.

Newspapers may be published by commercial enterprises, by individuals, or by professional organizations to provide information to its members or the general public.

I know it can be hard to tell what type of journal it is. If you have the journal in front of you, you can look through it.

Trade journals and popular magazines are sometimes hard to tell apart. For example, Popular Mechanics is a POPULAR magazine while Aviation Week and Space Technology is a TRADE journal.

When it doubt, go to the journal’s website and look at their submission guidelines. If it is peer-reviewed then you know it is scholarly!

Don’t panic! When we learn how to search databases for journal articles, I will show you how to tell immediately what type of journal it is!

Designing Your Research

WHAT’S A “KEYWORD?”

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHartnessLibrary#p/c/748297966B083400/7/hcINh_e5aKU

Now let’s try. How else could I say this?

The use of images in children’s literature.

CONCEPT MAPPING

Sometimes it might be difficult to come up with different keywords and/or adjectives to describe your topic.

Besides using a thesaurus, you can use concept mapping.

Basically concept maps are diagrams that show relationships between concepts.

This is a good way to visually see connections between different words and concepts.

CREDO REFERENCE

As Harrison College students you have access to a reference database called Credo Reference.

Credo Reference has its own concept mapping feature.

Let’s take a look at the feature together and search for the keywords:

School bullying and Suicidal Behavior

http://harrison.libguides.com/content.php?pid=117824

IN-CLASS ACTIVITY #2

As an option for your final presentation, you can do a video instead that discusses your research topic. This is a chance for you to be creative and have some fun!

Here is one I created: http://goanimate.com/movie/0eDH0GYnxj9k?utm_source=emailshare&refuser=0VgHtCJ7MEQM

Now you will try:

http://goanimate.com/

You will need to set up a free account to get started.

FOR NEXT WEEK Read Chapter 3.

There is no quiz to take!

Complete “Research Assignment #3” which has you generating keywords and discovering some background information on your topics.

Have great weekend!

ONE MINUTE WRITE-UPPlease answer the following questions.

1. What does “peer-reviewed” mean?

2. Is there anything about today’s lesson that you are confused about?

3. Do you have any suggestions or concerns you would like to bring to my attention?