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Laksamee Putnam
Research and Instruction Librarian
TSEM 102
RESEARCH BASICS: KEYWORDS AND EVALUATION
Please login to the computer, then open a browser and go to:
http://bit.ly/TSEMcooper2012kw
Laksamee Putnam
Cook Library Reference:
410.704.2462.
IM/email
Phone: 410.704.3746.
Slides: http://bit.ly/TSEMcooper2012kw
FIRST…
Readings Discussion
Background reading/Internet searching
Keywords and Connectors
Evaluating Resources
Come up with keywords!
Slides: http://bit.ly/TSEMcooper2012kw
TAKE AWAY…
What are the pros and cons of so much information being online?
What do you do to be sure you’re finding more than “information junk food”?
How do you evaluate the information you find while researching?
Why is it important to support your argument with valid sources?
RESEARCH IS COMPLICATED
Prater, E. (2011) Beware online filter bubbles. TED: Ideas worth
spreading.
http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubb
les.html
Appelbaum, Y. (2012). How the professor who fooled Wikipedia
got caught by Reddit. The Atlantic. May 15.
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/05/how-
the-professor-who-fooled-wikipedia-got-caught-by-
reddit/257134/#
WEB “PRE-SEARCHING”
Why start your search online?
Find background information
Help solidify research topic
Find new terminology to use as keywords
Find links and/or citations to other sources
Mayan Calendar AND myths
Advanced Google
searching
Power searching
Duck Duck Go
Galileo Galilei AND Earth
Cook Library’s Guide to
the Web
IMPROVE GOOGLE
TRY NEW FEATURES TO HELP BUILD YOUR
KEYWORD LIST AND SEARCH STRATEGY.
Keywords come from the search question
Use Boolean “search connectors” to combine keywords in
ways that capture the results you need
SEARCH TIP #1
Boolean “search connectors”
AND OR NOT For example:
abacus AND Japan Combining >1 topic
Zellige OR Moorish tiling Combining synonymous terms
SEARCH TIP #2
Use truncation!
Educat* finds
Educate
Education
Educating
Educator
Etc…
SEARCH TIP #3
Phrase Searching…
Use quotations to keep a keyword phrase intact (words will be
searched in the specific order)
Examples:
“Roman numerals”
“school reform”
KEYWORDS ARE CRITICAL!
Sample topic:
The role of zero in the development of mathematics
First, break the question down into key concepts:
The role of zero in the development of mathematics
MORE ON KEYWORDS…
Expand your list to include synonyms then add to it once you
have done some background reading.
The role of zero in the development of mathematics
zero development mathematic*
null history numerical
analysis algebra
role
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER…
The role of zero in the development of mathematics
zero
null
development
history
role
mathematic*
numerical
algebra
zero OR null
AND
development OR history OR role
AND
mathematic* OR numerical OR algebra
Go to one of the websites below and analyze it
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb1
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb2
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb4
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb5
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb6
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb7
EVALUATE WHAT YOU FIND
Currency
Reliability
Authority
Purpose/Point of View
CHECK FOR CRAP
Currency
How recent is the information?
Can you locate a date when the resource was written/created/updated?
Based on your topic, is this current enough?
Why might the date matter for your topic?
CHECK FOR CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/393737419
3/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Reliability
What kind of
information is included
in the resource?
Does the author
provide citations &
references for
quotations & data
Where are you
accessing this
information?
CHECK FOR CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Authority
Can you determine who the author/creator is?
What are their credentials (education, affiliation, experience, etc.)?
Who is the publisher or sponsor of the work/site?
Is this publisher/sponsor reputable
CHECK FOR CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/
Purpose/Point of View
Is the content primarily opinion?
Is the information balanced or biased?
What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade
CHECK FOR CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/
in/photostream/
BEGIN YOUR OWN RESEARCH
Come up with key concepts/keywords for your topic
Search for initial information on websites
Fill out this worksheet
Google Doc Worksheet
Next class:
Watch TED video and prepare for in-class discussion
Use your keywords to find books/articles
Feel free to contact me:
Laksamee Putnam
410.704.3746.
Or any reference librarian:
Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
410.704.2462.
IM – tucookchat
QUESTIONS?
