E-Research Strategies - NUF 2013
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NUF: Electronic Information Research Prof. Linda Rath Graduate Services Librarian [email protected] .edu 646.312.1622
description
Presentation to NUF class of 2013 discussing library resources and research strategies.
Transcript of E-Research Strategies - NUF 2013
NUF: Electronic Information Research
Prof. Linda Rath
Graduate Services Librarian
646.312.1622
Today’s workshop …
• focuses on research for capstone paper• is geared for “remote” research
(off-campus and/or outside NYC)• will have demonstrations & hands-on
exercises in small groups • step-by-step research process
You will be able to …
• identify relevant library databases for a topic• build basic search strings (Boolean)• find scholarly, peer-reviewed articles• find the full-text of articles• identify “local” resources
Cite information (sources/creators)
Integrate information / Your Primary Research / Write paper
Evaluate information
Where do you find this information? Who produces this information?
What type(s) of information do you need?
Create Keywords List / Search terms
Describe your topic / What is your question?
General Research Process
Academic & Scholarly Articles(Peer Reviewed)
Analytical Sources
Newman Library: http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu *also contains scholarly/peer-reviewed articles
Books
Reports/Papers
Statistics
News SourcesNewspapers, trade journals, newswires, websites
Sources for Capstone Paper
Multidisciplinary databases:• Academic Search
Complete• JSTOR (historical)
Academic & Scholarly Articles(Peer Reviewed)
Analytical Sources
Newman Library: http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu *also contains scholarly/peer-reviewed articles
Books
Reports/Papers
Statistics
Subject specific databases:• Education Full Text• Medline• Social Sciences Full Text• and etc.
• CUNY’s library catalog• Local library catalog• WorldCat (database of
catalogs)• PAIS International*• PolicyFile• websites (think tanks, govt.,
etc.)
• Statistical Abstract of the U.S.• Social Explorer (Census, maps,
etc.)• websites (local/state/fed govt, etc.)
News Sources
Lexis Nexis Academic, Factiva, Ethnic Newswatch*Alt-Press Watch*, websites (organizations, associations, government, etc.)
Sources for Capstone Paper
Topic Development
• Choose topic that interests you• Is topic too broad or too narrow?• Work within your time constraints• Discuss topic with your advisor/mentor• Your literature review process may focus
your topic
Identify the Key Concepts
• To what extent did blogs influence election outcomes in Broward County Government?
Brainstorm stage-Create Keywords List for searching
blogs, bloggerssocial mediacitizen journalismweb 2.0social webpolitical communication
electionscampaigns
impactinfluence
governmentBroward Countycounty governmentlocal government
Identify appropriate databases
Use Research Worksheet to write down & keep track of databases: http://guides.newman.baruch.cuny.edu/data/files2/61768/reference-worksheet.pdf
• Go to the Newman Library’s databases page and use “Search for a Database by selecting Subject”
• Go to NUF Library Guide, Finding Articles tab - Key NUF Databases
• Identify public library or local university library databases (if open to public)
Identify databases:
Use Research Worksheet to write down & keep track of databases: http://guides.newman.baruch.cuny.edu/data/files2/61768/reference-worksheet.pdf
• Academic Search Complete
• Communication & Mass Media Complete
• Business Source Complete
• Sage Journals
• PAIS International
• PolicyFile
• Sage Journals
• Social Sciences Full Text
• Academic Search Complete
• PAIS International
• Science Direct
• Social Sciences Full Text
• Sage Journals
blogs elections government
Searching a database
Boolean operators• Use AND, OR and (…) to combine your
keywords
Searching a database
Boolean operator ANDUse AND to narrow your search and retrieve records containing all of the words it separates
Example:Blogs AND influence AND elections
Searching a database
Boolean operator ORUse OR to broaden your search and retrieve records containing any of the words it separates.
Examples:• Blogs OR blogosphere OR social media• Elections OR campaigns• Influence OR impact
Searching a database
Use AND, OR and (…) to string all your terms together
Example:(Blogs OR blogosphere OR social media) AND(Elections OR campaigns) AND(Influence OR impact)
Searching a databaseHere is the same search string in a library
entered in a database …
Searching a database
• Field (or segment) searching looks for keywords within a specific area of a database record, such as title, author, subject, abstract, etc.
Searching a database
• Proximity searching finds words near each other in an article. (Check Help pages in database on how to perform proximity searches.)
Searching a database
• Truncate/Truncation symbol searches for variant endings to the root of a word. (Example: comput* finds computer or computing)
Fields/segments
Proximity searching, within 5 words of each other
Fields and Proximity searching Searching a database
Searching a database
• Sometime the database you are searching only has a citation or abstract to a record/article.
• Click on the “Find it!” button to see if the full-text can be found in another Newman Library database.
Searching a databaseYou can limit your search results to “Scholarly” or “Peer Reviewed.”
Example from PAIS International database
Searching a databaseYou can limit your search results to “Scholarly” or “Peer Reviewed.”
Example from Academic Search Complete database
E-journal/Newspaper Demo
• How to determine if the journal you want is available electronically in a Newman Library database
E-journal/Newspaper @ Newman
1. Library homepage 2. ”Journals/Magazines” link 3. “Full Text Journal” link 4. Type in title of journal & click on Search 5. If database(s) appears, check years of
coverage & then connect
Citation Management
• Use the Research Worksheet– PDF on NUF Library Guide
• Use citation management software– RefWorks (library database)– Zotero (firefox extension)
http://www.zotero.org/
Citing Information
• Use a style guide (APA, MLA, etc.)• A good online source for help is:
Purdue’s OWL:http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
• Many databases have output options (email, print, etc. in APA, MLA and etc.)
“Local” Resources
• Public library systems • Academic libraries (one that has programs
covering your topic)• Find a library,
http://www.worldcat.org/librariesExercise: Go to URL above & type in your home zip code.
Other sources
• Think tanks(Example: Pew Internet & American Life or Pew Hispanic Center)– 2011 "Go-To" Think Tanks Report for ranked list
• Government agencies(local, state, federal)
• Trade associations
