IENG 1060
RESEARCH
GUIDE
Dr. Monika Brown
|
WHAT
TO FIND: THE BEST SOURCES FOR
RESEARCH PAPERS see
LBH 52 a-c For most topics, use mainly 1990s magazine/journal articles, a few scholarly books (history, arts, literature); for major research paper at least 1 recent journal article with bibliography required for most topics. The
Internet offers variety, including books & magazines; pure web
sites may be up to 1/3 of your sources. For help with
citation format, consult handbook, EBSCO online help, or uncp.edu/home/monika VARIETY:
primary&secondary; book, essay collection, periodical;
scholarly&general; opposing views QUALITY (4 Rs) Related
and rich: much
quality information, on your focused topic or a broad subject that
includes your topic Recent:
published or updated in 1990s or later if possible; humanities/arts
topics may use older publications Respected
(peer-reviewed):academic journal or press, cited as expert; refers to
other studies, has bibliog/notes Responsible/Reliable:
uses good evidence, cites good quality sources, uses sound logic,
avoids bias |
RESEARCH STEPS:
FINDING the BEST SOURCES
A. Find ARTICLES
in
PERIODICALS
(magazines, journals, and newspapers) and Essays in Books:
-use advanced search to put in several
key words
-find full-text online articles or articles
in library periodicals available at UNCP or other libraries
-skim articles first; if they=re useful,
print, e-mail
to yourself, or cut-paste into WORD or WordPerfect file
-check BraveCat if/how UNCP subscribes; look for
articles; copy pages, esp intr, concl. bibliogr..
___1.a.
EBSCO
HOST:see uncp.edu/library, use quick
link
in Electronic Resources/by Title
check: Academic
Search, Masterfile, ERIC, Newspaper,
Business, Health, Military & Gov, >
MLA (literature), CINAHL
(nursing), PAIS (public affairs)
___1.b.
other quick links to
full text, etc | Proquest | OmniFile | Web of Science |
First Search | NCLive
___1. c.
others with full text |Project Muse | LexisNexis| Opposing Views|
JSTOR|
Academic OneFile |
|
___2. A Subject
Electronic
Database
[uncp.edu/library]; use journal finder if fulltext not available
|
Humanities
and Arts Essay &
General Literature (essays in books)
Humanities
Index (via OmniFile) Historical
Abstracts MLA (via
EBSCOhost): Literature, Language, Culture America:
History & Life
New York
Times and New York Times (Historical) Biography and
Genealogy Master Index PAIS (public
affairs, via EBSCOhost) Art Index
(via Omni File/Wilson Web) Communication
and Mass Media (via EBSCOhost) International
Index to the Performing Arts |
Education and
Youth ERIC-education,
youth; some full text (via EBSCO) Social Science PsycInfo
(Social Sciences, Education)
PsycArticles Social
Science Abstracts Criminal
Justice Abstracts
Sociological
Abstracts Contemporary
Women's Issues (via First Search)
Science,
Health, Medicine Web of Science General
Science Index (Via Omni File) Applied
Science and Technology Index Biological
and Agricultural Index CINAHL/Nursing
(via EBSCOhost)
|
B. Use LIBRARY REFERENCE
MATERIAL for
BACKGROUND &
BIBLIOGRAPHY p.2
____ 3.[Library
web site]: Use an ELECTRONIC REFERENCE SOURCE
CQ RESEARCHER (online or REF
H35.C67) for current issues Lskim articles
BRITANNICA ONLINE(student
ed):
thru Library site Lprint or
save
pages:.title page, 1st pg, bibl.
Grove Dictionary of Art Online
New Grove Dictionary of Music
Online
____4.[Library] Use a SUBJECT REFERENCE WORK: copy (w/bibliography)
& label one article.
Use indexes
in the last volume
or at end of a book encyclopedia. Check one or ask
librarian for
other suggestions.
|
World Almanac Encyclopedia
of Art Encyclopedia
of Bioethics Encycl. of
Crime & Justice |
Encyclopedia
of Educational Research Dictionary
of Literary Biography Baker Enc.
Psychology & Counseling Encycl. of
Childhood & Adolescence |
Encycl. of
Popular Culture Encyclopedia
of Religion Encyclopedia
of Social Work Encyclopedia
of Sports Science |
C. Find SCHOLARLY
BOOKS and BOOKS
FOR GENERAL
READERS
____5. [Library
web site]Use BraveCat,
the online catalog; try various searches; identify good book
prospects
print out citations
for 2-5 good books, published in the last 10 years (find some with
bibliography)
find out if book is
AVAILABLE
at UNCP; if due date is given, ask to have the book held for you.
D. Use INTERNET RESOURCES
____6. Search the
WEB (Britannica, Google) for information & sites; seek out
sponsored
(edu, gov) sites
L Keep
records; save in file&print.
E. Use a BIBLIOGRAPHY to help you find good
sources efficiently
____ 7.
From sources you have found, select a book or article with the
most
current/complete bibliography
of
resources on your topic.
Photocopy the most
valuable
page(s), identify source on the photocopy..
F. Do ORIGINAL RESEARCH and FIELD RESEARCH in
appropriate locations (*one
of
these is required)
Interview notes, site
reports, photos, etc
can appear in the Appendix to your research paper..
____
8.
Do expert interview(s) or site visit/interview(s) &/or
send for information from appropriate agency.
A professor or
other
professional may help you with your topic and your resources.
____ 9. Conduct primary
or field research (take notes):
-study/observe sites, art works
-design and conduct a
survey/questionnaire, interviews,
or an experiment (etc)
-use/take notes on media
resources: documentaries, television programs, etc.
____ 10. Use your personal
library,
expertise, textbooks, magazines, or resources from expert,family/friends