E-Research Strategies - NUF 2013

NUF: Electronic Information Research

Prof. Linda Rath

Graduate Services Librarian

[email protected]

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

http://guides.newman.baruch.cuny.edu/nuf

http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/

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