How to do research

HOW TO DO RESEARCH

GET READY, SET, GO

GET READY

Choose a topic

List keywords, synonyms and concepts

Search the library catalog

Read background information

Choose a Topic

Of interest to you

Manageable

Specific

Brainstorm

List keywords, concepts, synonyms

Formulate a question or hypothesis

Search the Library Catalog

Search the Library Catalog

Find books and media: new titles, encyclopedias and reference books

Read for background information

Note sources in bibliographies

Check dates for recency

Check for availability in catalog

Library Catalog Search

Get Set: Construct a Search Strategy

How can green construction become a standard for home building

and save energy consumption?

Concepts/Keywords

green construction sustainable construction energy efficient

Related terms

green building green business environmentally friendly alternative energy home building

Multiple spellings

ecofriendly eco friendly

Acronyms

LEED IGCC AIA

Use Advanced Searching Techniques

quotations “ “ to search for multiple terms as a complete phrase “green construction” “sustainable development”

truncation * to include all variant endings: environ* (environment, environmentally

Parentheses ( ) Sets the order of search. Terms in parentheses are searched first:

“alternative energy” AND (solar energy or radiant energy)

If more than one set is used the one on the left is searched first

Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT

Combine search terms for a narrow result: “green construction” AND “building standards”

Combine synonyms or closely related terms for a wider search: “green construction” OR “green building”

Excludes terms from the search result: “home building” NOT “commercial building”

Use Research Port

Select Databases

General Databases

Academic Search Premier

JSTOR

Project Muse

Subject Related Databases

Business Source Complete

Guide to Hospitality Management

Environmental Science and Pollution

Ecology Abstracts

Garden, Landscape and Horticulture Index

GreenFile

Academic Search Premier

Academic Search Premier

Academic Search Premier

Academic Search Premier

Environment Sci. & Pollution

Environmental Sci. & Pollution

Environmental Sci. & Pollution

UM find it: Publisher’s Catalog

Science Direct

Science Direct

Go

Read sources, take notes

Organize ideas

Make an outline

Write first draft

Document sources (footnotes or endnotes)

Write a bibliography

Revise first draft

Proofread final draft

APA CITATION FORMAT

Citing Sources Using the APA Publication Manual http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/citing_apa.html

APA Style Help http://www.apastyle.org/apa-style-help.aspx

How to Write an Annotated Bibliography http://www.umuc.edu/library/tutorials/bibliography/bibliography-text.shtml