Five-Stage Model for Relating Library and Scientific Research

Stage Use Appropriate Library
Sources
1. Establish an interest  Popular magazines
 Newspapers
2. Narrow the topic  Textbooks K-12
 General references:
books, encyclopedias,
dictionaries, handbooks
 Online databases, e.g.,
SIRS Discoverer,
Grolier (which includes  Scanning
The New Book of
Popular Science) and
Thomson-Gale (which
includes “The Science
Resource Center”)
 Websites
3. Clarify the variables  Scientific indexes
 Scientific magazine and
journal articles (in hard  Documenting
copy and in online
databases)
4. Refine the  Laboratory manuals
procedures  Handbooks and
manuals
 Sourcebooks
 Community resources
5. Interpret the  Appropriate resources
unexpected
Use Library Research Relate Library and Scientific
Skills Research
 Documenting  What general topic (X)
 Scanning interests you?
 Making note cards  What general action of (X)
interests you?
 Using descriptors  What specific topic (X)
 Locating information interests you?
in books, general  What materials are readily
indexes, and card or available for you to conduct
online catalogs experiments on (X)?
 Documenting  What specific action of (X)
interests you?
 Making note cards  How could you measure or
describe the action of (X)?
 Using scientific  What variable will you
indexes change to conduct
experiments on (X)?
 Scanning  What specific changes will
 Making note cards you make in (X)?
 What action of (X) will you
investigate?
 What specific observations
or measurements will you
make on (X)?
 Using community  What specific materials or
resources organisms will you use?
 Conducting interviews  What specific procedures
 Documenting will you follow?
 Scanning  How will you collect and
 Making note cards analyze data?
 Using Library skills  How can you explain
unexpected events?

STAGE 1: ESTABLISH AN INTEREST

NOTE CARD FORMAT GENERAL SOURCES
Reference Card Number Call Number
Topic Location
Points of Interest
1. Page
2. Page
3. Page

Reasons for Interest

References Cited

Tips for completing note cards

1. Write the complete reference using the format designated by the teacher.
2. Record the location of the source; for library materials include the call number.
3. Scan the material and identify important information.
4. Record the major topic.
5. Use key words and phrases to record major points. Put quotation marks around the
authors own words.
6. Record page numbers; these are needed to accurately document information and to return
to sources. Record URLs (universal resource locator) for WEB sites and databases.
7. Cite interesting references included within the article.
8. Number cards for each source sequentially; place a shortened reference at the top of each
card.
9. Use a new card when you change sources.
Relating Library and Scientific Research
1. After you complete all note cards on newspapers and popular journal articles, respond to
the following questions:
 What general topic (X) interests you?
 What general action of (X) interests you?
2. After you complete all note cards on general sources, such as textbooks, encyclopedias,
and dictionaries, respond to the following questions:
 What specific topic (X) interests you?
 What materials are readily available for you to conduct an experiment on (X)?
 What specific action of (X) interests you?
 How could you measure or describe the action of (X)?
GENERAL TOPIC GENRAL ACTION
Plants Growth
Disinfectants Kills Germs
Music Driving accidents
Glue Sticking wood
Tobacco Cellular development
Cold weather Effectiveness of lubricant oil
Planaria Regeneration

HOW TO DOCUMENT SOURCES

BOOK: author, title, place of publication, publisher, edition, copyright date, pages.

Article: author, title of article, journal article, volume and issue number, date, pages.

Newspaper: author (if available), title of article, name of paper, date, pages.

Abstract: information needed on the original article is author, title of article, journal title,
volume and issue number, date, pages; information needed on the compilation is journal title,
volume and issue number, date, pages, abstract number.

Unpublished manuscript: author, title, date; if paper was presented at a meeting adds the name,
location, and date of the meeting.

Articles from online databases: author ( if available), title of article, title of newspaper or
magazine, name of database and sub database (e.g., Thomson-Gale, New Book of Popular
Science), name of library where you accessed material, date, pages, URL.

World Wide Web resources: author (if available), title of article, date of electronic publication,
name of organization sponsoring the site (if available) URL

STAGE 2: NARROW THE TOPIC

Q1. What specific topic about (X plants) interests you? Leaf Cuttings

Q2. What materials are readily available for you to conduct an experimenter on (X plants leaf
cuttings)?
Different varieties of plants, ages of leaves, rooting solutions, light, fertilizer, hormones, soil

Q3. Whats specific action of (X plants  growth) interests you?

Root propagation

Q4. How could you measure or describe the action of (X plants  growth  root propagation)?
Time for roots to appear, number of roots, length of roots, internal development, amount of vascular
tissue.
STAGE 3: CLARIFY VARIABLES

Q1: What variable will you change to conduct experiments on ( X plants  leaf cuttings)?
Different aged leaves
Q2: What specific changes will you make in (X plants  leaf cuttings  different aged leaves)?
1 month- old leaves, 2 month-old leaves, 3 month-old leaves
Q3: What action of (X plants  growth root propagation) will you investigate?
Growth of roots
Q4: What specific observations or measurements will you make on (X plants  growth  root
propagation  growth of roots)?
Observe the internal development of the xylem and phloem. Count the number of roots that emerge.

NOTE CARD FORMAT CARD 1

Reference Card Number Call Number/URL
Location

Purpose/Hypothesis:

Experimental Design:
Independent Variable:
Dependent Variable:
Constants:
Control:
Repeated Trials:

CARD 2
Procedure:

Major Findings/Conclusions

Areas for Further Research:

References Cited:

Related Library and Scientific Research

After completing all note cards on scientific research articles, respond to the following questions:

 What variable will you change to conduct an experiment in (X)?

 What specific change will you make in (X)?
 What action of (X) will you investigate?
 What specific observations or measurements will you make on (X)?
STAGE 4: REFINE THE PROCEDURES
Note Card Format CARD 1
Reference Card Number Card Number/URL
Location

Procedure:

Major Materials/Equipment: Availability

CARD 2
Brief of Synopsis of Steps:

Your Ability to Implement:

References Cited:

RELATING LIBRARY AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

After completing all the interviews, respond to the following questions:

 What specific materials or organisms will you use?

 What specific procedures will you follow?
 How will you collect and analyze data?

STAGE 5: INTERPRET THE UNEXPECTED

These unexpected events represent the nature of all human endeavors, including science, and are
a valuable part of the learning process. Whenever unexpected events occur, the preceding stages
represent a useful strategy for another round of library research or for narrowing the focus on
resources critical to specific question. Libraries are valuable resources for interpreting of such
events, modifying procedures, offering explanations for findings or proposing fruitful avenues
for further experimentation.

CONDUCTING AN INTERVIEW
Note Card Format
Reference Card Number Phone Number

Address

Date Arranged:
Date of Interview:
Question:

Response:
Tips for conducting Interviews
1. Call the individual at least one week in advance to arrange an interview. Note the time
and place carefully. Tell the individual the specific topic to be discussed and information
needed.
2. Prepare for the meeting by writing specific questions to be asked. Put each question on a
separate card.
3. Listen carefully during the interview. Record important phrases and key words. Tape the
interview if the interviewee is agreeable to being taped.
4. Review the notes immediately after the interview and add additional information.
5. Write a letter expressing your appreciation.

Relating Library and Scientific Research

After completing all the interviews, respond to the following questions:
 What specific materials or organisms will you use?
 What specific procedures will you follow?
 How will you collect and analyze data?

ASSIGNMENT AS A GROUP

1) As a group prepare a researchable topic, bring the resources, such as books, journals,
magazines, newspapers.

2) Bring atleast 8 ½ sized index cards

3) Paste or glue and bondpapers
4) Prepare 10 questions for you to ask the interviewee and prepare the
name or identify the person that you need to interview.