RESEARCHING

Mirko Terenzoni
LAPU
 Researching – A question to explore

 The first step in researching is deciding on  Figure out what you know – and what you
the question that you will answer. don’t know!
 Questions should be thought-provoking  Ask why, what if,
and worth researching.  Don’t ask yes or no questions
 Interesting & Debatable
 Questions should not be too broad or too When you are stuck:
narrow
Use a picture to help you
 Make it a challenge!
Synonyms
- “Bland questions might be part of your
paper” (Hacker & Sommers, 2011) Keywords
Researching – Strategy
A strategy is a plan – track down your sources
 Resources should include:
 A librarian
 The library website
 Web search engines

 Come prepared!
 Ask the right questions
 Know your assignment
 Keep track of time - how much do you need? How much do you have?

 Take advantage of free resources to help you

 Librarians and University help programs

 Don’t take the ‘easy’ way out

https://fabrikbrands.com/what-is-marketing-
channel-strategy/  Different subjects will require different sources
 journals, topic, research
 Researching –
Locating resources
Databases
 The library will have electronic databases
GENERAL  Databases contain recent works
• Academic Search Premier  Print index will have a wider range of works
• Expanded Academic ASAP
 Subject – specific searches can go in depth in a
• JSTOR subject
• LexisNexis
• ProQuest  Databases may have the full text or you might
need to obtain the text from another source.
SUBJECT SPECIFIC
• ERIC
• MLA Bibliography
• PsycINFO
• Public Affairs Information Search
• PubMed
Researching – How to search

1. Start with Keywords

Descriptive words, experiment, synonyms
Use additional terms to narrow it down
2. Know when to use other sources
Print indexes can be useful for historical topics too old to be electronic
3. Locate books: Library Catalog
Search by Author, Title, Subject
4. Use online tools for other sources
Government agencies
Museums
Directories
Digital Archives

https://photos.com/featured/private-eye-magnifying-
glass-larryrains.html?product=art-print
Research – Evaluate your sources

 Sources can serve multiple functions:  Selecting sources

 Support the thesis  Scan, assess for relevancy

 Provide background  Determine if it is scholarly

 Formal language, reputable, research,
 Provide evidence quotes
 Give authority  Appropriate versions: use a complete
 Show alternative views version
 Abstracts, excerpt, full text  article or book
 Open mind & critical eye
 Examine, assess, bias/objective
 Verify credibility
Research – Manage information

Manage your records Keep track

 Working bibliography  Save your sources
 Take good notes, but don’t plagiarize  Keep print copies

 Record your sources  Email copies to yourself

 Photocopy
 Annotate
 Use quotes, don’t over-use quotes.  Look away – then take notes
 Don’t copy / paste unless you are quoting
 Summarize
 Cite
 Use the proper method
Researching - Documentation

 There are multiple styles – choose

appropriately
 MLA, APA, CMS
 “by choosing appropriate sources, you
will add credibility to your work” (Hacker
& Sommers, 2011)
REFERENCES

15 Steps to Good Research. (n.d.). Retrieved from Georgetown University

Library: https://www.library.georgetown.edu/tutorials/research-guides/15-steps

Hacker, D., & Sommers, N. (2011). A Writer's Reference. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

How to do Research. (n.d.). Retrieved from Elmira College: https://libguides.elmira.edu/research/search_strategies