Corporate Communications Research Strategies

Corporate Communications Research Strategies Seneca@York Library and Learning Commons Carmen Genuardi, Master of Library & Information Science Information Services Librarian (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Today’s Agenda… • Creating an Effective Search • Search Strategies using Connectors [AND, OR, NOT] • Examples of Research Books in Learning Commons • Searching Learning Commons—this is your chance! • Handout of Periodicals List-Journal of Public Relations Research • Research by Subject page…Let’s explore • Databases…Finding scholarly journal articles • And more… (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Basic Rules for Research • Know where to look. • If you cannot find “it” in 20 minutes, ask for help at the Reference Desk. • Just because it exists does not mean you can get it. Not everything is online! • *Choosing the right search terms is key to success. Use the “Lingo” of the field. • Repeat if necessary. (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

1. What kind of information am I looking for? 2.Where and howdo I search for this information? 3. Once I have found some information, how can I evaluateits usefulness? 4. How do I find more similar information? Starting your Research...Ask (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Beginning Your Research What kind of information am I looking for? • Facts? • Research? • Opinion? • News? • Current? Historical? • Local/National/International? (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

“What Am I looking for?”Sources of Information – “Containers” • Books • Encyclopedias • Directories • Almanacs/Yearbooks • Magazines/Journals/Newspapers • Atlas • Internet/World Wide Web** (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Use different formats of sources… In-depth analysis of a subject: subject specific books, journal articles Current news, events : newspapers, magazine articles Facts, definitions, summaries:almanac, atlas, dictionary, directory, encyclopedia, handbook, thesauri, yearbook Encyclopedias Books Newspaper Articles Journal Articles (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Creating an Effective Search 1. Define your topic (narrow as possible) 2. Write your research question 3. Identify keywords and their synonyms (drawn from question) [*Use your handout to keep track] 4. Lastly, select research tools (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

1. Define a Topic 2. Write aResearch Question - Summarize your topic 4. ChooseAlternate Keywords 3. Choose Keywords - Identify the concept(s) 5. Build a SearchStatement - Connect Words and Concepts* The Research Process 6. Execute the Search - Select relevant resources 7. Review theSearch Results (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Build Search Statement—Connect the Concepts • OR - broadens a search • “business communication” or “public relations” (synonyms) • AND - narrows a search • Corporations and “public relations” • “phrase” – narrows a search even more • “community relations” or “public relations” • * (wildcard) – expands a search • Communicat* (retrieves communication, communicating, communications …) retrieving various endings • NOT – excludes specific terms • “education” NOT “schools” (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Example Research Question:What is the inter-relationship between public relations and employee communications? Topic: public relations & employee communications Subject: for example, business, communications, social science Keywords from RQ: public relationsemployee communications OR A N D OR employee interaction, employee attitude, employee-employer relationship(s), worker, staff public affairs, corporate affairs, community relations, corporate image, corporate culture Sample search statement: (“public relations” OR “public affairs”) AND (employee AND communicat*) (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Find more similar resources… • “Grow Pearls” • Search for the references from an article or item you found particularly useful; • Use the Subject terms in the library catalogue or the table of contents (keyword searching) from a relevant book on the topic. • Search for particular authors who are “gurus” in the field. (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

TIP: Start with Books or E-Books Why? • Books can cover your topic more thoroughly and give you ideas to help focus your topic and provide ideas for search terms (keywords) before you start searching for journal articles. • Also, your search is pretty focused if you decide to search the Internet, where you would otherwise find too much irrelevant information. (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Where Do I Search? • Seneca@York Learning Commons Library and Online [search from home] • Other Seneca Libraries- Place Hold [arrive in 2 days max.] • Local University Libraries -YorkUniversity[Interlibrary Loan Service] (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Resources at Circulation Desk • IABC Binders –practitioners “how-to” binders • Scholarly Journals, Magazines, Newsletters • Refer to handout for a list of titles • For use only in the library • “Dummy box” on shelf referring you to Circ. Desk. • *Student Field and Seminar Reports • Find a list under Research by Subject>Corporate Communications>Student reports (pdf) • Any Reserve Items from your Professor • Directories • Bowdens Corporate Directories (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

To “place requests” to transfer an item to your campus, you must be on a “record view” page. Use Subject Headings to refine your search In order to retrieve similar items. (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Exercise #1: Subject Search Do a TITLE search using the book you have selected and find more similar items by clicking on the SUBJECT link… For example, Title: Basics of Communication Research (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

CD-Rom resource – only available on campus IP Authentication – use Seneca dial-up or click on “remote access” link (if available) Remote Access – log in when prompted Accessing the Site (LCO) http://learningcommons.senecacollege.ca Important: To gain access to our Learning Commons Online resources outside the campus, log in with your Seneca e-mail (learn) username and password when prompted. (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

More Useful Research Databases • News & Current Events • Canadian NewStand- National Post • Canadian Business & Current Affairs • CPI.Q-Globe & Mail • Lexis/Nexis • Company Information and much more… • Financial Post Corporate Profiler and Reports Keep in Mind: Search syntax differs between databases. (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Exercise #2: Article Searching Locate 2 articles that would be useful for your topic using the two methods shown today. Write down the database used, author(s), article title, journal name, volume #, issue #, pages #’s. Need this information for your References page. (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Academic Honesty According to the Seneca College Student Handbook, plagiarismis “the inclusion of another’s words, phrases, sentences or entire passages in work which you claim as your own.” Turnitin @ Seneca LCO -> Academic Honesty (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Citing Your Information Sources When conducting research, you must properly acknowledge the sources of information you have used... This is commonly referred to as a “References” Page Consult: LCO -> Quick Ref. Tools -> Bibliography Style Guides • APA Style for Electronic References • APA Style Guide also check the Library Catalogue (c) 2004 Bordignon, Buczynski, Foo, Genuardi

Corporate Communications Research Strategies