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STAY AHEAD 10 th November 2012 Researching your subject

STAY AHEAD 10 th November 2012 Researching your subject. Research is searching carefully, with a method, so that you can answer a question. It is wider than finding out a fact and more focused than reading widely around a subject. ‘Learning Research Skills’ British Library website

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STAY AHEAD 10 th November 2012 Researching your subject

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  1. STAY AHEAD 10th November 2012Researching your subject Research is searching carefully, with a method, so that you can answer a question. It is wider than finding out a fact and more focused than reading widely around a subject. ‘Learning Research Skills’ British Library website Sara Steinke

  2. Aims of the session • How good are you research skills? • Researching using catalogues, e-sources and book lists • Using academic reading skills in your research • Making notes from your research • Evaluating your research

  3. The research process • Identify and develop your topic - small is beautiful • Find background information • Use catalogues to find books • Use indexes to find periodical articles • Find additional internet resources - with caution • Evaluate what you find • Cite what you find using a standard format

  4. Research tips • Work from the general to the specific. Find background information first, then use more specific and recent sources. • Record what you find and where you found it. Set up a system to record the complete citation for each source you find; you may need it again later. • Translate your topic into the subject language of the indexes and catalogues you use. • Be creative in your approach. • Be aware of any research ethics issues.

  5. http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/elib/ejournals • Online versions of print journals • ‘Magazines’ with academic content • Usually published monthly or quarterly • Contain current and primary research • Useful for up-to-date information • Useful for a range of different opinions about a subject

  6. http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/elib/databases • Online tools to help you research your topic • Cover a specific subject or multidisciplinary • Some contain full text of journals, newspapers, magazines • Others are index and abstract services • Useful if no reading list • Can type in keyword/s • Helps to identify relevant readings

  7. Reading lists • Will include essential and secondary reading - use as the first resource for your research • Library catalogue: http://vufind.lib.bbk.ac.uk/vufind/ • Subject guides: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/lib/subguides/

  8. Catalogues, e-journals and e-data bases are secondarysources - secondary research involves summarising and organising research that has already been done by someone else • Primary sources are material collected by the researcher - primary research involves the use of already gathered material but providing your own systematic analysis • Usually, secondary and primary sources are used together

  9. Using linear notes for research • Make headings and subheadings • List key words • Number the points • Underline, colour, use capital letters for emphasis • Use abbreviations • Add your own personal thoughts later • Only use one side of a page in case you want to add more • Note name of authors you want/need to read in margin

  10. Using mind mapping for research • Turn the paper sideways, A3 landscape is best • Write the topic in the centre of the page • Write related ideas around this centre • Add secondary ideas to the main ideas • Link up these ideas to show relationships • Use colours, different line thickness, symbols, pictures etc. • Add details to points as you go along Produced on Inspiration 8.0, on all library computers

  11. Organising and storing your research notes • By systematic from the beginning • Make sure you can reread them before filing them away - but don’t rewrite them ‘neatly’ • Condensed notes can be copied and filed in at least three different ways - chronological order (as you go along) - topic order (eg in anticipation of an assignment) - personal interest (for your own research later) • Write subject clearly in top right hand corner, number pages, colour code them

  12. Critical questions to ask of your research • What is the main argument or thesis of the text? • What are the reasons given to justify the argument? • What evidence has been used? • What do you know about the author of the text? • What audience is the author addressing? • What sources has the author used?

  13. Recap of the session • Identify your subject before you start your research, and remember to narrow your focus • Learn how to use a variety of primary and secondary sources - catalogues, e-sources and book lists in your research • Use academic reading and note taking skills during your research • Evaluate - do not just present - your research

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