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MBA690: Researching Contemporary Issues

MBA690: Researching Contemporary Issues. Christina Bonner, Ph.D., M.L.I.S. Reference & Instruction Services. Our Agenda. Resources for gathering data & researching history, challenges, trends, initiatives Strategies for researching contemporary issues Search Tools

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MBA690: Researching Contemporary Issues

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  1. MBA690: Researching Contemporary Issues Christina Bonner, Ph.D., M.L.I.S. Reference & Instruction Services

  2. Our Agenda • Resources for gathering data & researching history, challenges, trends, initiatives • Strategies for researching contemporary issues • Search Tools • Contact information

  3. The Resources • Books, Ebooks – OVERVIEWS, TRENDS • Web sites  Gov’t agencies & international institutions– OVERVIEWS, DATA, PROJECTS, PROJECTIONS • Research articles– RESEARCH, PERSPECTIVES • Reference materials – DATA, TRENDS

  4. 4 Key Strategies • Issues are broad. Start with books or organizations. • On the Web use knownorganizations & agenciesthat deal with specific issues. • From a perspective of global enterprise. Use business & political science databases for articles. • Take advantage of reference resources online and in the collection for quick information.

  5. Search Tools • ODU Library Catalog • ODU Library research databases • ODU Library Quick Reference • Search engine for national & international agencies & organizations that deal with global issues

  6. Search Strategies - Catalogs/Databases • Specific issues – Can use “” in keyword search for exact match • EXAMPLE: “global warming” • Broad issues – Try subject search when available • EXAMPLE: china in SUBJECT • Issue key components, using quotes & truncation when possible • EXAMPLE: “federal reserve” and bank* • Synonyms, related terms, & different combinations • EXAMPLE: sustainability and businesses |sustainability and corporate | “sustainable business” • Limit to range of years, then sort by relevance • Very useful with broad topics, especially for current trends & initiatives • Search terms depend on perspective of database! • Terminology used in one discipline may be different from terminology in another discipline, even for same issue

  7. Top Database Choices Articles in Databases • Business Source Complete • EconLit • CIAO (Columbia International Affairs Online) • International Political Science Abstracts Other possibilities, depending on issue: • Environment Complete (environment) • CINAHL (health) • SocIndex (poverty, education, social issues)

  8. Search Strategies – Search Engines • Type in name of agency/organization that might have the info you seek. Use quotes for exact match.EXAMPLE: “world bank” • Type in words from your issue.No need for AND between the words; SEs typically assume by default you mean to use AND.EXAMPLE: “federal reserve” bank • Limit to gov’t site if that’s where you might find dataEXAMPLE: “federal reserve” bank site:.gov • Use specialized search engine from ODU Library’s Internet Search page, e.g., Infomine

  9. Out in the Web… National & international agencies & organizations … Data, Latest Initiatives, News for Multiple Issues: • CIA World Factbook (countries) • US Dept. of State Background Notes (countries) • Liber8: An Economic Information Portal • European Union • United Nations (Select from yellow menu options across top of page) • UN Millennium Development Goals Indicators • World Bank (>>> Data and Research)

  10. Out in the Web… National & international agencies & organizations … For Specific Issues, Target Specific Organizations: • Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) • Disease Control Priorities Project (DCPP) • Fraser: Federal Reserve Archival System for Economic Research • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) • World Health Organization (>>> Health Topics) • World Wildlife Fund(>>> Climate)

  11. E-Reference Resources • Quick Reference– Statistics & Demographics • Statistics & Demographics • Encyclopedias & Almanacs • OhioLINK Electronic Books Center • Search for Keyword in Title and/or Subject

  12. Print Reference Standards • ODU Library Reference Collection • World Development Report330.9 W927 • Latest in Reference; others in Main Stacks • World at Risk: A Global Issues Sourcebook300 W8931r • Works that focus on one global issue, for example: • Infectious Diseases Source616.9 I32d • World Poverty(2008) - online • World Development Indicators330.9005 W8934d • World Almanac310 W927

  13. Further Considerations • Contemporary issues • Country-dependent, culture-dependent perspectives • Interdisciplinary • Note the publisher of the information • Provides hint of perspective(s) and opinion(s). • Dictionaries & encyclopedias for terminology • Start with the familiar • Know an agency or organization? Know its site? • How familiar are you with the issue?

  14. Need Assistance? Supporting the Quest for Knowledge Guides to Catalogs, Databases, Evaluating Sources: • www.ohiodominican.edu/library/help Ask a Librarian: • www.ohiodominican.edu/library/help/ask • refdesk@ohiodominican.edu (email & texting) • 251-4754 | toll-free (888) 681-8044

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