The Research Process

1. The Research Process Why Do Research?

2. Research is a process made up of many small steps.What Next?Steps in the Research Process 1. Define your research needs 2. Develop a research strategy 3. Conduct searches for information 4. Evaluate the resources that you find 5. Incorporate and cite the information you use

3. Defining Your Research Needs • Make sure that you understand your assignment. • The next step in the process is defining what you need. • Then distinguish between different types of resources to decide which to use.

4. Defining Your Research NeedsWhat is Your Assignment? • Instructors use words like argue,analyze, compare, or describe to guide your approach to a topic. For example, an assignment that asks you to argue requires you to take a position on an issue or idea and support your position with research. • What do you have to do in your paper?

5. Defining Research Needs Which Library Resources? Books NCLIVE-Magazines Internet- Web Sites Newspapers

6. Defining Research NeedsBooksBooks are important resources for Research • Controversialtopics are covered in these book series: At Issue Contemporary IssuesContemporary Issues Companion Current Controversies Opposing Viewpoints Series Use the Online Catalog to locate Books

7. Defining Research Needs Magazines • Magazines or periodicals supply helpful information about general interest issues and current events. • Use NCLive to locate magazine and newspaper articles.

8. Defining Research NeedsNCLIVE • NCLIVE is a group of databases that provide access to articles from over 9,000 newspapers, journals, magazines and encyclopedias, indexing for over 20,000 periodical titles and access to over 22, 000 electronic books • It is a great source for your paper and for your other class assignments.

9. Defining Research NeedsThe World Wide Web • Web sites are useful for researching cutting-edge issues. • Pro: Web sites provide up-to-the minute news and information about current events, trends, and controversial topics. • Con: Because anyone can publish anything on the web, web site information is frequently inaccurate or biased, and sometimes outdated..

10. 2.Developing a Research StrategyDefining Your Topic • Crime and Law • Discrimination • Drugs and Drug Abuse • Education • Environment • Health • History • Media and Communications • Political Issues • Popular Culture • Psychology • Religion • Social Issues • Technology • Women's Issues • Ideas from Faculty

11. Developing a Research Strategy • Break down the main concept into smaller concepts and think of keywords. • If your topic is “Does watching TV cause violence?”, break down your idea into at least two concepts. • CONCEPT 1[Media • CONCEPT 2[Violence

12. Developing a Research StrategyThink of SynonymsOften, there is more than one word that you can use to search for your topic • CONCEPT 1- media • Synonyms - television, mass media movies, mass communications • CONCEPT 2 - violence • [Synonyms - riots, aggression, violent behavior

13. 3. Conducting Searches for Information • Next, form a Boolean search with your terms, or keywords. • There are three Boolean operators, and, or, and not. • Boolean operators are used to construct complex searches in a database. • They help make a search more accurate.

14. Conducting Searches for InformationBoolean SearchingExamples: Media Violence Media and Violence • Television and violence • Media and violence • Violence and mass media • Advertising and violence and • Rap music and violence • Or children and violence and effects • You may have to try many combinations to find the results that you need; you do not need to capitalize

15. Conducting Searches for InformationNote!!! Important!!! • Do not search using long phrases such as, • “How does advertising cause violence” • Should cell phones be banned while driving? • Does rap music effect the behavior of teenagers in America? • REMEMBER --- Use KEYWORDS and combine them using - AND -

16. Conducting Searches for InformationFirst, Search theOnline Catalogfor Books • Same process—break into concepts and keywords • CATALOG Search—television and violence Next try- media and violence Try series – Opposing Viewpoints • Web-based catalog, Call numbers • Inter-Library Loan (ILL)

17. Conducting Searches for InformationLibrary Web Pages • Check Finding Your Way Around the Library and Using the Library to do Research for tips • This Powerpoint Presentation is located under Using the Library to do Researchfor future reference • Explore library web pages for further information

18. Conducting Searches for InformationNow we are switching from books to periodicals – magazines/newspapersNC LIVE - Steps: • Type in keyword, or keywords • Pick a Database • Click on Full text • Scan articles for relevance to topic • Pull up article • Print or e-mail to yourself • Use information to cite

19. Conducting Searches for InformationNCLive – CQ Researcher Online • We will look at another database • Click on Browse Resources • Click on Business • Click on CQ Researcher Online • Put in search words • Click on article that looks good • Click on Pro/Con

20. Conducting Searches for InformationThe World Wide Web • Now we are switching from magazines to the Internet • Fine to use Google • Too much information – need to evaluate • Search gun control • Evaluate results

21. Evaluating Websites • Authority—Who provided the information? Who sponsors this website? • Currency—Is there a date on the page? Is it recent enough to be relevant? • Bias—Does this website have a point of view? Is it designed to influence your opinion?

22. Citing Sources • The citationmachine.net is available as a tool to assist you with your bibliography. • Always check with your instructor for instructions on the proper format to use.

23. Conclusion • EVALUATION!!! Of NCLive to Internet • NCLive is authoritative and accurate • Internet sources must be evaluated • PASSWORDS • Tip Sheet • Please don’t hesitate to ask for help!