alexander mack memorial library

Instruction Session Williams CIS 460 Spring 09

Page history last edited by Cori Biddle 9 mos ago

CIS460 Dr Lee Williams 9 February 2009

Research Process

1. Choose

Choose your research topic and make a list of possible search terms (keywords). Also isolate possible resources (like databases or the library catalog) for your search.

2. Search

Use your choices from step one to find information sources (like articles, books, or websites)

3. Revise

Assess your search in step two and decide whether it has been successful. If your sources do not meet your needs, you may need to change either your keywords, the resources you’ve been searching, or both.

4. (Re)Search

If you made changes in step three, repeat your search and see to see if your results improve.

5. Evaluate

Once you have a good list of possible sources, you need to evaluate each one to see which are the most reliable and best fit your information need.

6. Write

Using the sources you’ve collected in step five, you finally sit down to finish the assignment.

Useful Eresources

Find links to these under the eResources 2.0 page

Remember that you can access all our databases off campus!

§ Academic Search Complete

§ ACM Digital Library

§ Blackwell Synergy (Now Wiley Interscience)

§ Computers & Applied Sciences Complete

§ WorldCat

Web Resources

Instead of using Google or another search engine, try sites that indexes and evaluate websites. The authors of these sites have typically already done the work for you. However, you still want to evaluate the sites for yourself to understand whose has built the site and whether they are a reliable source of information.

http://arxiv.org
Digital Librarian- http://www.digital-librarian.com
Directory of Open Access Journals (http://www.doaj.org)- (full text)
INFOMINE- http://infomine.ucr.edu/
Librarian’s Internet Index- http://www.lii.org/

Tips to Keep in mind while Searching

Databases

§ Databases organize/search information differently, so check the help feature before you begin

§ Use the Advanced Search options as ways to narrow or limit your search results

§ Explore the subject terms or thesaurus terms you can use instead of a normal keyword search. (They are standardized so you don’t have to worry about synonyms or homographs)

§ After you find one useful article check the subjects or keywords attached to it. This can lead you to more efficient search terms.

§ Remember that Periodical Locator can find the full text of articles in varying databases.

When you come across materials you need but we don’t have full text access, fill out an Interlibrary Loan request (just remember to allow 1-2 weeks for delivery).

Search Tips that Span the Information Universe

§ Remember to use Boolean Operators

o AND will produce results containing BOTH terms (e.g. birds AND bees)

o OR generates results that contain EITHER term (e.g. dogs OR canines)

o NOT results will include the first term, but not the second (cats NOT musical)

§ Quotation marks will isolate that phrase: “natural selection” lists results containing only that specific phrase, but results for natural selection would contain natural AND selection somewhere, not necessarily side by side.

§ Truncation allows you to search for variances of terms. Astro* gives you results which can include the terms: astronomer, astronomy, astrology, astronaut, etc. Some database’s use different symbols, so check their help features.

Troubleshooting Your Search

If you are getting too many results
- Are there any synonyms you could use? Can you add a term to make the search more specific?
- Does the database allow you to limit the results by date or journal?
- Try using a standard subject term instead of a keyword search
If you are getting to few results
- Again, try any synonyms for your terms. Are there any that have a broader meaning? Can you remove any term all together?
- If you have used limiters (like full-text) try the search without them.
- Use the Boolean Operator “or” to search for more than one term at a time.
Reassess where you’re looking for information
- If you aren’t finding information, check that you are not in a discipline specific database
- If you have too much information, or a lot of false hits, move from a general database to a discipline specific one.
- If you are looking for a general overview encyclopedias or handbooks are better than journal articles, which usually only deal with one specific aspect of a topic.
Check out the help features
- Typically they provide suggestions for using the database along with a number of search strategies and tips. Since each database is unique, it is best to become familiar with its features before searching.
Look to other libraries for information
- BC students can check out materials from libraries at Eastern Mennonite University, James Madison University, and Mary Baldwin College. You just need to bring your college ID.
- The library also has access to the World Cat database. This database contains the catalogs of about 10,000 libraries worldwide. Once you’ve found an item you can request it through Interlibrary Loan.