Research methodical investigation into a subject in order
Research: methodical investigation into a subject in order to discover facts, to establish or revise a theory, or to develop a plan of action based on the facts discovered Encarta Dictionary WHAT IS RESEARCH
What?
Research: • Creating a method • Planning • Investigation • Discovery • Action based on facts
Where do I start? • Identify a variety of information sources • Identify characteristics of information on the web • Identify characteristics of library resources http: //faculty. ivytech. edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
Where do I go to find sources?
THE LIBRARY • • Printed materials Books Magazines Articles e-books Online encyclopedias Electronic resources Web browsing The library usually provides useful information for academic research and is an environment conducive to studying.
Library resources • Go through a review process • Free or discounted for your use • Organized • Meant to be kept permanently • Come with personal assistance
THE WEB • Current information • Library links • Company information • Government information • Expert and popular opinions
THE WEB • Most information on the web does not go through a review process. • Some information on the web is not free. • Information on the web is not organized. • Most information on the web is not comprehensive. • Most information on the web is not permanent.
Magazines • • • Articles Popular interest Current events Periodicals Found at newsstands, libraries, and the web Some articles are written for people who are not necessarily specialists in the topic area.
Journals • Articles are written by scholars • Editorial board reviews articles • Specific topics or narrow fields of research • Periodic intervals Continued….
Journals • Come in print format or on the web as electronic journals • Library purchases subscriptions to most journals • Previous studies on your topic • Bibliographies that point to other relevant research
Newspapers • Articles daily • Current events • Periodicals • International, national and local events • Editorials • Commentaries • Expert or popular opinions
Books • Cover virtually any topic • Fact or fiction • Electronic books (e-books) • A lot of information on a topic • Summaries of research to support an argument • Usually has been seriously reviewed prior to publication
Encyclopedias • Factual articles • Background information on a topic • Find key ideas, important dates or concepts • Two types of encyclopedias (general and subject)
Library Catalogs • Identify items in the library • Books, ebooks • Journals • Magazines • Newspapers • Videos
Ivy. Cat • Books by title, author, or subject heading • Contains more than books • Guided keyword search • Journals • Call numbers used to find items in the library • Find information about your account (books checked out, etc. )
Where do I go to find Ivy Tech’s virtual library?
Article Databases • Find articles on your topic in magazines, journals or newspapers • Periodical indexes or databases • Citations of articles in magazines, journals, and newspapers • Some contain abstracts or brief summaries of the articles • Most contain the full text • Accessible from the library Web site
Choosing a topic
When choosing a topic • Broaden or narrow a topic • Identify keywords for a topic • Understand the difference between keyword and subject searching • Use connectors and truncation in constructing a search http: //faculty. ivytech. edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
When broadening or narrowing a topic ask yourself …. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How often? To what extent? http: //faculty. ivytech. edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
You may also ask yourself… • What am I trying to find out? • What will my research prove? • What answer am I searching for? http: //faculty. ivytech. edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
Write out your topic as a sentence or a question. Example: How do advertisers market their products to women? Notice the keywords in green. http: //faculty. ivytech. edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
If your subject is marketing then a keyword might be products. Once you discover your keywords try branching off of them with other related words as in the diagram above. http: //faculty. ivytech. edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
Try using a diagram to brainstorm. http: //www. bing. com/images/search? q=brainstorming&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=brainstorming&sc=8 -13&sp=-1&sk=#x 0 y 16542
DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! • PLAN AHEAD • CREATE A STRATEGY • DON’T PROCRASTINATE
Find a quiet place away from distractions. Make sure you are comfortable.
Make good use of your time. • Class Times • Start and end dates • Deadlines • L. R. C. office hours • Writing Center hours
The Learning Resource Center (L. R. C. ) Hours of operation Richmond Mon. -Thurs. : 9 a. m. - 7 p. m. Fri. : 9 a. m. - 6 p. m. Sat. : 9 a. m. - 12 p. m. Connersville Mon. -Tues. : 9 a. m. – 5 p. m. Wed. - Fri. 9 a. m. – 5. p. m For more information contact: Susana Dunn Email: stheobald 4@ivytech. edu Phone: 765 -966 -2656 ext. 1188
Writing Center Hours of Operation Johnson Hall Room 3408 Mon. -Thurs. : 10 a. m. – 4 p. m. Students with appointments are given priority, but walk-ins are welcome! To schedule an appointment or for more information contact: Email: richmondwc@lists. ivytech. edu Phone: 765 -966 -2656 ext. 3408
Now you know what to know and where to go! Remember what you’ve learned and let it guide you through the research process.
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