beginning research for assignments
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Beginning research for assignments. LIBRARY. Session outline. Terminology Analysing your question Different information sources When to use them Where to find them What they look like in a reading list The information cycle Starting research Where to get more help. Terminology:. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Beginning research for assignments
LIBRARY
Session outlineTerminologyAnalysing your questionDifferent information sources
◦ When to use them ◦ Where to find them◦ What they look like in a reading list
The information cycleStarting researchWhere to get more help
Terminology: Journals OR Serials
◦ regular publications which contain scholarly articles for academic readers
◦ Journals are published in yearly volumes◦ Volumes are comprised of monthly or quarterly issues◦ Each issue contains multiple articles
Peer-reviewed OR refereed journals ◦ All articles are reviewed by experts in the field before
publication
Databases◦ Searchable collections of information or data◦ Most of our academic journals are accessible via
databases ◦ Some databases contain full text (complete articles)◦ Other databases provide just the reference and
abstract (summary)
Terminology cont’d: Reference
◦ A formal, detailed description of a book, journal article etc
◦ Example: Behrens, L. (2010). A sequence for academic writing.
New York, N.Y.: Pearson.
In-text reference OR Citation◦ An abbreviated reference within the body of an
assignment to guide the reader to the detailed reference in the Reference List or Bibliography
Referencing style◦ Rules for the format, punctuation & elements of
references◦ Examples: Harvard, APA
Before you can start your research, you need to know what you’re looking for!
Identify direction words & limiting words:◦ direction words tell you what sort of
assignment to write e.g. discuss, analyse, evaluate
◦ limiting words define the boundaries of your research e.g. 2 years, three examples, in Australia specific aspects of a topic
Identify the key concepts of the question
Analysing your question
KEY CONCEPTS ARE THE FOCUS OF YOUR RESEARCH
Sample question:
Discuss the impact of snow sports on alpine
environments, providing case studies of at least three
resort areas, each in different countries. Evaluate
infrastructure, environmental and economic factors. Circle the direction wordsUnderline the limiting wordsHighlight the key conceptsMore info on Academic Skills Centre page
http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/answering
Start with background reading:◦ What defines an ‘alpine environment’◦ Find three (or more) resort areas◦ What is ‘infrastructure’
For other questions this might involve checking definitions, breaking broad termsinto separate aspects etc
List different forms of your key concepts:◦ Synonyms and related terms e.g. snow
sports, winter sports, alpine sports etc.
THESE WILL BE YOUR SEARCH TERMS
THE KEY TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH:
DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFORMATION ARE FOUND IN DIFFERENT SOURCES
How to find books:• Reading list in your Unit
Outline• Bibliography of text
book and other readings• Library catalogue or
UCanFind
BOOKS & E-BOOKS
Contain:• broad, background
information• history, development of a
topic• classic examples, theories &
theorists
Useful for:• broad understanding of the
topic• Often just one chapter or
section of a book will applyExample of a book reference:May, C. A., & May, G. S. (2006). Effective writing: a handbook for accountants (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Example of an e-book reference:Schiraldi, G. R. (2001). The post-traumatic stress disorder sourcebook: A guide to healing, recovery, and growth [Adobe Digital Editions version]. doi:10.1036/0071393722
Example of a chapter reference:Nicholson, N. R. (2013). Social isolation. In I. M. Lubkin & P. D. Larsen (Eds.), Chronic illness: impact and intervention. Burlington, Mass.: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Contain:• Concise, focused
information• Detailed research• Some conference papers• Case studies
Useful for:• Lending authority to your writing• Strengthening your argument• Supporting your view• Up to date information – journals
are published frequently
JOURNAL & E-JOURNAL ARTICLES
How to find journal articles:• Library databases index over
40,000 journals• Use UCanFind to search
broadly across all databases• Select Subject Guides on
the Library page to search specific databases
Examples of journal references:Munslow, A. (2005). Getting on with history. Rethinking History, 9(4), 497-501.
Fernsten, L. A., & Reda, M. (2011). Helping students meet the challenges of academic writing. Teaching in Higher Education, 16(2), 171-182. doi:10.1080/13562517.2010.507306
How to find news & current affairs:• Print copies of major daily
newspapers in Library• Limit results to Newspaper
Articles in UcanFind
• Specialised databases listed on the Subject Guides page
NEWS SOURCES
Contain:• Immediate, breaking news• Current affairs• Editorial comment
Useful for:• Local information• Advertising trends• Economic information• Politics• Social issues
Examples of news source references:Waterford, J. (2007, May 30). Bill of Rights gets it wrong. The Canberra Times, p. 11. Funding changes unlikely to affect North Coast TAFE (2012, October 25). ABC News. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news
WEB RESOURCES
Contain:• Some scholarly, professional
information• Many sites for children or general public
– not appropriate for academic use• Always important to evaluate
information carefully
Useful for:• Quick, easy searching• Current, popular
information• Images, maps, logos etc• Company information
How to find scholarly web sites:• Library Subject Guides list
selected sites for each area of study
• Use links from professional organisations and Government departments
Example of web site reference:• MacIsaac, D. (1995). An introduction to action
research. Retrieved from http://physicsed.buffalostate. edu/danowner/actionrsch.html
THE INFORMATION CYCLEThere is also a time factor in information
sourcesLet’s look at the information cycle, using
the 2007-2009 Global Financial Crisis as an example
The information cycleWITHIN HOURS
Eye witness
accounts, public
reaction
Websites, radio, TV,
social media
HOURS TO DAYS
Comment, official
statements
Newspapers, other
news sources
WEEKS TO MONTHS
Causes, impacts &
more details
Magazines
MONTHS TO YEARS
Research on
particular aspects
Scholarly journals
YEARS AFTER
Detailed research & long term impacts
Books
Exercise:Look at the references and questions:
◦ References: What type of source is this a reference to?
◦ Questions: What type of source would you use to find information on this topic?
Handy hints:◦ Remember the distinctive features for each
type of reference◦ Ask for help if you need it – we want you to
help youget them all right!
Exercise answers:
What type of information source is each reference describing?
Diani, G. (2012). Text and corpus work, EAP writing, and language learners. In R. Tang (Ed.), Academic writing in a second or foreign language (pp. 87-106). London: Continuum.
Dooley, M. D., Payne, A. A., & Robb, A. L. (2012). Persistence and academic success in University. Canadian Public Policy, 38(3), 315-339. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=80379636&site=ehost-live
Satariano, W. A. (2012). Mobility and Aging. American Journal of Public Health, 102(8), 1508-1515. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300631
The sprint to election day. (2012, October 26). New York Times, 32.
Sword, H. (2012). Stylish academic writing. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
United Nations Environment Programme. (2012). The global garbage crisis: no time to waste. Retrieved November 7, 2012, from http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2698&ArticleID=9317&l=en
Book chapter
Journal article
Journal articleNewspaper article
Book
Website
What type of information source would you use to find the following information?
…detailed research comparing recovery times for sports injuries treated by acupuncture or by physiotherapy
…results of football matches played in a small country town
…the current organisational structure at BHP
…research into cell death and neurological disorders
…the history of primary school teacher training in Australia
…clinical trials of two new drugs for the treatment of arthritis
Journals
Journals
Journals
Books
BHP Website
Newspapers
Start research on the Library page
Your lecturer may have some readings listed on E-Reserve, use the …more link to go to E-Reserve
Register online for training sessions, or view online tutorials
Use UC Referencing Guide for correct referencing
Search UC Library catalogue for known titles, specific items
Search Subject Guides for specialised databases & other resources on more complex topics
Use UCanFind to search broadly across journal databases and catalogue
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Help is always availableFor more help…
LIBRARY
Ask a Librarian online:• Ask a question by
email• Online chat 10.30-
3.30 Monday-Friday
In person:• Research Assistance
Desk • Level B of the Library
Phone:• 62015082
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In person• ASC Rovers in the
Library or Student Commons
• Have your writing reviewed at a drop in session or an individual appointment
• Phone:62012205 for an appointment
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Access via Moodle:• Have your writing
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