doing research on language and linguistics (2009)

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Doing Research onDoing Research on

Language & Linguistics:Language & Linguistics:

An IntroductionAn Introduction

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OutlineOutline

New to research on English Language materials? Here are the topics that will be covered:

•Interpreting references•Research process•Boolean operators & search statements•Using databases•Plagiarism & citation•Library services

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Interpreting ReferencesInterpreting References

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Interpreting ReferencesInterpreting References

First things first. Can you interpret your reading list or the references at the end of a book or journal article?

Perhaps you can interpret a book reference. But what about references to other materials?

Note: if appears, check out the note at the bottom of the same page.

see powerpoint notes

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Interpreting References: Journal ArticleInterpreting References: Journal Article

authors article title

Herring, S. C., & Paolillo, J. C. (2006). Gender and genre variation in weblogs. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 10(4), 439-459.

year

journal title

volume (issue)

pages


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Interpreting References: Book Chapter Interpreting References: Book Chapter

authors book chaptertitle

Smith, L. E., & Cecil L. N. (2006). World Englishes and issues of intelligibility. In B. B. Kachru, Y. Kachru, & C. L. Nelson (Eds.), The handbook of world Englishes. (pp. 428-447). Malden, MA: Blackwell.

year

publisher

book title

pageseditors


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To Google or Not to GoogleTo Google or Not to Google

If you have an assignment to complete or thesis to write, can you use Google or Wikipedia?

As initial research tools, they are usually fine. But outdated pages and broken links are common problems, and you can seldom be sure whether the information is accurate and authoritative.

To do ‘proper’ research, you should be using authoritative sources which can be found in the library, either in print (e.g. books & journals) or electronic format (e.g. e-resources).


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Research ProcessResearch Process

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The Research ProcessThe Research Process

The typical research process looks like this:

Your topic

Break down your topic

into concepts

List keywords from concepts

Construct search

statement from your keywords

Search for materials such as books & articles.

Use LINC & databases. Check

if they are relevant

Locate the materials

in the library

Find more sources by using references in

the sources you have locatedDo you have

sufficient sources for your

assignment?

Complete your

assignment

STARTHERE

YES

NO


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Example of Research TopicExample of Research Topic

Topic: Language planning and the use of Singlish in Singapore

concept 1: singlishconcept 2: language planning

Consider synonyms when searching LINC or databases, eg:•Singlish = Singapore English•language planning = language policy

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Boolean Operators & Boolean Operators &

Search StatementsSearch Statements

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Boolean Operators: AND, ORBoolean Operators: AND, OR

AND OR

Singapore AND language planning Singlish OR Singapore English

language planning OR language policy

•AND narrows your search & is usually used for unrelated terms

•OR broadens your search & is usually used for synonyms


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Boolean Operators: Asterisk, ( )Boolean Operators: Asterisk, ( )

Use asterisk * for variant forms of a wordeg. educat* = educate, education, educational…

Use ( ) for grouping words

eg. (planning OR policy) AND language= language planning OR language policy


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Creating a Search StatementCreating a Search Statement

Singlish & language planningin Singapore

Singlish, Singapore English

search statement:(singlish OR singapore english) AND (language planning OR language policy)

topic

keywords keywords

language planning, language policy


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Using DatabasesUsing Databases

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LINC+/LINC vs. DatabasesLINC+/LINC vs. Databases

Use LINC+/LINC to search for resources in the library’s collection, i.e. books, journals, audio-visual materials, theses, etc.

Use databases when you have a topic and want to search for journal articles (or book reviews, conference proceedings, etc). Most databases only provide citations & abstracts, but not the full-text articles.

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Accessing DatabasesAccessing Databases

or, select from this list of major databases e.g. MLA

click here to browse by title, subject, type and location

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Databases for English LanguageDatabases for English Language

Specialised databases• CSA Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts

(LLBA)• MLA International Bibliography

General databases• Humanities Abstracts• Arts & Humanities Citation Index (via Web of Science)• Expanded Academic ASAP • Jstor (full-text articles but back issues only)• Factiva (full-text newspaper articles from 1980s)• PERIND (articles on Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei &

ASEAN)

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Database in Action #1: LLBADatabase in Action #1: LLBA

type llba in this box

type your search statement here

click on title of article or ‘View record’ for more information

citation

title of source, which is a journal

explore the useful features

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Journal record in LINCJournal record in LINC


Now that you have a citation to an article which you are interested in, check LINC to find out whether NUS Libraries has the journal.

some vols in Bound Journals

some vols in Closed Stacks

volumes available

links to full text

latest issue receivedIn current Journals

search for specific volume or yearclick for listing of more volumes

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Database in Action #2: FactivaDatabase in Action #2: Factiva

You may need to look for newspaper articles. You can use either Factiva or LexisNexis Academic.

When searching Factiva or LexisNexis Academic, remember to use keywords which are likely to be found in the newspaper of your choice. It is rare to find jargon such as ‘language planning’ and ‘sociolinguistics’ in the newspapers!

For a guide on Factiva, check outhttp://www.brainshark.com/brainshark/vu/view.asp?pi=44319

Database in Action #2: FactivaDatabase in Action #2: Factiva

click on Factiva

click on search builder

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1. type your keywords here

2. select date or choose all dates

3. search for Straits Times and select the correct newspaper by clicking on it

4. click on run search

click on title to view full article

click within the boxes, then select an icon to view selected articles, email, print or save

this is how an article looks

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Troubleshooting Your Search Troubleshooting Your Search ResultsResults

When searching databases, you may encounter:•too many results use more keywords•too few results add synonyms•too many irrelevant results exclude keywords that aretoo general•no results use more general keywords, reduce number of keywords or redefine your research topic

Quite often, you’ll need to refine your keywords through some trial and error.

If you need help, check with your professor or ask a librarian!

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Plagiarism & CitationPlagiarism & Citation

PlagiarismPlagiarism

Passing off someone else’s ideas as your ownTo avoid plagiarism:1. Jot down your sources2. Put all direct quotes in quotation marks, e.g.“Both words and images can be evocative in their own ways

and independent of each other” (Nikolajeva & Scott, 2006, p. 2)

3. Acknowledge the source even when you paraphrase, e.g.Vietnam is one of the region’s fastest growing economies

(Rogers, 2008)4. Create a reference section, e.g. Nikolajeva, M., & Scott, C. (2006). How picturebooks work.

New York: Routledge.

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CitationCitation

Why cite?• back-up your arguments • acknowledge intellectual debt• show the research done• help readers verify your claims

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Citation StylesCitation Styles

Style sheet for American Psychological Association (APA)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/instruct/guides/

apastyle.pdf

Style sheet for Linguistic Society of America (LSA)http://www.lsadc.org/info/pubs-lang-style.cfm

Style sheet for Modern Language Association (MLA)http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/

Using EndNote to import referenceshttp://libpweb1.nus.edu.sg/lion/e/endnoteGuide.html


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Library ServicesLibrary Services

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Materials Not Found in LibraryMaterials Not Found in Library

•Request the library to purchase new books: subject to relevance to NUS’ teaching & research needs and availability of funds

•Request for Document Delivery Service (DDS): honours and graduate students only

For both services, go to the library portal at www.lib.nus.edu.sg, click on login at the top left corner and click on e-forms.

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Need Help?Need Help?

Phone: 6516-2028

Email:[email protected] queries on English Language

[email protected] general queries

Walk in:Information desk @ Central Library Level 5

doing research on language and linguistics (2009)

Education