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PPAS 3190:Introduction to Library Research
Timothy Bristow – Scott LibraryPolitical Science & Public Policy Librarian
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Class Goals:• Learn how to construct an effective keyword search
• Learn how to use the Library Catalogue, Periodical Indexes, and Government sites to find relevant information
• Discuss ways to think critically about your research sources
• Prepare you to work on your Research Paper Proposal
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Devising a Topic:• Ideas for essay topics can come from course readings,
lectures, class discussion, news events, etc.
• Effective topics are often expressed in the form of a research question that you would like to answer
• You may need to alter the scope of your topic to ensure your work is focused and manageable
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Keyword Searching:1. Prepare your search by writing out your research question and then
identifying the key concepts
2. The same concept can often be expressed in multiple ways, so consider alternative keywords: synonyms
3. Construct your search using language that the database understands to get the best possible results: syntax
4. Search, examine the results, and modify your search
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How has Canadian policy on climate change developed over
the past two decades?
QUESTION:
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Library Catalogue:• The Library Catalogue is a database containing records for
materials in all York Libraries
• Use the Catalogue to find books, government reports, and other government documents – not journal articles
• Advanced Search will give you more control and often better results when searching for a topic
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Periodical Indexes:• Periodical Indexes are databases that contain records of
journal articles in a particular subject area
• Use the Library’s online Subject Guides and the PPAS 3190 Course Guide to identify useful indexes
• The indexes contain records for many articles that we have at York and for some that we don’t
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Government Web Sites:
• A large amount of government information is now made freely available online
• Reports, policy papers, and other documents can often be found on the site of the relevant government ministry
• Materials are not always easy to find – consult the PPAS 3190 Course Guide for useful starting points
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Thinking Critically: 1
• Authority: Who is responsible for producing the source? Is the author or publisher affiliated with an organization?
• Audience: What is the intended audience of the source? E.g. researchers, students, the general public
• Purpose: Why was the source created, what is its purpose? E.g. to present research, set policy, inform, entertain, persuade
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Thinking Critically: 2
• Perspective: Does the source express a particular political or institutional perspective?
• Currency: When was the source created? Is the information still relevant?
• Validity: Are the author’s claims supported by evidence and research? Does the research method seem sound?
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Getting Help:• Visit the Research Questions Desk
at the Scott Library
• Ask a question online with askON
• Consult the PPAS 3190 Course Guide