political science beginning research
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Political Science:An Adventure in Research
Beaman LibrarySpring 2010
Research is a process…
• It is ORGANIZED
• It is METHODICAL
• It is COMPREHENSIVE
The Researcher’s 2 questions…
• WHAT do I want to know?
• WHERE do I find that information?
Searching Begins With Your Beaman Library Catalog
• Access the library catalog & our electronic databases from any computer
• Ask a Reference Question??? Links you with a librarian for all of your questions
• Find out information about the library or read the latest library newsletter
Information Resources in Beaman Library
Books
Articles (print & electronic)-Scholarly journal articles-Popular magazine articles-Newspaper articles
Websites
Books!
• Reference Books:• use in library only
• General Collection:• check out for 3 weeks
• eBooks:• must create username
and password on netlibrary.com from a Lipscomb computer before using 1st time!
• access and read online from any computer, anywhere!
To find a Book…
Use…The online catalog• Author Search• Title Search• Subject Search
• Searches subject heading
• Keyword Search• Searches every field EXCEPT
subject heading
http://library.lipscomb.edu
Articles!
• Scholarly journals-aka “refereed”, “peer-reviewed”, “academic”-articles reviewed and accepted by experts in the field
• Magazines, popular and trade journals-Booklist, Southern Living, GQ
• Newspapers-The Tennessean, Wall Street Journal
To find an Article…Searching
• Search in a print indexOR
• Use one of the databases from the library’s “Electronic Resources” page--On- and off-campus access
• Don’t look for articles in the Catalog!
Periodical Indexes In Print -Subject and general: access tools
• Provides citations to articles in magazines, journals, and newspapers• Remember: citations only - no full-text
• Examples of subject indexes• Biography Index• Business Periodicals Index• General Science Index• PAIS International Index• Social Sciences Index
• Example of general index• Readers Guide to Periodical Literature
Periodical Indexes (print)- Location
Periodical indexes are located on the main floor, east wing of Beaman Library.
To find an Article…Searching
• Search in a print indexOR
• Use one of the databases from the library’s “Electronic Resources” page--On- and off-campus access
• Don’t look for articles in the Catalog!
Periodical Indexes
• Online• Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL)• Powersearch• Academic OneFile• Expanded Academic ASAP• General OneFile• National Newspaper Index• America: History & Life and Historical Abstracts• Biography Resource Center• Lexis-Nexis
To find an Article…Sorting
• Citation: gives you the information you need to track down the work
• Abstract: summary of article + citation
• Full Text: complete text of article + citation
To find an Article…Locating
• Found sources in a print index or database? Now, how do you find them?
Locating article…pt. 1
• If the source located was cited in a database…• Check to see if full-text is available
Locating article…pt. 2
• If the source located was cited in a print index or full-text was not available in a database…• Check the journal title in the Catalog by
doing a Title Search to see if Beaman has the journal in print
Locating articles…pt. 3
• If the source is not available in print in Beaman Library or full-text via database…• Check other local libraries (in WorldCat or
Athena) to see if they have the journal in print
• Request the article through Interlibrary Loan (Allow 2 weeks)
Periodicals - Location
Current (2010) magazines and journals are arranged alphabetically on open shelves for easy browsing.
Periodicals - Location
Bound periodicals are arranged alphabetically and chronologically.
Periodicals - Location
Some periodicals are kept on microfilm or microfiche.
World Wide Web Resources
• Academic .edu
• Government .gov
• Specialized/commercial.com/.org/.net
Online Indexes/Databases: Government
U. S. GovernmentLibrary of Congress
http://marvel.loc.gov
Congressional Directory http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cdirectory/i
ndex.html
Online Indexes/DatabasesEducation
• http://infomine.ucr.edu
…a virtual library of internet resources relevant to faculty, students, and research staff at the university level.
Electronic journals electronic booksBulletin boards databasesarticles
Online Indexes/DatabasesCommercial
Search specifically for scholarly literature:
theses peer reviewed papers booksabstracts technical reports
preprints
http://scholar.google.com/
Evaluating Information
• from monographs (books)
• from periodicals (journals)
• from databases/websites
Evaluating books
• Is it a recognized author?• Does it have timely content?• Does it contain documentation?
What is a Scholarly Journal?
For scholars or researchers in a specialized field (e.g. medicine, psychology)
Cites research Peer review (refereed) Includes notes and/or bibliography Usually quarterly or monthly Mostly print with graphs and/or tables Few or no ads
Web Site Evaluation—the WWW’s
Who says it? Author or sponsor Credentials of responsible party
Web Site Evaluation—the WWW’s
What does it claim, assert, etc.? Purpose of web site Biased, objective, fair Factual…in depth Correct grammar, spelling, etc.
Web Site Evaluation—the WWW’s
When was it said?• Publication date• Revisions• Links up-to-date
Interlibrary Loan
• Question: What do I do if a resource I need is not available in the Beaman Library?
• Answer: Use the Interlibrary loan service provided by Beaman Library
Interlibrary Loan
Facts about Interlibrary Loan:
• Interlibrary Loan is a service provided by Beaman Library to obtain materials NOT owned by Beaman Library.
• The conditions of this service are set by the National Interlibrary Loan Code.
• The loan period is determined by the lending library.
• Athena is an area consortium of local libraries who loan and borrow from one another without charge.
• Applications are available at the Reference desk or online in Catacomb.
Access form online: http://library.lipscomb.edu
SAIL
Search – indexes/databases (evaluate)Analyze – compare, contrast; separate
fact from opinionInventory – Do I have enough, too
much, too little?Learn – new information and new
information skills