research on lang & ling 2009
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11
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
see powerpoint notes
66
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
see powerpoint notes
77
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 But outdated pages and broken links are common problems, and you can seldom be sure whether the information is accurate and authoritative.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).
see powerpoint notes
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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
see powerpoint notes
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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
see powerpoint notes
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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
see powerpoint notes
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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
see powerpoint notes
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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
see powerpoint notes
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
see powerpoint notes
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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:rubyseng@nus.edu.sg-for queries on English Language
askalib@nus.edu.sg-for general queries
Walk in:Information desk @ Central Library Level 5
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