iat 309w library research workshop shane plante siat librarian [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
The plan
• Finding your topic
• Researching your topic
• Evaluating your sources with the 3 Rs
• Citing your sources
• Getting help
• Questions (at any time)
finding your topic
your research
topic
a clear position on the issue
a current issue or problem that is
meaningful to you as an artist/designer/cultural
critic
finding a topic
These two elements are the foundation of your research topic
writing a research question1. Are bananas the perfect fruit?
Not a possible IAT 309W topic. Why?
a. It lacks an issue or a problem.b. Not argument-worthy. Who cares?
2. Should grocery stores in BC only be permitted to sell BC-grown fruits and vegetables?
A possible IAT 309W topic. Why?a. It has an issue or a problem. (e.g.,
sustainability)b. Argument-worthy. It’s a question worth
asking.
general topic specific topic
background sourcesexamples:
• encyclopedias• handbooks• books
finding a topic
Sample encyclopedia entry:
And a sample book:
something tangible research topic
kernel
http://www.flickr.com/photos/auxo/5817183192/
Should motion gaming be incorporated into Physical Education programs in Canadian schools?
finding a topic
news sources research topic
finding a topic
Should employees be allowed to outsource their own jobs?
Quan, K. (2013, January 17). Developer outsources job to China so he can watch cat videos. Time. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/
keep your eyes open research topic
finding a topic
Should universities in BC begin providing students with stand-up/sit-down desks?
Photo taken of improvised stand-up desk in Fraser Library. Not advised!
finding a topic
try to be Goldilocksian - not too narrow - not too general
Tip: In general, you can only cover one idea per paragraph.
This can help to determine if your topic is too broad.
finding a topic
finding a topic
A. Should unhealthy foods be required to carry a warning label?
B. Should sodas 16 oz. or more be required to carry a warning label in Canada?
C. Should stores be banned from selling large sodas?
D. Should 7-Elevens in Surrey be required to include a warning label on their Big Gulps?
Do you think these topics are too broad, too narrow, or just right for an 8 page research paper?
+
+
researching your topic
before researching your topic
Spend some time brainstorming the following: - What information would you like to find?
- What are some good words for searching?
(+ gather new words as you go)
- What are some good places to search?
researching your topic Sample topic: Should sodas 16 oz. or more be required to carry a warning label in Canada?
Who would be likely to collect and publish information on this topic?
What could you do if you can’t find the exact articles and information you want on your topic?This will often be the case for more original topics. But: risk + reward
researching your topic
Tips on finding• good places to search • great starting place: IAT 309W research guide
IAT 309W research guide
anatomy of a database
Search boxes
Sort results
Results
“Add to folder” button allows you to email articles and APA citations to yourself
“Where can I get this?” link finds full-text for articles not included in the database
Here, you can limit to scholarly journals; refine your results by date, subject heading, geography, etc.
researching your topic
Finding scholarly sources• where to search• how to identify them
evaluating your sources(with the 3Rs)
Identifying scholarly sourcesScholarly journals Beason’s article
“Ethos and Error”Bibliography/References
19 citations in “Works Cited” list
Methodology Includes “Procedures” and “Subjects” sections
Author info “Associate Professor of English at the University of Southern Alabama”
Length 32 pages long
Language Understandable, but you need to concentrate “Using the questionnaire, subjects first indicated the extent to which they were bothered by each error, thereby gauging the error gravity of twenty pre-selected errors” (p. 38).
Evaluating information sources
(scholarly and non-scholarly)Scholarly journals Any informationBibliography/References
Documentation
Methodology DocumentationAuthor info AuthorityLength CompletenessLanguage Purpose
The Three Rs: Evaluating your sources
Recency– Are you including the most recent research about your
topic?– Would an historical perspective be useful?
Relevance– How closely does it relate to your topic?
• E.g., If you’ve found information that differs in culture/size/etc from your topic, is it still relevant?
Reliability– Who is the author
• What is the author’s expertise?– What is the purpose of the document?– Type of source? (scholarly, popular, government, etc.)
evaluating your sources
citing your sources
• What information don’t you need to cite?• What information do you
need to cite?
Image credits
Leaf by Peter Silk
Tree by Alberto Guerra Quintanilla
Lungs by chris dawson
Brain Machine Interface by HYPERMORGEN
Airplane by Dmitry Baranovskiy
Binoculars by Luis Prado
Banana by James Keuning
Pear by James Keuning
Tornado by Adam Whitcroft
Hand by Dmitry Baranovskiy
Bear is in the public domain
Map by Alessandro Suraci
Resize by David Swanson
Soda by Christopher Anderson
Cigarettes by Julia Soderberg
Poison by Robert Leonardo
Worker by Juan Pablo Bravo
Pencil by Monika Ciapala
Gymnast by James Keuning
Scalpel by Danny Sturgess
Finger Print by Diego Naive
Add Time by Arthur Shlain
Target by James Keuning
Okay by Stephanie Wauters
Warning by Stefan Parnarov
Network by Mister Pixel
Signpost by Juan Pablo Bravo
User Help by Murali Krishna
Idea Exchange by Luis Prado
All icons used were published with CC-BY licenses or are in the public domain. They all come from The Noun Project: thenounproject.com
In order of appearance:
citing your sources
getting help
How can the library help?
1) Helping you to find background sources? Yes!
2) Helping you to find articles? Yes!3) Helping you to evaluate sources? Yes!4) Helping you to find APA style examples?
Yes!5) Helping you with structuring, paraphrasing,
and becoming a better writer? Yes!*
*see the Student Learning Commons
research consultations I’m happy to meet with you in a one-to-one appointment or you can visit one of our reference desks (Surrey, Burnaby, Vancouver)
If you want to meet with me, please:
- Arrive prepared:- bring topic(s)- bring questions
- Plan ahead:- please contact me (at least) a few days before you’d
like to meet- there are 40 of you + only 1 of me
