writing the research paper a handbook (7th ed) - ch 5 computers and the research paper

5

Computers and the Research Paper


• No invention more useful than the computer• Has put global library at the writer’s fingertips• Has automated writing process• Used typewriters before computers – required

retyping, footnotes, etc. • With computers can revise as often as you wish


• Computers have led to the comeback of footnotes

• Students often prefer to take notes on a computer (can cut and paste)

• Instructors prefer submission by email

• Research is sped up

The Internet

• Internet consists of millions of computers connected by a common protocol = “way of talking”• Growth has been explosive, since 1969

The Internet

• Internet vs. The World Wide Web• The Internet is a massive network of networks, a

networking infrastructure• The World Wide Web, or simply Web, is a way of

accessing information over the medium of the Internet

• An information-sharing model built on top of the Internet. The Web uses the HTTP protocol.

The Internet

• Internet terms:• FTP - File transfer protocol – rules for

transferring file

• HTML - hypertext markup language– standard language for documents on world wide

web

• HTTP - hypertext transfer protocol– method computer uses to find a file

• ISP - Internet Service Provider – a company that sells access to the internet

• URL - uniform resource locator – technical term for internet

The Internet

• Understanding Internet Addresses:1. Protocol

2. Name of Host (domain, can include “www”)

3. Document Path (directory and file)• Best to use “links” and avoid typing address in directly

Online Resources

• Best sources online: • Databases• Electronic journals• OPAC (online public-access catalogs• Blogs

Online Resources

• Databases:• A collection of data organized and stored for easy

retrieval• Available through a fee-based membership, through

local or college library• Can be searched in several ways by keyword,

author, or title• Examples:

• Expanded Academic ASAP

• InfoTrac

• Galileo

• Questia - newspapers, journals, magazines

Online Resources

• Electronic Journals: • Serial publications that can be accessed by

computer via the internet• Directory of Open Access Journals (www.doaj.org/)

• Catalog of over 2,500 journals, 105,000 articles on many topics

• Journals can have limited search function• Most databases contain printed journals which are

subject to peer review• Article has been reviewed by a panel of experts in the

author’s field

• Some journals are only available in electronic form

Online Resources

• OPAC (online public-access catalogs):• Many library catalogues available online

• LibDex:

• an index of Libdex is a worldwide directory of library homepages, web-based OPACs

• http://www.libdex.com

Online Resources

Online Resources

• OPAC (Online Public-Access Catalogs):• OCLC – Online Computer Library Center

(www.oclc.org)

• A worldwide library cooperative, owned, governed and sustained by members since 1967

• Public purpose is to improve access to the information held in libraries around the globe and find ways to reduce costs for libraries through collaboration

• 40,000+ libraries, 76+ countries

• Processed over 113 million loan requests

• Sometimes listed as “WorldCat”• Free version is at (http://www.worldcat.org/)

Online Resources

Online Resources

• Blogs:• Short for Web Log – personal website usually maintained by

an individual and reflecting owner’s point of view

• Include images, text, conversations

• Vary widely, in terms of focus, tone

• Can be useful for research paper• Or can be too individualist/opinionated

• Some movement towards writing

blogs instead of papers

Researching with Search Engines

• Researching with Search Engines:• Program that searches the web for specific words

related to your topic• Free to use, type in key words

• Not case sensitive

• “Hits” – results of search

• Read the instructions of the search engine

• Boolean Logic:• AND (+) – looks for sources where both terms occur

• OR (|) – looks for any of the two terms

• NOT (-) – exclude a particular term


• Finding a Search Engine:• Many search engines available with millions/billions of hits• Most popular search engines as of September 2013 (www.ebizmba.com)


• Educational Search Engines:• Educational search engines are often maintained by non-profit

organizations - Search for Educational Search Engines• Educational Search Engines

(http://www.searchengineguide.com/pages/Education) – links to every type of search engine, including searching blogs

• English Server (http://eserver.org) – EServer is a digital humanities venture, founded in 1990 and based at Iowa State U, where writers, editors and scholars publish over 35,000 works free of charge

• Library of Congress (links to other internet sites)

• Searchedu (http://www.searchedu.com) – commercial site which searches academic websites, and has useful links

• The Universal Library (http://www.ulib.org) – its primary long-term objective is to capture all books in digital format (eBooks, videos, etc.)


• Useful Search Engines:• There are several types of search engines:

• Manual – human powered/compiled (ex. Yahoo!)

• Robotic – crawler-based search engines/indexed pages (ex. Google)

• Meta – top listings of other search engines

• Hybrid / Specialty


• Useful Academic Search Engines: www.educatorstechnology.com

Usenet, Listserv, Telnet, and Gopher

• Usenet - Created in 1979, Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system

• Rapidly declining use compared to WWW

• Divided into several major categories: (ex. alt.animals.dogs)

• Often have to pay for Usenet

• In May 2010, Duke University, whose implementation had kicked off Usenet decommissioned its Usenet server, citing low usage and rising costs


• Listserv- manages electronic mailing lists of discussion groups

• Commercial mailing list management system that allows you to subscribe to or create, manage, and control an electronic mailing

• Messages automatically sent once an update has been made (ex. On Usenet)


• Telnet and Gopher –• Telnet is a protocol for connecting computers to

internet• Large databases use Telnet as an access system• Sites that use Telnet are now available on the web• Gopher – early form of internet search

Evaluating Internet Sources

• Internet is a vast public library with no librarian• No one checks the accuracy of the information

posted• Anyone can post virtually anything• Sometimes, you cannot trust what you read on the

internet • Solution: Ask where?, who?, and what?


• Where was the information found?• Some websites are maintained by individual

hobbyists with an ax to grind• Some maintained by universities, some by

companies• Who maintains the site? Check the domain name:

• .com – A commercial organization

• .edu – an educational institution

• .gov – nonmilitary government agency/department

• .mil – military

• .net – network administrator

• .org – nonprofit organization


• Who maintains the site?• Other domain names:

• .aero air-transport industry asia Asia-Pacific region

• .biz business .coop cooperatives

• .info information .int international organizations

• .jobs companies .mobi mobile devices

• .museum museums .name individuals, by name

• .net network .post postal services

• .pro professions .tel Internet communication

• .travel travel and tourism industry related sites


• Who maintains the site? • Country domain names:

• .au Australia .ca Canada• .ch Switzerland .cl Chile• .cn People's Republic of China .de Germany• .eu European Union .fr France• .gb United Kingdom .hk Hong Kong• .ie Ireland .in India• .it Italy .nl Netherlands• .no Norway .nz New Zealand• .se Sweden .sg Singapore• .us United States of America (Commonly used by US State and

local governments instead of .gov)• .za South Africa


• Who wrote it?• Is the author identified?• Are the authors credentials listed?• Is the author qualified to write on the topic?

• Check the biography sources online/at the library

• Many instructors do not allow Wikipedia because of unknown authorship


• Who publishes it?• What is the goal/mission of the publication?

• Is it even-handed?

• What are the writer’s sources?• Researcher should ask: Did this really happen?

• Stories can sometimes turn out to be fabricated

• What kind of tone?• Respect for the research process

and opinion of others• Be wary of belligerent tone


• What do the writer’s contemporaries have to say?• Majority is not always right, but is often wrong

• Don’t reject material just because of a unique point of view or unpopular position

• Some authors maintain positions that are wrong

• Problem with internet material, is it is often not subject to peer review

• Question the accuracy of an electronic

source without peer review


• What is the writer’s motive?• Writer may hold a certain point of view or a

particular opinion not related to research• Sometimes motives are clear, sometimes not clear

• Examples: • A whistle blower reviewed by magazine ratted on

• Writer fired from prominent magazine

• John Smith story of Pocahontas


• What is the context of the writer’s opinion?• Context refers to environment in which opinion is formed

• Sciences and social sciences are sensitive to context, others are not

• Examples:• Eighteenth century literary critic, old fashioned, but not changed

by context.

• Vietnam War proclamations should be weighed in context

• Recent subject can be sensitive – HIV/AIDS (decline in death rate)

• Evaluating internet sources is an exercise in editorial judgement

Running a Search / Useful Internet Sites

• Computer is a powerful research tool• Can find numerous sources and references in minutes

• Internet is volatile and changes quickly• Other useful sites:

• Encyclopedia.com http://www.encyclopedia.com

• Internet Public Library http://www.ipl.org

• RefDesk.com http://www.refdesk.com

• Remember to document the sources you site (MLA)

writing the research paper a handbook (7th ed) - ch 5 computers and the research paper

Education

search engines available

internet internet terms

types of search engines

popular search engines

online resources blogs

online resources databases

type of search engine

online resources best