Sources & Searching

Jessica Osborne, MLIS josborne@highlands.edu

O. 678-872-8082

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Betsy Fleming, MLIS �eclark@highlands.edu

O. 678-872-8089

Things you’ll learn today

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1. What is research?
2. What are sources I should use?
3. How to evaluate your sources (is this a good source?)
4. Database searching
5. Search limiters, exanders, boolean operators
6. Using every last drop of the database to your advantage

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What is Pre-research?

Developing necessary language

Google/Wikipedia

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Understanding the current body of literature (literature review)

What is research?

A systematic review of information which often includes describing, analysing, and evaluating information.

Source Types

Starting the Research Process Means Understanding Sources Types and Where to Look

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You have some language from your pre-research.

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• Now how and where do you search for credible sources?
• And, what source types should you use?

Primary Source Research

When chemists talk about “searching the literature, in the sciences” they are generally referring to primary literature or primary source literature. Primary literature contains the original research results reported by scientists. It includes conference proceedings, dissertations, journal articles, and patents. Before research results are published in a scientific journal, they must pass a rigorous review process by other scientists; a process called “peer review.”

Why does the peer reviewed scientific article matter?

What does a peer reviewed article look like?

• Is the article based on either original research or authorities in the field (as opposed to personal opinion)?
• Citations with credentialed authors
• Is the article written for readers with some prior knowledge of the subject?
• If your field is social or natural science, is the article divided into sections with headings such as those listed below?

Dictionaries: Secondary Sources that can help with Primary Sources and Pre-Research

In addition to journal articles, information sources like textbooks, encyclopedias and other reference-type materials can be valuable in providing background information on a subject, identifying key ideas and defining important terminology. These types of sources are considered the “secondary literature” of the sciences because rather than presenting new research, they provide a compilation, evaluation and/or synthesis of previously published research. It is important not to overlook these resources as they are good aids for understanding chemical literature.

Types of Scientific Articles

News Articles

• Provide a brief overview of scientific findings for a general audience

• Useful when you are searching for the latest scientific research

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Meeting Abstracts, Papers, and Proceedings

• Provide brief descriptions of original research presented at conferences

• Useful when you are looking for recent research in the scientific literature

Research Articles

• Present new and original scientific findings

• Explain research methodology and provide data

• Useful when you need primary sources (primary articles will be discussed in detail later)

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Review Articles (sometime called lit reviews)

• Provide an overview of a field or subject

• Synthesize previous research

• Useful when you need background information and additional references

Where to Look: Websites

Example 2

Example 2

Searching Basics

Boolean Operators for Searching

Google Advanced Searching and Google Scholar

Database Searching

Searching

• Limiters/expanders
• Boolean Operators
• Tips and Tricks
• Email
• Subject headings

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Database Subject Searching

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Searching by Journal

Ways to search our Databases

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Quick Review

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What are some appropriate sources for academic research? Respond in the next slide.

Review