Tip
#1: Do Not Begin Your
Research with the Internet! Students
often begin their research with
an Internet
search that produces an overwhelming
number of results and a feeling
of frustration. Before beginning
your research, it is useful to
design a search strategy using
the resources available to you
in the library (both online and
print). The steps outlined below
will help you focus your research
and locate relevant sources for
writing your paper.
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 Define the Topic
Identify the Type of Information Needed
Getting Started
Search for Sources
Evaluate Results
Cite
Your Sources
Ask
for Help
Define the Topic
- What is your specific topic? What is the main idea of the paper?
- If possible, try to find a topic that interests you.
- Write down your topic and the related issues using keywords, phrases, or complete sentences.
- Brainstorm, but try to be specific in identifying and narrowing your topic.
Identify the Type of Information Needed
- What types of information do you need -- books, scholarly journals, magazine articles, newspaper articles, or Internet sites?
- How many sources do you need?
- Do you need historical or current information?
- What is the purpose of the assignment? Do you need to argue a position on a topic, expand your knowledge of a subject, provide comparative information or present different points of view?
Getting Started
- Whether
your instructor has assigned a topic or
you choose one yourself, an effective way
to
start
your research is with a source that presents
an overview and identifies specific
issues to help you narrow your topic. This
will enable you to focus your topic
while
providing
valuable background information for continuing
your research. The library subscribes to
two online databases that are useful
in this respect:
- CQ
Researcher* is a weekly publication
that covers a broad spectrum of
topics, often
controversial. Each week focuses
on a particular topic and typically
includes
an overview, background, historical
timeline, pro/con arguments, and
more. Use the Pro/Con link
for an A-Z listing of major topics.
-
Opposing
Viewpoints In Context* is
a "one-stop" resource
for information on controversial social
issues. The database provides access
to viewpoints articles, topic overviews,
statistics, links to websites, and
full-text magazines, journal, and
newspapers articles.
*See
note below concerning passwords for off-campus
database access.
- Two
additional print series useful
for getting started are Taking
Sides and Information
Plus (both
located near the Reference Desk). These
multi-volume series present
current information
on a broad range of subjects and controversial
issues. Taking
Sides includes
an overview of each issue followed by
pro and
con articles (See Keyword
Index). Information
Plus is
a good source for background information
and often provides statistics and charts
to incorporate into your research.
- The
library also has a Web page on Hot
Topics for further information
on sources for controversial
issues.
- Once
you have identified a topic and the
issues you plan to focus on, you may
find it
necessary to clarify
certain
aspects (people, places, terminology)
before continuing your research. Reference
books (subject encyclopedias,
dictionaries, and handbooks) are valuable
for this
purpose
and can
sometimes provide more detailed information
than available on the Internet. Reference
sources often include overviews
or historical perspectives, define special
terms, and identify
key events, dates or people
related to your topic. (The Reference collection,
located on the main
floor of the library, is searchable through
the library Catalog.)
Search
for Sources (continuing your research)
- Use the keywords that describe your topic to start your search for information.
- Search
the library Catalog for
books, reference books, CDs, or DVDs in
the library's collection.
- Search
the online Databases to
locate articles in magazines, academic journals,
and newspapers. The library subscribes to
databases covering a variety of disciplines
including art, biology, health, law, music,
philosophy, politics, and religion. The
primary databases for general research are:
-
Academic
OneFile*
is the
library’s primary database
for locating magazine
and academic journal articles.
The database indexes over 13,000
titles dating from 1980 to present.
-
NewsBank
Access World News* provides
full-text articles from major
U.S. and International newspapers.
The database is useful when
searching for information on
state and
local
issues.
| *NOTE: To
access databases from off-campus
you must first register for
a Username
and Password. Database
access is limited to currently
enrolled VVC students, faculty and
staff. |
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If
you are using Internet sources,
try starting with the Internet
Resources page of Web sites recommended
by the college librarians. Subject
directories such as Infomine or
ipl2 are
also useful for finding Web sites on specific
subjects. Librarians have evaluated these
sites for accuracy, currency, authority
and objectivity before being included in
the directories.
Evaluate the Results
Organize the resources you have
found to make sure that you have enough information
and that the sources are relevant to your topic.
Use a critical eye to evaluate the information you find. Some criteria to consider include:
- Authority
- Who is the author?
- Is the author a specialist in the field?
- Accuracy
- Is the information accurate and complete?
- Is it consistent with other information you have found?
- Objectivity
- Does the source provide a neutral perspective of the topic or is it biased toward a particular point of view?
- Was it produced in association with a special interest group?
- Date of Publication
- How current is the information?
- Is current information important for your topic, or do you need historical information?
- Coverage
- Is the source comprehensive for the topic?
- Does it present multiple viewpoints?
- Usefulness
- Does the source include a table of contents, an index, or bibliography?
- Does it include tables, charts, graphs, maps, illustrations or photographs to support the topic?
As
your research progresses, be sure to keep
a detailed list of all sources (publication
information, search dates, etc.) you intend
to use in your paper. You will need
this information
for the "In-text
citations"
and bibliography or "Works
Cited" list
to document your research. The works
cited list includes a citation for each source
used to write your paper. The citation format
is in a consistent style according to one
of several standard citation
formats.
Two of the most common formats for college
research papers are the MLA
(Modern Language Association) (LB
2369 G53 2009) and the APA
(American Psychological Association) (BF76.7
.P83 2010) styles. Always check
with your instructors for format and
citation requirements.
The
librarians have created a
condensed version for both the MLA and APA formats
based on the most commonly used resources
in the VVC library. The condensed version
is especially useful when
citing
full-text
articles
from Expanded Academic ASAP and other
online
databases.
Additional information regarding when and
why to cite sources is located under "Understanding
Plagiarism."
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If
you need help finding additional sources
of information or need assistance with the
library's electronic resources, please ask
at the Reference Desk.
A reference librarian is available during
all open hours.
-
If
you have specific questions regarding
writing a research paper or essay, the Writing
Center staff is available to assist
you.
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