Library Workshop – Beginning the Research Process

Contact Information: | 888-628-1569

summary | This workshop will introduce students to the beginning stages of the research process, focusing on initial information gathering through electronic books. It will provide students with techniques to become more effectiveat searching for background information on their chosen topic.

learning objectives|Upon completion of this workshop students will know how to:

  • Access the Research Process guide on the Library’s website
  • Understand the basic criteria for evaluating information
  • Identify the differences between primary and secondary sources
  • Identify the differences between academic and popular sources
  • Select the appropriate database for beginning research needs
  • Use e-book databases to obtain background knowledge on a topic
  1. research process |A thorough overview of the research process may be found on the Library’s Research Process page. Today’s workshop will correspond to the section titled Determining Information Needs. Once you find a potential topic, you will want to determine the types of information required to meet your research needs.
  1. evaluating information | A major part of the research process includes evaluating the sources of information you locate in your searches. Thebasic components of evaluation criteria include the following:
  • Currency- What is the publication date?
  • Authority & Credentials – Who is the author and/or publisher?
  • Accuracy & Reliability – Is the information or research accurate or valid?
  • Audience – Who is the intended audience for the information?
  • Bias – Does the information express a specific point of view or opinion?
  1. primary sources |Primary resources contain first-hand information, meaning that you are reading the author’s own account ofa specific topic or event that they participated in. Primary sources such as research articles often do not explain terminology and theoretical principles in detail. Thus, readers of primary scholarly research should have foundational knowledge of the subject area. Use primary resources to obtain a first-hand account to an actual event and identify original research done in a field.

Examples of a primary source are:

  • Original documents such as scholarly research articles, books, diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, records
  • Creative works such as poetry, music, video
  1. secondary sources | Secondary sources describe, summarize, or discuss information or details originally presented in another source; meaning the author, in most cases, did not participate in the event. This type of source is written for a broad audience and will include definitions of discipline specific terms, history relating to the topic, significant theories and principles, and summarizations of major studies/events as related to the topic. Use secondary sources to obtain an overview of a topic and/or identify primary resources.

Examples of a secondary source are:

  • Popular journal and magazine articles
  • Reference books – encyclopedias, almanacs, handbooks
  • Textbooks
  • Book reviews
  • Commentaries and criticism
  1. academic sources |A publication is regarded as academic, or scholarly, if it is authored by experts, for experts. Academic sources undergo a formal review process and typicallyreport original research (experimentation), research methodology or theory. Scholarly journals often times (but not always!) will be peer reviewed by external reviewers. The publisher is typically a professional association or an academic press.Examples of academic sources include journals, academic books, and dissertations. Research tip: Most of your resources for your coursework should be academic in nature.

Characteristics of academic sources:

  • Reference/bibliographic list
  • Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed research methods
  • Sample(s) gathered from population sample
  • Use of measurement instruments to gather data
  • Literature reviews
  • Inferences made from findings
  • Usually more than a single author
  • Scholarly, academic language
  • Higher page count, tables, and figures of findings
  1. popular sources |Popular resources do not typically go through the same rigorous review process as academic resources; in many cases popular resources are reviewed by a single editor, who may or may not have expertise in the subject area. Popular resources are usually written for a broad audience and do not always use the same, formal language as authors of academic articles. Examples of popular sources include magazine and newspaper articles, websites, and wikis. Research tip: Use popular resources to identify the latest trends and issues within your topic.

Characteristics of popular sources:

  • Uses short sentences and simple language
  • Author reports information from interviews or second hand sources
  • Sometimes the author is not listed or qualifications are not indicated
  • Bibliography or references usually not included
  • Usually illustrated with colorful photographs
  1. Wikipedia | Wikipedia and similar online encyclopedias may be comprehensive, but should you consult this resource when gathering background information? It is certainly fine to read this information to gain an overall understanding of your topic. Wikipedia is a good place to gather quick facts and key terms to use in database searching. However, information needs to be verified in scholarly sources. Wikipedia should NEVER be included in your reference list citations. This is purely for your own information and is only meant to give you a starting point which should lead you to more scholarly sources.
  1. scope | The scope of a resource refers to simply how comprehensive it is. How thorough is the resource in covering the subject area? Typically newspaper, magazine and journal articles are less comprehensive than books covering the same topic. When gathering background information, it may serve you well to consult books since they will provide more information on your topic.
  1. e-book databases | The Library subscribes to several e-book databases, accessible from the Library’s website. Go to Research Resources and then Find an E-Book. The e-book databases will be listed alphabetically. Some of the databases are multidisciplinary such as Ebook Central, the Library’s largest e-book database, and others are subject-specific such as Psychiatry Online.
  1. Credo Reference
  2. Ebook Central
  3. PsycBOOKS
  4. Psychiatry Online
  5. SAGE Knowledge
  1. scholarly journal article databases |After you have background knowledge on your topic, it is time to move into searching scholarly journal article databases. To access journal databases go to Research Resources – Find an Article OR Databases.
  1. additional resources| Please visit the below links for additional information on beginning the research process, writing resources, and copyright considerations.
  • Finding a Research Topic
  • Learn the Library
  • Organizing Research & Citations

quiz|Answer the questions below to reinforce what you have learned in today’s workshop.

  1. What is a primary source, and when is it most useful in the research process?
  2. What is a secondary source, and when is it most useful in the research process?
  3. What is a peer reviewed journal, and when is it most useful in the research process?
  4. What is a popular source, and when is it most useful in the research process?
  5. What is the difference in scope between a book and a journal article?
  6. Where you can go to locate quick facts about a topic?
  7. Should you cite in your paper every source that you have consulted in order to gain background knowledge?

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