Graduate Research in Social Work

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Graduate Researchin Social Work
7/27/2001
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This tutorial is designed as an introduction to
Library resources and research in Social Work.
It is required for studentsentering the graduate
program inSocial Work at CSUS. First year
students must take a library tour and this
tutorial before they are permitted to register
for spring classes in the MSW program.
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Presentation by Linda J. Goff Library
Instruction LibrarianCSU, Sacramento (916)
278-5981 ljgoff_at_csus.edu
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Outline

• Topic selection narrowing
• Appropriate research strategies
• Survey of reference sources, indexes and
  abstracts
• Overview of computer resources

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Part 1...

• Topic selection and narrowing

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First Steps

• Before you begin any research, it pays to write
  down all possible search terms that come to mind
  related to your topic.
• Library catalogs, indexes and databases work best
  if you use the correct terminology. Add to this
  list of terms as you begin exploring your topic.
  This strategy works whether yourewriting a
  brief paper or your thesis.

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Brainstorming Exercise

• Work from general to specific.
• Dont limit your ideas or the word flow.
• Keep track of all related terms... They may be
  useful in a variety of resources.
• Example of brainstorming terms related to family
  violence...

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Controlled Vocabulary

• Not all words work when you try them in a variety
  of sources. The list of authorized terms used by
  catalogs in academic libraries such as CSUS are
  found in the Library of Congress Subject Headings.

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LCSH

• Library of Congress Subject Headings uses the
  following abbreviations

NT - Narrower TermBT - Broader TermRT - Related
TermUF - Used For
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Examples from LCSH
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Go to EUREKA -The Computer Catalog

• Try a search for domestic violence, first as a
  WORD Search and then as a SUBJECT Search in
  EUREKA. Do you get different results? Which
  works better for you?

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Part 2...

• Appropriate Research Strategies for Graduate
  Students

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Library Handouts

• Available from kiosks.
• Brief title and call number lists of selected
  references.
• Created by subject specialist librarians who
  order the books.
• Librarian Bill Kristie selects for Social Work,
  278-5662.

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Social Work Selected Research Guides and
Sources

• Guides to the Literature
• Library handouts
• Handbooks, Encyclopedias, Dictionaries and
  Directories
• Periodical Indexes and Abstracts

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Reference Sources

• Discipline-specific encyclopedias,
  dictionaries, handbooks, etc.
• Graduate students must know the resources in
  their field and take advantage of short cuts.
• As Information consumers, you must think
  critically about what you use and why.

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Guides to the Literature

• A Guide to Information Sources for Social Work
  and the Human Services by Henry Neil
  Mendelsohn2 SOUTH Ref HV 91 .M43 1987 Oryx
  Press, Phoenix (O.P.)

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Evaluating Your Source

• Currency
• Bibliography
• Identifiable bias?
• Direct relationship to main topic?
• Short cuts or good advice?

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Is it Authoritative?

Check biographical sources.
Are theauthors well known?
How was the book received by colleagues?
Check book reviews in scholarly sources.
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Survey of Reference Sources, Indexes and
Abstracts
Part 3...
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Encyclopedia of Social Work

• Published by National Association of Social
  Workers.
• 19th edition, 1995, 1997 supp. First published
  in 1929.
• Overview articles focus on Social
  Work theory..
• Reflects mainstream thinking...

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Domestic ViolenceLiane V. Davis

• Overview
• Scope of the problem
• Theories
• Practice
• Cites experts

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Determine Authority

• Liane V. Davis, PhD, ACSW, LSCSW, Assoc. Prof.
  University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare,
  Lawrence, KS 66045
• 3 self-citations in bibliography
• Look in Whos Who Among Human Services
• or Register of Clinical Social Workers

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Citation Format
(Stark Flitcraft, 1988)
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References

• Straus, M.A. Gelles, R.J. (1986). Societal
  change and change in family violence from 1975
  to 1985 as revealed by two national surveys.
  Journal of Marriage and the Family, 48, 465-479.

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Other Reference Books

• Social Work Dictionary
• Social Work Almanac
• Handbook of Clinical Social Work

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Statistical Sources

• Statistical Abstract of the U.S.http//www.census
  .gov/statab/www/
• Statistical Handbook on Women in America
• Statistical Record of Children
• California County Data Book 1995
• Public Welfare in California

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Directories

• Encyclopedia of Associations
• Community Services Directory Sacramento,
  California
• Register of Clinical Social Workers

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Periodicals, Indexes and Abstracts
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Characteristics of Scholarly Journals

• Publishes original research and/or announce
  research in-progress.
• Include articles with bibliographies or
  footnotes/endnotes.
• Published by a learned society or professional
  association.
• Articles refereed by experts.

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Evaluation Tools

• An Authors Guide to Social Work Journals by
  Henry N. Mendlesohn ref HV 85 .M46 1992
• Ulrichs International Periodicals Directory
  ref PNZ 6941 .U4

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Controlled Vocabulary Lists

• Thesaurus of Sociological Indexing Terms
• Users Guide of Social Work Abstracts
• Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms

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For General Topics Use

• InfoTrac - Expanded Academic Index (database)
• EBSCOhost (database)
• UnCover (database)
• FirstSearch - Articles1st (database)
• Britannica Online (encyclopedia)

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For Social Work Use

• Social Work Abstracts (paper only).
• Social Sciences Abstract (database).
• Sociological Abstracts (paper index and online
  database).
• Psychological Abstracts (paper).
• PsycINFO (database).

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Social Work Abstracts

• Published by NASW
• Reviews 450 journals, with 2,000 citations
  annually
• Contains citations and abstracts of articles
• Users Guide to Social Work Abstracts

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Social Work Abstracts
Social Work Research Abstracts Vol. 29
No. 4 Dec 93 Abstract 1584...

• Subject Headings
• Violence
• towards children
• Child abuse
• in families
• Authors
• Wolfner, G. D
• Gelles, R. J.

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Social Work Research Abstracts Vol. 29
No. 4 Dec 93 Abstract 1584
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Social Science Citation Index is useful because...

• Covers material from all Social Sciences.
• Keyword finds non-standard terms.
• Identifies seminal research.
• Demonstrates the relationship between scholars.

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Social Science Citation Index

• Permuterm Subject Index links key words in the
  title.
• Source Index by author includes article
  bibliography.
• Citation Index lists any author cited in Source
  Index, who has cited them, and in which source.

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SSCI PermutermSubject Index

• Each title word linked with every other title
  word.
• Authors names then appear in the Source Index.

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Source Index

• Straus MA Kantor GK - Corporal Punishment of
  Adolescents by Parents - a risk factor in the
  epidemiology of depression, suicide,
  alcohol-abuse, child-abuse wife-beating
• ADOLESCENCE 29(115)543-561 94 40R PM597

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SSCI Citation Index

• Authors who have been quoted.
• Citations to where their research was used.

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Social Work resources mentioned in this tutorial
are also listed on the handout available from the
kiosk near the Reference Desk. Indexes such as
the Social Science Citation Index are located on
the index tables adjacent to the Reference Desk.
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Part 4...

• Library Computer Resources

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There are 2 distinct types of Library
computersEUREKA Computer CatalogRESEARCH
Stations
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• They are color-coded

Yellow EUREKA signs denote the character-based
stations, while the Green RESEARCH Stations
access the web version of EUREKA plus a growing
number of databases mounted on the Library Home
Page.
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Library Database Types

• Most are bibliographic that provide citation
  and/or abstract to a book or journal article.
  You must then locate the journal or book at CSUS
  or use Interlibrary Loan.
• A growing, number of databases are full text
  that can be emailed downloaded to disk or printed
  from screen if there is a printer attached.

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Databases by Subject Page
Provides a discipline based subject guide to
Electronic Resources, arranged by the CSUS
Librarians. Use this list to determine which are
the best databases to search for your
topic http//www.csus.edu/csuslibr/databases/subj
ect/
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EUREKA

• Contains CSUS Library book, media and periodical
  holdings
• Author, Title and Word searching
• Controlled vocabulary subject searching
• Advanced features Limit Expanded Word
  Searching, Sort by Year.
• E-mail citations to yourself and copy directly
  into your bibliography.

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MELVYL Library System

• Holdings of the University of California
  Libraries and the California State Library
• Available through Library Home Page under Other
  Library Catalogs.
• Present your CSUS One Card and receive a courtesy
  borrowers card at UC Davis campus for up to 5
  books.

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Useful FirstSearch Sources

• WorldCat - 40 million books
• ArticleFirst 13,000 journals
• Books In Print newest books
• ERIC educational sources
• GPO US government sources
• PsycINFO - Psychology
• Sociological Abstracts - Sociology

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Warning!

• You will have to search many catalogs, paper
  indexes and online databases to do a
  comprehensive literature review for your thesis.
• Most databases have their own searching system
  and rules,BUT

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You can search any database if you know...

• Keyword vs. controlled vocabulary
• Boolean search language
• Limiting
• Proximity searching
• and...

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if you...
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Help screens

• Most databases provide screens with detailed
  instructions on how to search most effectively.
• It is always a good idea to read help screens
  before you begin your search in a new database
  !!!
• Clues to look for Guide, Help, Search Tips, ?,
  or Tips

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Advanced Searching modes

• Frequent searchers who are familiar with a
  database may choose the Advances Search mode.
• This usually allows boolean searching instead of
  just key word or subject.
• Most Web-based databases provide and advanced
  search mode as well.

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Keyword Searching

• Simplest form of searching
• Computer looks for records that match the words
  typed, not the ideas represented by the words.
• Lexis-Nexis uses keyword searching.

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Controlled Vocabulary

• Uses subject headings instead of keywords to give
  better, more refined, search results.
• Computer looks for records that match the ideas
  represented by the words.
• Terms are standardized.
• Thesaurus of subject headings is often available.

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Boolean Operators

• AND requires both terms appear in the items that
  are retrieved.
• OR requires either term appear in the items that
  are retrieved.
• NOT excludes a term.

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Boolean Search Strategy
a AND b
family and violence
a OR b
family or domestic
a NOT b
family not violence
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Dont forget !
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Remote Access

• CSUS students with computers and modems can
  reach EUREKA and the Library Home Page from
  home.
• Register for a SacLink account.
• Modify SacLink account and select Access to
  Dial-in Services

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Remote Users Can Access...

• Library Home Page
• EUREKA
• and most CSUS Library databases

By using the SacLink or the Proxy Server
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Library Proxy Server

• Access is 24/7.
• Required if you use a non-CSUS Internet Service
  Provider (aol, ATT, etc.)
• Instructions are found under Remote Access Help
  on Databases and Periodical Indexes page.
• You must create a PIN in EUREKA under View Your
  Library Record.

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World Wide Web Use at CSUS Computer Labs

• Campus Home Page http//www.csus.edu
• Library Home Page http//www.lib.csus.edu
• University Computinghttp//www.csus.edu/uccs

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If you have questions about lab computers or your
own

• For more information, call UCCS 278-7337, or go
  to Sequoia Hall 322.
• Ask Lab assistants.

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When you have a Library database question, ask

• a librarian!

Individual research appointments may be made with
any librarian Bill Kristie and Linda Goff are
the most knowledgeable about Social Work
resources.
LJG 7/27/2001