Technical Research

1
Technical Research

• Kathryn Summers
• Fall 2006

2
Secondary Research

• Library information
• may be more reliable
• may be older
• May be less convenient
• Internet information
• May not be accurate
• May be out of date
• Very convenient

3
Library research - Databases

• Identify likely databases
• InfoTrac
• Lexis/Nexis
• Look at help screens to understand effective
  search strategies
• Identify two or three key terms

4
Library research online catalog

• Leave enough time for inter-library loan
• Use the USMAI catalog
• Look at who wrote it, who published it, and when
  it was published
• If you find a good source, check the works cited
  for other possible sources

5
Internet Research

• Use multiple search engines
• Google, Google Scholar, InfoSeek,
• Suggestions?
• Read about and try advanced search features
• Use specific terms
• Narrow your search with AND, OR, NOT

6
Internet Research - Evaluation

• Who wrote it? What are their qualifications?
• Does the info have a bias or an agenda?
• How old is the information?
• Is the information confirmed by other sources
  (try for three)

7
Citing your sources - print

• Book Author, title, publisher, city of
  publication, year for citation. In your text,
  page numbers of the actual info youre using.
• Article Author, title, journal name, volume and
  issue, date, page range of article. In your text,
  page numbers of the actual info youre using.

8
Citing your sources - Online

• Author, title, organization, url, date of access

9
What you should cite

• Direct quotes
• Part of a sentence, built into your sentences
• Long quotes that are introduced by your sentences
• Conventionsput changes in brackets, replace
  deletions by an ellipsis
• Paraphrases (where you put the information in
  your own words)
• Summaries (where you condense the information AND
  put it in your own words)