Research Tips for BPST 311: Critical Thinking, Research

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Research Tips for BPST 311 Critical Thinking,
Research Presentation

• Paul Boger
• CGPS Reference Librarian
• pboger_at_umw.edu

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World of Information
Online databases and books
Online Library Resources
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Popular vs. Scholarly

• Popular Resources
• Written for the General Reader
• Written by Paid Staff Writers
• Advertisements sell issues
• Scholarly Resources
• Written by Experts for Experts
• Carefully Evaluated before Publishing
• Share knowledge
• Not as easy to determine with web resources!

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What to Look for on the Web

• Authority -
• Notice the URL (edu, org, gov, com, net)
• Check for an About Us link
• Currency
• Check the Dates
• Accuracy
• Supported by facts and research
• Spelling

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What is Most Appropriate for Academic Level
Research?

• Credible Authors
• Information Supported by Facts
• Objective Information
• Accessible Information
• Current Information
• Evaluate your sources - YOU are the judge of the
  content used in your assignments

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Basic Research Tools

• Library Catalog
• Books (including netLibrary e-books)
• Titles of Journals, Magazines and Newspapers
  subscribed to by UMW Libraries (Simpson CGPS)
• Databases
• Articles in Journals, Magazines and Newspapers
• Search Engines
• Publicly available web resources

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Where do I begin?
How do I find articles on my topic?
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Databases 24/7

• Database A-Z list
• Databases by Subject

• Research Guides

• Click the drop-down menu by Research by
  Subject
• Click on Professional Studies (BPS) to access
  suggested research resources
• Click GO

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Research Guide

• Click on the name of a database to begin
  searching
• Contact Library if you need help

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Recommended Databases
Academic Search Complete

• Try different keywords in different databases
• Different databases will provide different
  information

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Can I use the databases from home?
Yes!
jsmith
password
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• Search by Keyword
• Search by Topic

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• Click on the title of a report to view the
  document

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• Click View PDF to print and save document
• Click CiteNow to format your citation
• Click Bibliography for more sources

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• Click Issues and Controversies

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• Search by Keyword
• Search by Pro and Con
• Pick a Headline

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• Click the Sidebars to locate additional
  information
• Click Related Articles to find more
  information
• Print and email articles

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Academic Search Complete

• Enter your keywords
• Consider using some of the Limit your results
  options
• Click Search

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Academic Search Complete

• Click on a Subject term to refine your results
• Consider using some of the Limit your results
  options
• Click PDF and HTML links for full text
• Click Locate Journal Article if not full text
  through the database

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Locate Journal Article page

• Is the article available in a UMW database? NO.
• What if the article is not available in a
  database? Use ILLIAD.

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Select where you would like the database to
search Try Major U.S. and World Publications
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• Click on the article title to retrieve the
  complete document
• Sort results by different categories
• Print, email, and save documents

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Search Engine Tips

• Search the general web
• Limit yourself to a domain - .gov, .edu, .org

• Search for scholarly literature
• Very limited full text
• Often asks you to pay for materials

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What if my materials are at the main campus
Library? What if UMW doesnt have what I need?

• Use Illiad to request materials not located at
  the CGPS Library
• Create an online Illiad Account
• Submit requests through Librarys website
• Request books, articles, dissertations
• Some fees might be involved
• Delivered to CGPS Library

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Need help? Have Questions?

• Come to the Library
• Mondays - Thursdays 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
• Fridays 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
• Saturdays 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Contact the Library Staff
• cgpslib_at_umw.edu
• 540-286-8025
• Set up a Research Appointment
• pboger_at_umw.edu
• 540-286-8066

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Take A Break!

Served at 530