the Research Process

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the Research Process
Fleet Library _at_ RISD
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Why think about the Research Process?

• Research is integral to the creative process
• Visual and written research include these stages
  brainstorming mapping, searching discovering,
  evaluating, developing, seeking feedback,
  reviewing critiquing, refining reflecting
• The research process can provide structure,
  inspiration, and depth to your studio and written
  work
• Whether for a visual or written assigment,
  research develops ones critical thinking

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Recording the Research Process
Research can be recorded as a timeline,
Day 5
Day 12
Day 8
Day 1
choose topic
brain storm
formulate thesis
gather sources
evaluate sources
review revise
final revision
cite sources
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Recording the Research Process
as a list of numbered steps,
source www.lib.umn.edu/help/calculator/
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Recording the Research Process
or as a visual diagram
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Envision research beginning like a stone being
dropped into still water
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IDEA

• the research process begins with your initial
  thought or idea
• develop your idea by brainstorming words,
  names, imagery
• sketch or visually map the various aspects of
  your idea
• formulate questions
• create lists of synonyms and related topics
• add broader or narrower terms

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• Investigate your topic by using Reference
  sources
• use print online encyclopedias, dictionaries,
  indexes, thesauri
• use RISD Online Reference sources
• go to RISD Librarys website library.risd.edu gt
  Resources gt Reference
• find an overview of your topic which places it in
  its larger cultural context
• write down terminology, dates and place names
  related to your topic
• identify the people associated with your topic
  
• view the concept mapping tutorial - make a
  concept map of your topiclibrary.risd.edu gt
  Resources gt Tutorials
• contact a RISD Art Librarian to help you locate
  reliable Reference
• sources on your topic and to get help with
  the research process
• Contact librarians at library.risd.edu gt
  Departments gt Reference

Reference sources
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• Write a thesis statement
• review your notes
• create a statement that clearly defines and
  describes your topic
• check in with your instructor about your thesis
  statement

Thesis statement
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• Search the RISD/Athenaeum catalog
• go to the RISD Library website
  library.risd.edu
• use the catalog search box at the top of the
  screen or
• go to RISD/ATH Catalog on the QUICK LINKS

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• Search the RISD/Athenaeum catalog
• search by keyword, title, author, subject
• Truncate words with an asterisk to search
  variant forms of the term and to get more
  search results
• example paint searches for paint,
  paints, painted, painter, painting
• once an initial search has been done in the
  RISD/ATH catalog, use the SEARCH BROWN button
  to repeat the search in Browns catalog.

RISD / ATH catalog
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• Search for Articles
• go to RISD Librarys website library.risd.edu gt
  Resources gt Articles
• read the database descriptions - select
  databases related to your topic
• ask your instructor or a librarian to recommend
  databases to search
• limit search results by a date range or to
  scholarly journals
• search multiple databases - not just one
• make a list of the keywords, synonyms, and
  subject headings that
• describe your topic
• use the articles subject heading hypertext
  links to find related articles
• search E-Journals for full text journals by
  title Resources gt E-Journals

Article databases
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• Search for Articles - 24/7 Off Campus Access
• start at library.risd.edu gt Resources gt Articles
• select databases related to your topic
• a login window will open
• type in your first or last name as it appears on
  the FRONT of your RISD ID
• type in the 14-digit Barcode number on the BACK
  of your RISD ID
• It starts with 3444400
• if your login doesnt work, contact the Library
  for help, 709-5901

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Search for Images Multimedia
Images multimedia

• RISD Online Image Resources library.risd.edu gt
  Resources gt Images
• visit the Picture Collection Materials
  Library, RISD Library, 2nd floor
• search for dvds in the catalog by adding the
  keyword dvd or
• modify a keyword search to the Location RISD
  MEDIA

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Search Area Libraries for Resources
Athenaeum Library
Brown Univ. Libraries
HELIN Libraries
Providence Public Libraries
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the RISD Library Community

• Athenaeum Library www.providenceathenaeum.org
• RISD Library the Athenaeum share an online
  library catalog. The Athenauem is located across
  the intersection from the College Building on
  Benefit Street. RISD students can check out 5
  books for 4 weeks.Renew online at My Record
• Brown University Libraries library.brown.eduCHiL
  (College Hill Library Consortium)Search Browns
  catalog from the RISD/ATH catalog by using the
  SEARCH BROWN button. Borrowing privileges and
  on-site database access for all RISD students.
  Register first at RISD then at Browns
  Rockefeller Library.
• Check out 5 books for 4 weeks. Renew online
  at My Josiah
• HELIN Libraries library.uri.edu
• Consortium of 11 academic and 14 health sciences
  libraries which share an online catalog. On site
  access to the libraries but no borrowing
  privileges.
• Providence Public Libraries www.provlib.org
  Providence Community Libraries
  www.provcomlib.org
• Access and borrowing privileges upon
  registration.

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Search other online catalogs websites
worldcat.org
google books
google scholar
google patents
museum websites
digital collections
government websites
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Request items through Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
RISD Library can request books articles that
are not available locally from reciprocal
lending libraries via the ILL Service
ILL - Interlibrary loan

• ILL requests take 1-2 weeks to arrive - plan
  ahead
• online forms library.risd.edu gt Services gt
  Interlibrary Loan

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Review and evaluate all your sources
Evaluate sources
Evaluate the sources you have gathered using the
following criteria Currency,
Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose
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Evaluating Print Online Resources

• Currency the timeliness of the information
• Relevance the importance of the information for
  your needs
• Authority the source and authorship of the
  information
• Accuracy the reliability and correctness of the
  information
• Purpose the reason the information exists
• source www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/evalsites.h
  tml

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Citing Sources Used
Cite sources

• select a citation style and use it consistently
• Not sure what needs citing? View the plagiarism
  tutorial library.risd.edu gt Resources gt
  Tutorials

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Review repeat the research process
Review revise

• review the process if needed, repeat steps in
  the process
• allow time to reflect upon refine your work

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WORK SMART - Ask a Librarian for help

• Working with a Librarian - a snapshot
• listen - as you discuss your class assignments
  and studio projects
• translate - your art design ideas or questions
  into effective ways to think about, search for,
  and locate information
• bridge - any gaps between your subject domain and
  using library resources - the librarian's domain
  of expertise
• filter - offer ways to think critically about the
  information you encounter
• RISD Library Reference Desk - Library 1st floor,
  709-5902, risdlib_at_risd.edu
  library.risd.edu gt Departments gt Reference

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finis
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ellen petraits