Julie Podmore
Social Science Research Methods
John Abbott College
Using the Library (5%)
Name: _________________________
INTRODUCTION
Finding materials for assignments in the library is an essential skill for all students. Knowing what materials are
available, how to access them, and finally, how to reference them will improve your research skills and make the
process faster and more effective. In this assignment, you will become familiar with what is available in the John Abbott
Library.
1. Record all the information that you collect in the library for your bibliography on this worksheet.
2. You will then use this information to type a properly formatted bibliography using the APA (American
Psychological Association) guidelines - see the library’s handout for this. (references in alphabetical order, etc.)
3. When you hand in your assignment, include a copy of the front page of each article or book.
Evaluation: will be based on the number of sources (1), the accuracy of the APA citation style (1.5), the quality of the
sources presented (1.5), and the inclusion of the front pages (1), for a total of 5 marks.
PART A: NEWSPAPER RESEARCH
Your first task is to find a newspaper article on your topic, by using the online newspaper databases, Canadian
Newsstand or Canadian Newspaper Source .
Author of article:
_______________________________
Date of article:
_______________________
Title of article:
_______________________________________________________________
Name of newspaper:
_______________________________________________________________
Page number(s):
________________
PART B: A POPULAR ARTICLE ON YOUR TOPIC
Use the online database CBCA to find an article that is related to your topic. You will need to practice using the
appropriate keywords to find what you want. Write a three-sentence summary of the article.
Keyword(s) used:
________________________________________________________________
Title of article:
________________________________________________________________
Author(s):
___________________________________________________
Source (magazine, volume no., pages, online database) :
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Summary of article:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Julie Podmore
Social Science Research Methods
John Abbott College
PART C: SOCIAL SCIENCE INDEX and EPIX
Using the online database Social Science Index, write references for two academic journal articles on your topic. Use the
“Advanced Search” option, and limit your search to “Peer Reviewed”. This database will help you find articles that are from
academic journals, but you will have to find full text for these articles elsewhere (another database, or in the library’s back-issues of
journals). Your bibliography should state that you originally found the reference through Social Science Index.
Article 1
Author’s name(s):
Title of article:
Name of Journal:
Year of Publication:
Page Numbers:
_______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________
_________________
_________________
Article 2
Author’s name(s):
Title of article:
Name of Journal:
Year of Publication:
Page Numbers:
_______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________
_________________
__________________
Then, use the John Abbott Catalogue (Epix) to research your topic. Record the reference information for one book (monograph),
one reference book, one video or audio tape (if there is one), and one government document. You may have to be less specific
about your topic in order to find a source (on your general topic area).
Book
Author’s name(s):
Title of Book:
Year of Publication:
Name of Publisher:
Place of Publication:
_________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________
______________________________
__________________________________
Reference Book
Author’s name(s):
_________________________________________________
Title of article:
___________________________________________________________________
Editors’ name(s):
_________________________________________________
Name of Reference Book: ___________________________________________________________
Year of Publication:
_____________ Volume and Page numbers: _________________________
Name of Publisher:
______________________________
Place of Publication:
__________________________________
Video or Audio Tape
Name Producer/Director:
Year Released:
Title:
Type of medium:
Place & Name of
Production Company:
Government Document
Author’s name or
Government Agency:
Year of Publication:
Title of Document:
Publisher:
Place of Publication:
_____________________________________________
______________________________
________________________________________________
_____________________ (video tape, audio tape, CD, film?)
____________________________________________
___________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________
____________________________