Library Research
Workshop
EDUC 210 Lec. CC
October 23, 2014
Workshop Outline
 Term Paper Proposal
•
•

Narrowing your subject focus from broad topics
Locating peer reviewed journal articles using ERIC
database
Using APA style for references
Getting Help with your Research
 Chris Bober (Education Librarian)
• Consultations upon appointment:
office: Webster library (LB-504)
phone: (514) 848-2424 ext.7697
e-mail: chris.bober@concordia.ca

Use Library’s Ask a Librarian web site
Analyze Term Paper Topics


Start with broad topics: motivation
Narrow the subject focus :


Select an age group/ educational level:
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student motivation, student engagement, etc.
teens, adolescents, high school, etc.
Select impact variables:

teacher characteristics, teacher attitudes, teacher behavior, etc.
Analyze Term Paper Topics (cont’d)

Think of synonyms for your topics:
•
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e.g. teens = adolescents
Avoid using non essential words like:
•
advantages, benefits, optimize, minimize, impact,
etc.
Term paper topic: Can a teacher’s personality contribute to
the motivation of elementary school children?
> Select all main concepts and related terms
Main Concept #1:
teacher’s personality
Main Concept #2
motivation
Main Concept #3
elementary school children
Related term(s) or Synonyms
teacher characteristics,
teacher attitudes, teacher
behavior, teaching style
Related term(s) or Synonyms
student motivation, student
engagement, learning
motivation
Related term(s) or Synonyms
elementary schools, primary
education
Resources for Finding Research Studies


Use ERIC (Education) and PsycINFO (Psychology)
Best resources for locating educational psychology
journals:
•

Current research studies in peer reviewed journal
articles.
Locate fulltext of journal articles by linking to pdf files
or by linking to Findit@Concordia
Selecting ERIC Search Options
Selecting PsycINFO Search Options:
Search Operators for ERIC & PsycINFO
 AND - search operator used to connect two distinct
concepts.
• Locate articles that include both terms:
Search Operators for ERIC & PsycINFO
 OR – search used to link similar concepts:
• Search results can include either term,or both:
Techniques for Refining ERIC & PsycINFO Searches
 Use Truncation (asterisk character *) to find all
variations of a root word;
•
Asterisk * replaces all characters to the right of the word

e.g:
child*
Searches:
child
children
childhood
child’s
 Enclose Phrases “two or more words” with
parentheses
•
Retrieves exact expressions:
 e.g. “learning style*” AND “high school*” AND “academic
performance”
Preparing Reference Section


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
APA ‘Quick Links’ on library website will answer
most of your questions
Complete APA printed manuals in Library:
APA style guide to electronic references (pdf)
RefWorks prepares bibliographies in APA style
•
Also useful for organizing and storing references
Closing Remarks
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If you are having difficulty finding relevant sources for your
Reference section, please contact Chris.
For writing assistance, contact Counselling & Development
(Learning Support)
For assistance with APA format, contact:
•
Webster Library Reference Desk / Ask a Librarian (7 days
a week)
Good luck with your research assignments.