Beginning research for
assignments
LIBRARY
Session outline
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Terminology
Analysing your question
Different information sources
◦ When to use them
◦ Where to find them
◦ What they look like in a reading list
The information cycle
Starting research
Where to get more help
Terminology:

Journals OR Serials
◦ regular publications which contain scholarly articles for academic
readers
◦ Journals are published in yearly volumes
◦ Volumes are comprised of monthly or quarterly issues
◦ Each issue contains multiple articles

Peer-reviewed OR refereed journals
◦ All articles are reviewed by experts in the field before publication

Databases
◦ Searchable collections of information or data
◦ Most of our academic journals are accessible via databases
◦ Some databases contain full text (complete articles)
◦ Other databases provide just the reference and abstract (summary)
Terminology cont’d:

Reference
◦ A formal, detailed description of a book, journal article etc
◦ Example:
 Behrens, L. (2010). A sequence for academic writing. New York, N.Y.:
Pearson.

In-text reference OR Citation
◦ An abbreviated reference within the body of an assignment to guide
the reader to the detailed reference in the Reference List or
Bibliography

Referencing style
◦ Rules for the format, punctuation & elements of references
◦ Examples: Harvard, APA
Analysing your question
Before you can start your research,
you need to know what you’re looking for!
Identify direction words & limiting words:
◦ direction words tell you what sort of assignment to
write
 e.g. discuss, analyse, evaluate
◦ limiting words define the boundaries of your research
 e.g. 2 years, three examples, in Australia
 specific aspects of a topic
 Identify the key concepts of the question

KEY CONCEPTS ARE THE
FOCUS OF YOUR RESEARCH
Sample question:

Discuss the impact of snow sports on alpine environments,
providing case studies of at least three resort areas, each in
different countries. Evaluate infrastructure, environmental and
economic factors.
Circle the direction words
 Underline the limiting words
 Highlight the key concepts
 More info on Academic Skills Centre page

http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/answering
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
Start with background reading:
◦ What defines an ‘alpine environment’
◦ Find three (or more) resort areas
◦ What is ‘infrastructure’
For other questions this might involve
checking definitions, breaking broad terms
into separate aspects etc

List different forms of your key concepts:
◦ Synonyms and related terms e.g. snow
sports, winter sports, alpine sports etc.

THESE WILL BE YOUR SEARCH TERMS
THE KEY TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH:
DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFORMATION
ARE FOUND IN DIFFERENT SOURCES
Contain:
•broad, background information
Useful for:
•broad understanding of the
topic
•history, development of a topic
•Often just one chapter or
Example of a book reference:
•classic examples, theories &
section
of a book
May, C. A., & May, G. S. (2006).
Effective
writing:will apply
theorists
a handbook for accountants (7th ed.). Upper
Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Example &
of an
e-book reference:
BOOKS
E-BOOKS
Schiraldi, G. R. (2001). The post-traumatic
stress disorder sourcebook: A guide to
healing, recovery, and growth [Adobe Digital
Editions version]. doi:10.1036/0071393722
How to find books:
•Reading list in your Unit
Example of a chapter reference:
Outline
Nicholson, N. R. (2013). Social isolation. In
I. M. Lubkin
& P. D. Larsen (Eds.), Chronic
•Bibliography
of text
illness:
and intervention. Burlington,
book and
otherimpact
readings
Mass.: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
•Library catalogue or
UCanFind
Contain:
•Concise, focused information
•Detailed research
•Some conference papers
•Case studies
Useful for:
•Lending authority to your writing
•Strengthening your argument
•Supporting your view
•Up to date information – journals
are published frequently
Examples of journal references:
JOURNAL
&(2005).
E-JOURNAL
ARTICLES
Munslow, A.
Getting on
with history.
Rethinking History, 9(4), 497-501.
How to find journal articles:
Fernsten, L. A., & Reda, M. (2011). Helping
•Library students
databases
over
meetindex
the challenges
of academic
40,000 journals
writing. Teaching in Higher Education, 16(2),
171-182. to
doi:10.1080/13562517.2010.507306
•Use UCanFind
search
broadly across all databases
• Select Subject Guides on
the Library page to search
specific databases
Contain:
•Immediate, breaking news
•Current affairs
Useful for:
•Local information
•Editorial comment
•Advertising trends
•Economic information
Examples of news source
•Politics
references:
NEWS
SOURCES
issues
Waterford, J. (2007, May•Social
30). Bill
of
Rights gets it wrong. The Canberra
Times, p. 11.
How to find news & current
affairs: Funding changes unlikely to affect
•Print copiesNorth
of major
daily
Coast
TAFE (2012, October
newspapers 25).
in Library
ABC News. Retrieved from
http://www.abc.net.au/news
•Limit results to Newspaper
Articles in UcanFind
•Specialised databases listed on
the Subject Guides page
Contain:
Useful for:
•Some scholarly, professional information
•Quick, easy searching
•Many sites for children or general public
•Current, popular information
– not appropriate for academic use
•Images, maps, logos etc
•Always important to evaluate
information carefully
•Company information
Example of web
site
reference:
WEB
RESOURCES
•MacIsaac, D. (1995). An introduction to action
research. Retrieved from http://physicsed.buffalostate.
edu/danowner/actionrsch.html
How to find scholarly web sites:
•Library Subject Guides list
selected sites for each area of study
•Use links from professional
organisations and Government
departments
THE INFORMATION CYCLE
There is also a time factor in information sources
 Let’s look at the information cycle, using the 20072009 Global Financial Crisis as an example

The information cycle
WITHIN
HOURS
HOURS TO
DAYS
WEEKS TO
MONTHS
MONTHS
TO YEARS
YEARS
AFTER
Eye witness
accounts,
public reaction
Comment,
official
statements
Causes,
impacts &
more details
Research on
particular
aspects
Websites,
radio,TV,
social media
Detailed
research &
long term
impacts
Newspapers,
other news
sources
Magazines
Scholarly
journals
Books
Exercise:

Look at the references and questions:
◦ References: What type of source is this a reference to?
◦ Questions: What type of source would you use to find
information on this topic?

Handy hints:
◦ Remember the distinctive features for each type of
reference
◦ Ask for help if you need it – we want you to help you
get them all right!
Exercise answers:
What type of information source is each reference describing?
Diani, G. (2012). Text and corpus work, EAP writing, and language
learners. In R. Tang (Ed.), Academic writing in a second or foreign
language (pp. 87-106). London: Continuum.
Dooley, M. D., Payne, A. A., & Robb, A. L. (2012). Persistence and
academic success in University. Canadian Public Policy, 38(3), 315339. Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost
.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=80379636&site=ehostlive
Satariano, W. A. (2012). Mobility and Aging. American Journal of Public
Health, 102(8), 1508-1515. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300631
Book chapter
Journal article
Journal article
The sprint to election day. (2012, October 26). New York Times, 32.
Newspaper
article
Sword, H. (2012). Stylish academic writing. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard
University Press.
Book
United Nations Environment Programme. (2012).The global garbage
crisis: no time to waste. Retrieved November 7, 2012, from
http://www.unep.org
/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2698&ArticleID=9317&l=e
n
Website
What type of information source would you use to find the following information?
…detailed research comparing recovery times for sports injuries
treated by acupuncture or by physiotherapy
Journals
…results of football matches played in a small country town
Newspapers
…the current organisational structure at BHP
BHP
Website
…research into cell death and neurological disorders
Journals
…the history of primary school teacher training in Australia
Books
…clinical trials of two new drugs for the treatment of arthritis
Journals
Start research on the Library page
Use UCanFind to search
broadly across journal
databases and catalogue
Your lecturer may have some
readings listed on E-Reserve,
use the …more link to go to
E-Reserve
Search UC Library
catalogue for known
titles, specific items
Search Subject Guides
for specialised databases &
other resources on more
complex topics
Register online for
training sessions, or
view online tutorials
Use UC Referencing
Guide for correct
referencing
For more help…
Help is always available
LIBRARY
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online:
• Ask a question by
email
• Online chat 10.303.30 Monday-Friday
In person:
• Research Assistance
Desk
• Level B of the Library
Phone:
• 62015082
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