Research: methodical
investigation into a subject in
order to discover facts, to
establish or revise a theory, or to
develop a plan of action based on
the facts discovered
Encarta Dictionary
Research:
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Creating a method
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Planning
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Investigation
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Discovery
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Action based on facts
Where do I start?
• Identify a variety of
information sources
• Identify characteristics of
information on the web
• Identify characteristics of
library resources
http://faculty.ivytech.edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
THE LIBRARY
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Printed materials
Books
Magazines
Articles
e-books
Online encyclopedias
Electronic resources
Web browsing
The library usually provides useful information for
academic research and is an environment conducive to
studying.
Library resources
• Go through a review process
• Free or discounted for your use
• Organized
• Meant to be kept permanently
• Come with personal assistance
THE WEB
• Current information
• Library links
• Company information
• Government information
• Expert and popular opinions
THE WEB
• Most information on the web does not go through
a review process.
• Some information on the web is not free.
• Information on the web is not organized.
• Most information on the web is not
comprehensive.
• Most information on the web is not permanent.
Magazines
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Articles
Popular interest
Current events
Periodicals
Found at newsstands,
libraries, and the web
Some articles are written for people who are not
necessarily specialists in the topic area.
Journals
• Articles are written by scholars
• Editorial board reviews articles
• Specific topics or narrow fields of
research
• Periodic intervals
Continued….
Journals
• Come in print format or on the web
as electronic journals
• Library purchases subscriptions to
most journals
• Previous studies on your topic
• Bibliographies that point to other
relevant research
Newspapers
• Articles daily
• Current events
• Periodicals
• International, national and
local events
• Editorials
• Commentaries
• Expert or popular opinions
Books
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Cover virtually any topic
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Fact or fiction
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Electronic books (e-books)
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A lot of information on a topic
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Summaries of research to support an
argument
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Usually has been seriously reviewed prior
to publication
Encyclopedias
• Factual articles
• Background information on a topic
• Find key ideas, important dates or
concepts
• Two types of encyclopedias
(general and subject)
Library Catalogs
• Identify items in the library
• Books, ebooks
• Journals
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Videos
IvyCat
• Books by title, author, or subject heading
• Contains more than books
• Guided keyword search
• Journals
• Call numbers used to find items in the library
• Find information about your account (books
checked out, etc.)
Article Databases
• Find articles on your topic in magazines, journals
or newspapers
• Periodical indexes or databases
• Citations of articles in magazines, journals, and
newspapers
• Some contain abstracts or brief summaries of the
articles
• Most contain the full text
• Accessible from the library Web site
Choosing a topic
When choosing a topic
• Broaden or narrow a topic
• Identify keywords for a topic
• Understand the difference between
keyword and subject searching
• Use connectors and truncation in
constructing a search
http://faculty.ivytech.edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
When broadening
or narrowing a topic
ask yourself ….
http://faculty.ivytech.edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
You may also ask yourself…
• What am I trying to find out?
• What will my research prove?
• What answer am I searching for?
http://faculty.ivytech.edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
Write out your topic as a
sentence or a question.
Example: How do advertisers market
their products to women?
Notice the keywords in green.
http://faculty.ivytech.edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
If your subject is marketing then a
keyword might be products.
Once you discover your keywords try branching
off of them with other related words as in the
diagram above.
http://faculty.ivytech.edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/
Try using a diagram
to brainstorm.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=brainstorming&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=brainstorming&sc=8-13&sp=-1&sk=#x0y16542
• PLAN AHEAD
• CREATE A STRATEGY
• DON’T PROCRASTINATE
Find a quiet place
away from distractions.
Make sure you are
comfortable.
The Learning Resource Center (L.R.C.)
Hours of operation
Richmond
Mon.-Thurs.: 9a.m. - 7p.m.
Fri.: 9a.m. - 6p.m.
Sat.: 9a.m. - 12p.m.
Connersville
Mon.-Tues.: 9a.m. – 5p.m.
Wed.- Fri. 9a.m. – 5.p.m
For more information contact:
Susana Dunn
Email: stheobald4@ivytech.edu
Phone: 765-966-2656 ext. 1188
Writing Center
Hours of Operation
Johnson Hall
Room 3408
Mon.-Thurs.: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Students with appointments are
given priority, but walk-ins are
welcome!
To schedule an appointment or
for more information contact:
Email:
richmondwc@lists.ivytech.edu
Phone: 765-966-2656 ext. 3408
Now you know what to know
and where to go!
Remember what you’ve
learned and let it guide you
through the research process.