Library Workshop – Business Research
Librarian: Christine Gearhart
Contact Information: cgearhart@ncu.edu
888-327-2877 x8073
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Learning Outcomes for this workshop:
o Learners will be able to find links to databases and Library contact/assistance
information from the Library home page
o Learners will be able to identify and select the appropriate resource and subject type
databases to use for their research goals
o Learners will be able to construct a search query using Boolean operators and available
limits when appropriate
o Learners will be able to appropriately use and cite information in order to prevent
instances of plagiarism, copyright violation, and other ethical legal situations
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Research Resources: why use databases over Google?
o Google/Internet:
 Content is varied. Includes few free journal/newspaper citations/articles,
current news, government information, advertisements, pornography, e-mails,
chat groups, message boards, listservs.
 Search language is not standardized. There is no controlled vocabulary or
thesaurus to find a standardized or similar term.
 Review process is not regularly used. No one particular person or group owns
the Internet so anything can be published. Information retrieved through web
search should be carefully evaluated for authenticity and accuracy. See the
Library Research Process page
(http://library.ncu.edu/dw_template.aspx?parent_id=179 ) for information on
evaluating web sites.
 Updates are not regular. Many web pages are no longer updated at all or do
indicate how often they are updated.
 Cost is free. However, many links can lead to password protected sites.
 Use an Internet search engine to find entertainment/leisure information, some
current news, directory information (phone numbers, etc), basic consumer
information, background information (ex: Wikipedia).
o Library Databases:
 Content is standardized. Includes magazine/journal/newspaper articles, books
and book chapters, conference proceedings, technical papers, dissertations.
 Search language is standardized. Use the database thesaurus to discover the
controlled vocabulary terms that define your search topic.
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Review process is standardized and regular. Information included in databases
comes from publishing groups which maintain their own peer review processes.
Search results can be limited to peer reviewed/scholarly articles which have
been checked for accuracy and reliability.
 Updates are regular. Depending on the type of information in the database it
can be updated daily, weekly, monthly or annually.
 Cost is not free. The library pays a fee to enable access to this information.
 Use a library database as your first research stop. Find background information
in the Reference Collection databases, and in-depth peer reviewed information
through the Databases or the Find an Article databases links.
Web Site Evaluation: http://www.malepregnancy.com/ - practice website evaluation
skills.
See Stephen Colbert on Wikipedia http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-reportvideos/72347/july-31-2006/the-word---wikiality - just for fun.
See Stephen Colbert on Boolean Logic
http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=174546 – just for fun.
1. Select a topic
a. Determine the extent of information that is needed
i. Primary vs. Secondary research
1. See Library home page – Research Process – Primary vs. Secondary
Sources
a. Primary Research sources: EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, ProQuest
Dissertations, ISI Web of Knowledge, Mergent Online,
LexisNexis Academic
b. Secondary Research sources: Ebrary, ProQuest Dissertations
(literature reviews), Annual Reviews
ii. Popular vs. Academic research
1. See Library home page – Research Process – Academic vs. Popular
Articles
a. Find and show differences between popular and academic in
ProQuest – also explain why you would want to use all ProQuest
(etc) databases for cross disciplinary coverage. Show source
tabs. Trade publications as a gray area between popular and
academic sources.
2. Gain general knowledge
a. Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
b. Evaluate information and its sources critically
i. Find a Book
1. Ebrary
2. Annual Reviews – show publication limits, search e-commerce, point
out restrict results options.
ii. Reference Collection
1. Brittanica Online, CredoReference
iii. Internet Resources
1. Government Resources
2. Legal Resources
3. Narrow your topic
a. Narrow a topic by posing a question and gathering additional keywords
b. Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
c. Evaluate information and its sources critically
i. Databases
ii. Find an Article – Business
1. ISI Web of Knowledge – search rfid. Show all available subject areas,
refine search to just business/economics area. Sort by Times Cited.
Show article summary page, click number of times cited to show citing
articles. Analyze Results by publication year to show most prolific year,
maybe pick a new topic if nothing has recently been published. Show
citation map, color code.
iii. Find a Journal Locator
iv. Interlibrary Loan
4. Scholarly research
a. Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
b. Evaluate information and its sources critically
c. Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
i. Locate financial/company information
1. Mergent Online – show SIC code lookup. Search Lowe’s. Show company
financials tab.
2. LexisNexis Academic
3. Euromonitor International
ii. Find an Article – Business
iii. Find a Journal Locator
iv. Interlibrary Loan
5. Produce review, analysis or primary research
a. Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
b. Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
c. Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information
and access and use information ethically and legally
i. Writing Center
1. SmarThinking tutorial service
ii. Citation manager database
1. See Library home page – Find Citation Help
a. RefWorks
iii. Avoiding Plagiarism
1. See Library home page – Research Process – Plagiarism: How to Avoid
Resources:
 Research Process: http://library.ncu.edu/dw_template.aspx?parent_id=179
 Find a Book: http://library.ncu.edu/dw_template.aspx?parent_id=95
 Reference Collection: http://library.ncu.edu/mm_template.aspx?parent_id=144
 Databases: http://library.ncu.edu/dw_template.aspx?parent_id=8
 Find an Article – Business: http://library.ncu.edu/fa_template.aspx?parent_id=183
 Full Text Journal Locator: http://xt6nc6eu9q.search.serialssolutions.com/
 Interlibrary Loan: http://illiad.ncu.edu/illiad/logon.html
 Writing Center: http://learners.ncu.edu/writingcenter/default.aspx
 Find Citation Help: http://library.ncu.edu/dw_template.aspx?parent_id=97
 Guides and Quizzes: http://library.ncu.edu/wl_template.aspx?parent_id=152
 Databases:
o EBSCOhost Business Source Premier, Regional Business News
o Ebrary
o ScienceDirect
o InformaWorld
o ProQuest Dissertations and Theses
o ProQuest ABI/INFORM Global, etc.
o Gale Business Economics and Theory
o LexisNexis Academic
o Mergent Online
o Annual Reviews
o ISI Web of Knowledge
o Euromonitor International
Self Assessment: Take this short quiz to test your knowledge on ideas that have been covered in this
workshop.
1. You are looking for financial ratios of a particular company. Where would you look first?
a. LexisNexis Academic
b. Mergent Online
c. Annual Reviews
d. EBSCOhost Business Source Premier
2. You are beginning your research and you want to make sure you are using the correct
terminology. Where would you look to find the controlled vocabulary terms?
a. Google Scholar
b. ScienceDirect
c. Database Thesaurus
d. Ask.com
3. You are still working on a research concept and you would like to know what has already been
published in this area of study. Where would you go to look for this information?
a. ISI Web of Knowledge
b. Annual Reviews
c. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses
d. Ebrary
4. You need to find scholarly research articles about your topic. Where would you go to look for
these?
a. EBSCOhost databases
b. ScienceDirect
c. Google Scholar
d. ISI Web of Knowledge
5. You’re not at the point of writing your dissertation yet, you’re still working through your classes.
Where would you go for help on particular activities?
a. Library KnowledgeBase
b. Ask a Librarian
c. Library Guides
d. Databases
Self Assessment Answers:
1. A. LexisNexis Academic and B. Mergent Online: Both of these databases contain all sorts of
financial information for various companies, including some historical information (up to about
3 years previous).
2. C. Database Thesaurus: Using the Thesaurus can help you find the preferred terms for an idea
and can also help you find related terms to broaden or narrow your search.
3. All of the above! Each one of the listed databases is a good place to look for previously
published information on a topic. In addition, the Reference Lists of any relevant articles can
provide you with a decent start for a literature review. However, make sure that when you start
your research you don’t limit your searches to just these databases. You will want to find all the
relevant information that you can, so search most, if not all, of the databases listed on the Find
an Article – Business page.
4. All of the above! Each of these databases contains scholarly research articles in them. You will
want to take special care when using a free database like Google Scholar and carefully evaluate
your findings to make sure they are authoritative sources. Using the Web Site Evaluation
Worksheet, at the end of this outline, is a good way to start this process.
5. C. Library Guides and B. Ask A Librarian: The Library Guides are a good place to check for activity
specific search tips and for course specific databases and research sources. If you are still stuck
then you can always contact us using the Ask a Librarian feature, email, or phone. The Library
KnowledgeBase is a good place to go if you have a general research or library related question –
your question may have already been answered here!
Web Site Evaluation Worksheet, from Purdue University Libraries
(http://www.lib.purdue.edu/rguides/studentinstruction/evaluation/websiteevaluationchart.html):
Web Site Evaluation Criteria
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Author/creator qualifications/credentials?
Author’s occupation/ position/ education/
experience?
Affiliation (institution, organization, etc.)?
Does an institution or “parent organization”
support or endorse the information?
What is the mission of the organization?
Is it a national or international institution?
What is its membership?
When was the site created or published?
Are the facts accurate?
How does this information compare with
other sources in the field?
Sources of Additional Information
Authority, Reliability, Credibility
Author affiliation statement in source
Personal web site
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Corporate or institutional web page
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Cited sources in bibliography
Associated links from site
Does the author express a particular point
of view?
Does the author have a bias?
Are the author’s affiliations reflected in the
message or content?
Do the associated or linked web pages have
a bias?
Is the publication directed towards a
particular audience (general public,
scholars, practitioners, etc)?
What is the domain or the URL (.org, .edu,
.com, .gov, .net)?
When was the site created or last updated?
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Perspective
Author affiliation statement on site?
Personal web site
Corporate or institutional web site
Associated links from site
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Site URL
Associated links from site
Corporate or institutional web page
To what audience is the author writing? Is
this reflected in writing style, vocabulary, or
tone?
Does the material inform? Persuade?
Explain?
Is there sufficient evidence?
What conclusions are drawn?
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Purpose
Determined by your own reading of the
document or web page
Web Site/Article in Question