Class Twenty-five
Prepared by R. Gilles
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Plan for the Day
Process Log Spotlight
Creating Research Questions
Recognizing Different Kinds of Sources
Using the Library Catalog
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Using Search Engines on the Web
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Create Research Questions to Narrow Topic
Assignment: Write a paper on depression.
Don’t just research “depression.” Try:
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What is depression?
What causes depression?
How has the treatment of depression
changed in the U.S. over the past 30 years?
How has the growing use of antidepressant
drugs affected teenage suicide rates?
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Create Research Questions to Find Search Terms
Assignment: How did the westernization of the
Japanese military influence Japan's ability to
win its war with Russia in 1904-05?
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How did Japan’s military change during the period
leading up to its war with Russia?
To what extent was Japan’s military modernization
influenced by the west?
To what extent was the Russian military influenced by
western weaponry and military strategy?
How was Japan able to win its war against Russia?
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Create Research Questions to Find Search Terms
Assignment: Is obesity a trait endemic to developed
cultures like ours, or is it the result of individual
choice?
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How prevalent is obesity among U.S. children and adults?
How do obesity rates compare among developed and
developing cultures?
What are the major causes of obesity?
How do Americans who achieve long-term weight loss
manage to succeed?
Why are Americans who fail to achieve long-term weight loss
unable to succeed?
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Create Research Questions to Find Search Terms
Assignment: Is obesity a trait endemic to developed
cultures like ours, or is it the result of individual
choice?
•
•
•
•
•
How prevalent is obesity among U.S. children and adults?
How do obesity rates compare among developed and
developing cultures?
What are the major causes of obesity?
How do Americans who achieve long-term weight loss
manage to succeed?
Why are Americans who fail to achieve long-term weight loss
unable to succeed?
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Recognizing Different Kinds of Sources
Print vs. electronic sources
Google
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Recognizing Different Kinds of Sources
Scholarly vs. popular (or general) sources
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Recognizing Different Kinds of Sources
Primary vs. secondary sources
Experiments
Surveys
Interviews
Research reports
Book reviews
Biographies
Field observations
Works of art
Literary works
Eyewitness accounts
News reports
Historical documents
Journal articles
Reference materials
Magazine articles
History books
Textbooks
Art criticism
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using the Library Catalog Search Engine
Using LC subjects vs. keywords
Using “search limits” to find books or reference
materials
Go to Web 2.0 Links for Class
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Guidance for web-based research as well as databases
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
You can choose particular scientific disciplines
All full-text articles (not all available to us)
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Not as technical as Medline, Cinahl Plus
Almost all PDF
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Psychology: PsycArticles
Subset of PsycInfo, but good
All PDF
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Psychology: PsycArticles
Social Sciences: SocINDEX
Ebsco, with visual search, etc.
Many in PDF form
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Psychology: PsycArticles
Social Sciences: SocINDEX
History: America: History and Life
Abstracts only (with links to full text)
A nice “real life” historical database
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Psychology: PsycArticles
Social Sciences: SocINDEX
History: America: History and Life
Business: Business Source Complete
Ebsco, with visual search, etc.
Many in PDF form
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Psychology: PsycArticles
Social Sciences: SocINDEX
History: America: History and Life
Business: Business Source Complete
Newspapers: LexisNexis Academic
Includes magazines, TV, blogs, etc.
Electronic full-text versions
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Psychology: PsycArticles
Social Sciences: SocINDEX
History: America: History and Life
Business: Business Source Complete
Newspapers: LexisNexis Academic
InfoTrac Custom 120
Includes GR, Lansing, etc.
Electronic full-text versions
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Psychology: PsycArticles
Social Sciences: SocINDEX
History: America: History and Life
Business: Business Source Complete
Newspapers: LexisNexis Academic
InfoTrac Custom 120, NYT Historical
All PDF
GVSU library homepage
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Psychology: PsycArticles
Social Sciences: SocINDEX
History: America: History and Life
Business: Business Source Complete
Newspapers: LexisNexis Academic
InfoTrac Custom 120
GVSU library homepage
Education: ERIC
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Psychology: PsycArticles
Social Sciences: SocINDEX
History: America: History and Life
Business: Business Source Complete
Newspapers: LexisNexis Academic
InfoTrac Custom 120
Education: ERIC
GVSU library homepage
Older sources: JSTOR
All PDF
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Databases to Find Good Sources
Remember to check in “Subject Resources”
Science: Science Direct
Health/Medicine: Health Reference Center Academic
Psychology: PsycArticles
Social Sciences: SocINDEX
History: America: History and Life
Business: Business Source Complete
Newspapers: LexisNexis Academic
InfoTrac Custom 120
GVSU library homepage
Education: ERIC
Older sources: JSTOR
General databases: Academic Search Premier, All PDF
InfoTrac One File, Wilson Select
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Search Engines on the Web
Google Scholar
www.scholar.google.com
WRT 305
Conducting Research
Using Search Engines on the Web
Google Scholar
USASearch
www.usasearch.gov
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Read Ch. 38 on conducting research (168-76).
Do Presentation Quiz #10 on conducting
research.
Ch. 17 and Ch. 18 exercises due Monday
Work on your Process Log Project.
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/pocket5e
phlox