Download - Robots & Cyborgs & Droids: An (un)Mechanical Research Strategy Gary Handman [email protected] 3-8666
Robots & Cyborgs & Droids:Robots & Cyborgs & Droids:An (un)Mechanical Research StrategyAn (un)Mechanical Research Strategy
Gary HandmanGary [email protected]
1. Describes organization of library information
2. Point out some unique aspects of film as a research topic
3. Discuss how to select article databases (and determine what’s in them)
4. Discuss how to develop search strategies5. Introduce a group of basic moves and
features common to many online catalogs and indexes.
6. Practice using these features in selected databases
The Information Universe •BooksBooks
•Journals (Magazines) & Journals (Magazines) & Newspapers Newspapers
•Government docsGovernment docs•MapsMaps
•Media (video, sound Media (video, sound recording, etc.)recording, etc.)
•Computer files (e.g. CD-Computer files (e.g. CD-ROMS, data files)ROMS, data files)
•Dissertations Dissertations •ManuscriptsManuscripts& THE WEB…& THE WEB…
The guy next to meis soooo hot!
The Information Universe Not all books or journals are
created equal
Why/when books?Why/when journals
CurrentCurrent
ScholarlScholarly/y/In-depthIn-depth
Pop and Pop and fanfan
HistoricalHistorical
Writing About Writing About Film…Film…
IndustryIndustry
ReviewsReviews
--Short, fairly superficial. Current, mainstream releases. ---Found mostly in popular periodicals, film periodicals
Critical AnalysisCritical Analysis
--Broader historical, cultural, political, artistic context and/or
--Focus on a specific aspect of a film, film genre, or filmmaker
--Longer, more substantive
--Found in books and scholarly or film-related journals
Robert DeNiroRobert DeNiroTaxi DriverTaxi Driver
……But how do you locate this stuff?But how do you locate this stuff?
Journal Articles and ReviewsJournal Articles and Reviews
Arthur, P. Arthur, P. ““Godfather II." (motion picture Godfather II." (motion picture review) review) Film CommentFilm Comment, v 11 , v 11 (Mar.-April, 1975), p. 2 (Mar.-April, 1975), p. 2
ReviewsReviews
Greene, Naomi Greene, Naomi "Coppola, Cimino: The Operatics of "Coppola, Cimino: The Operatics of History." History." Film Quarterly Film Quarterly XXXVIII/2, XXXVIII/2, Winter 84-85; p.28-37 Winter 84-85; p.28-37
Critical/ScholarlyArticlesCritical/ScholarlyArticles
The Information UniverseThe Information Universe
Library Catalog(s)
Journal/NewspaperIndexes (article databases)
Library Catalog(s)
Pathfinder: UCB Library holdings only
MELVYL (CDL cat): All 9 UC Campuses
•An inventory of what the library owns
•Search by Author, Title, Subject
•Whole books and print and electronic journals, NOT what’s inside of those publications
The Information Universe: Books
Doherty, Thomas Patrick.Teenagers and teenpics: the juvenilization of American movies in the 1950s Philadelphia : Temple University Press, 2002.
UCB Main PN1993.5.U6 D53 2002
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Call #
Look it Up in Pathfinder or MELVYL by Author, Title, or Subject :
The Information Universe: Finding ArticlesArticle Databases (Indexes/Abstracts)
• Allow subject/author searching in a group of journals in a particular discipline or topical area.
• Produced by different commercial publishers; often look/act differently from one another.
• Some indexes also offer:
•Abstracts
•Full-Text
•UC e-Links
All databases are not created equal (or by the same company)…All databases are not created equal (or by the same company)…
Choosing an Articles database (index)•Look at the listings of article databases available via the library www.lib.berkeley.edu: includes listings by SUBJECT, NAME, etc.
•General Databases are often good places to start (particularly for newsy/topical issues)
•Listings of subject-specific electronic resources
Where and How to Look?
GH Desert Island Index/Article Database List
NoNow Playing
GH Desert Island Index/Article Database List
NoNow Playing
•MLA Bibliography
•Expanded Academic Index
•FIAF Index
The Information Universe (Now)
But Remember: Not everything is online!!!!!:
•Article Databases: Generally only go back 10-20 yrs online (some exceptions – e.g. Historical Newspapers)
•Not every publication is indexed
•Fairly small (but rapidly growing) subset of the books and journal universe is currently available in full-text
Online is Cool
The Information Universe
Remember Also:
•Not every topic has lots written about it, either in books or journal lit.
--Research on very current topics--Research on radically specific topics--Research on topics off the beaten
academic track or off the pop culture radar
How to Begin? Before you click: THINK
•Formulate a concise, concrete statement of
the research problem•Formulate your search in terms of
keywords and key phrases:
The impact of television advertising and television violence on school performance and pre-adolesecent social interaction.
How to Begin? Before you click: THINK
•Think of synonyms for key words/phrases
The impact of television advertising and television violence on school performance and pre-adolesecent social interaction.
ChildrenYouthAdolescents…etc.
CommercialsAds…etc.Academic achievement
Grades…etc.
MediaTV…etc
Socialization, relationships,peer interaction…etc.
The Information Universe
What to do if nothing is turning up:
•Tweak your topic: Broaden it / select a different angle•Rethink your search strategy (new keywords, new concepts, etc.)•Bail out completely and choose another topic
A few cautionary words about research on the Net
LibraryLand
The NetGoogle Rocks!
Common Search Features:
•Basic and Advanced Search Screens
•Trunction: “wild card” that allows you to scoop up broader results:* # or ? Depending on db
--e.g.: Advertis* will give you:advertise, advertising, advertisers, advertisements
•Search by keyword or by phrase•Search specific fields (e.g., SUBJECT, TITLE)•Use of AND, OR, NOT
<Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson>< Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen>< Bob Dylan not Bruce Springsteen >
Common Search Features:
--Save list of good stuff--Mail Articles/Citations to yourself
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/FilmBibMenu.html
a growing listing of bibliographies on various film topics and individual films compiled by MRC (includes bibs for genres, filmmakers, national cinemas, and individual film).
Connecting from off-campus