pols 2300: introduction to library research timothy bristow research & instruction librarian,...
TRANSCRIPT
POLS 2300:Introduction to Library Research
Timothy BristowResearch & Instruction Librarian, Scott Library
Class Goals:• Learn how to construct an effective keyword search
• Learn how to use the Library Catalogue and Periodical Indexes to find relevant information
• Discuss ways to think critically about your research sources
• Prepare you to work on your annotated bibliography
When starting a research project, where do you look first?
QUESTIONS:
What is a scholarly resource?
Scholarly Sources Are:
• The product of research & analysis; they provide evidence of their research by citing other sources
• Produced by scholars for scholars and are part of a larger conversation about an issue
• Often not freely available online, which is why you need to use our library catalogue and databases
Keyword Searching:1. Prepare your search by writing out your research question and then
identifying the key concepts
2. The same concept can often be expressed in multiple ways, so consider alternative keywords: synonyms
3. Construct your search using language that the database understands to get the best possible results: syntax
4. Search, examine the results, and modify your search
Library Catalogue:• The Library Catalogue is a database containing records
for materials in all York Libraries
• Use the Catalogue to find books, films, reports, but not journal articles
• Advanced Search will give you more control and often better results when searching for a topic
Periodical Indexes:• Periodical Indexes are databases that contain records of
journal articles in a particular subject area
• Use the Library’s online Subject Guides and the POLS 2300 Course Guide to identify useful indexes
• The indexes contain records for many articles that we have at York and for some that we don’t
Thinking Critically: 1
• Authority: Who is responsible for producing the source? Is the author or publisher affiliated with an organization?
• Audience: What is the intended audience of the source? E.g. researchers, students, the general public
• Purpose: Why was the source created, what is its purpose? E.g. to present research, set policy, inform, entertain, persuade
Thinking Critically: 2
• Perspective: Does the source express a particular political or institutional perspective?
• Currency: When was the source created? Is the information still relevant?
• Validity: Are the author’s claims supported by evidence and research? Does the research method seem sound?
Getting Help:• Visit the Research Questions
Desk at the Scott Library
• Book a Research Appointment
• Ask a question online with askON
• Consult the POLS 2300 Course Guide