WHAT TO KNOW AND WHERE TO GO

1. Research WHAT TO KNOW AND WHERE TO GO

2. 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 WHAT IS RESEARCH

3. What?

4. Research: • Creating a method • Planning • Investigation • Discovery • Action based on facts

5. 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/

6. Where do I go to find sources?

8. THE LIBRARY • 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.

9. Library resources • Go through a review process • Free or discounted for your use • Organized • Meant to be kept permanently • Come with personal assistance

10. THE WEB • Current information • Library links • Company information • Government information • Expert and popular opinions

11. 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.

12. Magazines • 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.

13. Journals • Articles are written by scholars • Editorial board reviews articles • Specific topics or narrow fields of research • Periodic intervals • Continued….

14. 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

15. Newspapers • Articles daily • Current events • Periodicals • International, national and local events • Editorials • Commentaries • Expert or popular opinions

16. Books • Cover virtually any topic • Fact or fiction • Electronic books (e-books) • A lot of information on a topic • Summaries of research to support an argument • Usually has been seriously reviewed prior to publication

17. Encyclopedias • Factual articles • Background information on a topic • Find key ideas, important dates or concepts • Two types of encyclopedias • (general and subject)

18. Library Catalogs • Identify items in the library • Books, ebooks • Journals • Magazines • Newspapers • Videos

19. 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.)

21. Where do I go to find Ivy Tech’s virtual library?

27. 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

31. Choosing a topic

32. 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/

33. When broadening or narrowing a topic ask yourself …. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? How often? To what extent? http://faculty.ivytech.edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/

34. 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/

35. Write out your topic as a sentence or a question. Example: How do advertisers markettheir products to women? Notice the keywords in green. http://faculty.ivytech.edu/~smclaugh/ivytilt/

36. If your subject is marketing then a keyword might be products. computers cigarettes products toys liquor clothes 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/

37. 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

38. DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! • PLAN AHEAD • CREATE A STRATEGY • DON’T PROCRASTINATE

39. Find a quiet place away from distractions. Make sure you are comfortable.

40. Make good use of your time. • Class Times • Start and end dates • Deadlines • L.R.C. office hours • Writing Center hours

41. 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

42. 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

43. Now you know what to know and where to go! Remember what you’ve learned and let it guide you through the research process.