Beginning research for assignments

LIBRARY

Session outlineTerminologyAnalysing your questionDifferent information sources

◦ When to use them ◦ Where to find them◦ What they look like in a reading list

The information cycleStarting researchWhere to get more help

Terminology: Journals OR Serials

◦ regular publications which contain scholarly articles for academic readers

◦ Journals are published in yearly volumes◦ Volumes are comprised of monthly or quarterly issues◦ Each issue contains multiple articles

Peer-reviewed OR refereed journals ◦ All articles are reviewed by experts in the field before

publication

Databases◦ Searchable collections of information or data◦ Most of our academic journals are accessible via

databases ◦ Some databases contain full text (complete articles)◦ Other databases provide just the reference and

abstract (summary)

Terminology cont’d: Reference

◦ A formal, detailed description of a book, journal article etc

◦ Example: Behrens, L. (2010). A sequence for academic writing.

New York, N.Y.: Pearson.

In-text reference OR Citation◦ An abbreviated reference within the body of an

assignment to guide the reader to the detailed reference in the Reference List or Bibliography

Referencing style◦ Rules for the format, punctuation & elements of

references◦ Examples: Harvard, APA

Before you can start your research, you need to know what you’re looking for!

Identify direction words & limiting words:◦ direction words tell you what sort of

assignment to write e.g. discuss, analyse, evaluate

◦ limiting words define the boundaries of your research e.g. 2 years, three examples, in Australia specific aspects of a topic

Identify the key concepts of the question

Analysing your question

KEY CONCEPTS ARE THE FOCUS OF YOUR RESEARCH

Sample question:

Discuss the impact of snow sports on alpine

environments, providing case studies of at least three

resort areas, each in different countries. Evaluate

infrastructure, environmental and economic factors. Circle the direction wordsUnderline the limiting wordsHighlight the key conceptsMore info on Academic Skills Centre page

http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/answering

Start with background reading:◦ What defines an ‘alpine environment’◦ Find three (or more) resort areas◦ What is ‘infrastructure’

For other questions this might involve checking definitions, breaking broad termsinto separate aspects etc

List different forms of your key concepts:◦ Synonyms and related terms e.g. snow

sports, winter sports, alpine sports etc.

THESE WILL BE YOUR SEARCH TERMS

THE KEY TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH:

DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFORMATION ARE FOUND IN DIFFERENT SOURCES

How to find books:• Reading list in your Unit

Outline• Bibliography of text

book and other readings• Library catalogue or

UCanFind

BOOKS & E-BOOKS

Contain:• broad, background

information• history, development of a

topic• classic examples, theories &

theorists

Useful for:• broad understanding of the

topic• Often just one chapter or

section of a book will applyExample of a book reference:May, C. A., & May, G. S. (2006). Effective writing: a handbook for accountants (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Example of an e-book reference:Schiraldi, G. R. (2001). The post-traumatic stress disorder sourcebook: A guide to healing, recovery, and growth [Adobe Digital Editions version]. doi:10.1036/0071393722

Example of a chapter reference:Nicholson, N. R. (2013). Social isolation. In I. M. Lubkin & P. D. Larsen (Eds.), Chronic illness: impact and intervention. Burlington, Mass.: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Contain:• Concise, focused

information• Detailed research• Some conference papers• Case studies

Useful for:• Lending authority to your writing• Strengthening your argument• Supporting your view• Up to date information – journals

are published frequently

JOURNAL & E-JOURNAL ARTICLES

How to find journal articles:• Library databases index over

40,000 journals• Use UCanFind to search

broadly across all databases• Select Subject Guides on

the Library page to search specific databases

Examples of journal references:Munslow, A. (2005). Getting on with history. Rethinking History, 9(4), 497-501.

Fernsten, L. A., & Reda, M. (2011). Helping students meet the challenges of academic writing. Teaching in Higher Education, 16(2), 171-182. doi:10.1080/13562517.2010.507306

How to find news & current affairs:• Print copies of major daily

newspapers in Library• Limit results to Newspaper

Articles in UcanFind

• Specialised databases listed on the Subject Guides page

NEWS SOURCES

Contain:• Immediate, breaking news• Current affairs• Editorial comment

Useful for:• Local information• Advertising trends• Economic information• Politics• Social issues

Examples of news source references:Waterford, J. (2007, May 30). Bill of Rights gets it wrong. The Canberra Times, p. 11.  Funding changes unlikely to affect North Coast TAFE (2012, October 25). ABC News. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news

WEB RESOURCES

Contain:• Some scholarly, professional

information• Many sites for children or general public

– not appropriate for academic use• Always important to evaluate

information carefully

Useful for:• Quick, easy searching• Current, popular

information• Images, maps, logos etc• Company information

How to find scholarly web sites:• Library Subject Guides list

selected sites for each area of study

• Use links from professional organisations and Government departments

Example of web site reference:• MacIsaac, D. (1995). An introduction to action

research. Retrieved from http://physicsed.buffalostate. edu/danowner/actionrsch.html

THE INFORMATION CYCLEThere is also a time factor in information

sourcesLet’s look at the information cycle, using

the 2007-2009 Global Financial Crisis as an example

The information cycleWITHIN HOURS

Eye witness

accounts, public

reaction

Websites, radio, TV,

social media

HOURS TO DAYS

Comment, official

statements

Newspapers, other

news sources

WEEKS TO MONTHS

Causes, impacts &

more details

Magazines

MONTHS TO YEARS

Research on

particular aspects

Scholarly journals

YEARS AFTER

Detailed research & long term impacts

Books

Exercise:Look at the references and questions:

◦ References: What type of source is this a reference to?

◦ Questions: What type of source would you use to find information on this topic?

Handy hints:◦ Remember the distinctive features for each

type of reference◦ Ask for help if you need it – we want you to

help youget them all right!

Exercise answers: 

 What type of information source is each reference describing? 

Diani, G. (2012). Text and corpus work, EAP writing, and language learners. In R. Tang (Ed.), Academic writing in a second or foreign language (pp. 87-106). London: Continuum.

 

 

Dooley, M. D., Payne, A. A., & Robb, A. L. (2012). Persistence and academic success in University. Canadian Public Policy, 38(3), 315-339. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=80379636&site=ehost-live

 

Satariano, W. A. (2012). Mobility and Aging. American Journal of Public Health, 102(8), 1508-1515. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300631

 The sprint to election day. (2012, October 26). New York Times, 32.

 

 

Sword, H. (2012). Stylish academic writing. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

 

 

United Nations Environment Programme. (2012). The global garbage crisis: no time to waste. Retrieved November 7, 2012, from http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2698&ArticleID=9317&l=en

 

Book chapter

Journal article

Journal articleNewspaper article

Book

Website

 What type of information source would you use to find the following information?

 …detailed research comparing recovery times for sports injuries treated by acupuncture or by physiotherapy

 

 …results of football matches played in a small country town

 

 …the current organisational structure at BHP

 

 …research into cell death and neurological disorders

 

 …the history of primary school teacher training in Australia

 

…clinical trials of two new drugs for the treatment of arthritis

Journals

Journals

Journals

Books

BHP Website

Newspapers

Start research on the Library page

Your lecturer may have some readings listed on E-Reserve, use the …more link to go to E-Reserve

Register online for training sessions, or view online tutorials

Use UC Referencing Guide for correct referencing

Search UC Library catalogue for known titles, specific items

Search Subject Guides for specialised databases & other resources on more complex topics

Use UCanFind to search broadly across journal databases and catalogue

19

Help is always availableFor more help…

LIBRARY

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email• Online chat 10.30-

3.30 Monday-Friday

In person:• Research Assistance

Desk • Level B of the Library

Phone:• 62015082

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In person• ASC Rovers in the

Library or Student Commons

• Have your writing reviewed at a drop in session or an individual appointment

• Phone:62012205 for an appointment

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