Research Methods & Data
AD140 Brendan Rapple
2 March, 2005
Today Libraries hold much more than just books:
Digital resources, journals, sound and video recordings, newspapers, maps, government documents, DVD’s, etc.
Point the user to the world of global information Not limited to what is physically in the building Online resources help open up access to the global world
Libraries acquire, organize and make accessible information in traditional and digital formats
Collections can often be accessed remotely
Modern Research Libraries
Increasingly Electronic Very Dynamic -- Ever Changing Highly Complex Very Varied Not Always Intuitive
Boston College Libraries Facts
Support teaching, learning, and research at Boston
College with:
• Over 2 million printed volumes
• Over three hundred research databases that can be accessed in the library or remotely
• Specialized libraries throughout campus
• Subject specialists available to assist you with all your information needs
Boston College Libraries and Centers
Complete List of Libraries and Centers
What is a Library?
Wrong to think of libraries as entities with four walls.
They’re far more than that
Role of Libraries Places of learning and knowledge pursuit
Repositories for published material
Provide access to electronic resources as well as print material
Quiet study places
Social places
Access to variety of equipment
• Photocopiers• Printers• Scanners• Computers
Online Databases
Advantages of Online Databases
Preliminary research from home or office
Search whole database at the same time
Online searching is much faster
Advantages of Online Databases
More complex searches than with print
(BODY IMAGE AND ADVERTISEMENTS AND (ANOREXIA OR BULIMIA)) NOT FEMALES
Generally, more sophisticated research
Advantages of Online Databases
Limit searches by restricting to
a range of years
a particular language
a specific document type
a particular audience group
Advantages of Online Databases
Download and manipulate search results
Even printing is preferable to writing or photo-copying from print indexes
E-Mail Searches to another
Advantages of Online Databases
Alert you by email to new publications
Able to specify peer reviewed articles
Immediate online help
Direct links to Internet Sites
Examples of Databases
Online database page from libraries web site: Online Databases
Browse databases by title
Browse databases by subject
Scholarly vs. Popular Resources
Scholarly Scholarly:
Scholarly journals contain reviews and articles written by experts in the field. Scholarly journals always cite their sources in the form of footnotes or bibliographies. They are generally published four or six times a year and are peer-reviewed journals.
Often contain original research
Examples: American Journal of Education; Harvard Business Review; Mind
Popular
Popular: Popular journals come in many formats and are most often
colorful in appearance, with lots of photographs and/or graphics. The most reliable kind of popular periodical often cites sources (though perhaps not in standard bibliographical format), but the less reliable kind will seldom cite sources.
Often cover current events and topics
Examples: Business Week; Time; Cosmopolitan
Other Useful Resources/Services
Boston College Library Web page Research Guides How do I…? Subject Quick Start
Contact a Subject Specialist
TIPS
Learn physical layout of library
Read help screens
Read instructions re. databases
Browse reference stacks
Ask for help
Remember
Everything not on computer
Not everything is available on the internet
Libraries are still useful, still essential for research!!
Types of Libraries
Public Libraries
Business Libraries
University Libraries
National Libraries
Historical Society Libraries
Company or Corporate Libraries
Government Depository Libraries
Special Libraries/Archival Centers
School Libraries