Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education  and used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library : http://www.waikato.ac.nz/library/learning/wise/Module2

Focusing your research question

LIBR 2100 Introduction to Research in the Information Age

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Distinguishing assignment words

• We can distinguish three types of words and phrases.

• Task words provide instructions on how to approach an assignment e.g. “critically analyse”, compare, discuss, evaluate.

• Keywords convey the significant meaning of a topic e.g. “computer technology”.

• Context words are considered when choosing and evaluating resources e.g. “profound and irreversible” and “aspects of daily life”.

"Our dependence on computer technology is both profound and irreversible. Critically analyse this statement as it relates to an aspect of daily life”.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Narrowing an assignment topic

Who – is there a specific person/people/group on which to focus? e.g. social or recreational computer users

Where – is there a geographical aspect to the topic? e.g. Cyberspace

When – is there a particular timeframe or period of interest?e.g. during the last 5 years

What – is there a specific event or set of circumstances involved?e.g. online social communication

How – is there a particular point of view to use?e.g. dependence on technology

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Focusing your topic

An analysis of our dependence on technology for online communication in a social context.

"Our dependence on computer technology is both profound and irreversible. Critically analyse this statement as it relates to an aspect of daily life”.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Creating an initial search strategyWe need to identify keywords to use in our initial search strategy.

An analysis of our dependence on technology for online communication in a social context.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Creating an initial search strategy

• Analysis? a task word indicating how to approach the paper

NOT USEFUL AS A KEYWORD

We need to identify keywords to use in our initial search strategy.

An analysis of our dependence on technology for online communication in a social context.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Creating an initial search strategy

• Dependence?

a context word indicating a view point to take and resources to locate

NOT USEFUL AS A KEYWORD

An analysis of our dependence on technology for online communication in a social context.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Creating an initial search strategy

• Technology? Could be keyword but is too broad for this paper

NOT A KEYWORD FOR THIS PAPER

An analysis of our dependence on technology for online communication in a social context.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Creating an initial search strategy

• Online?

YES! A KEYWORD FOR OUR INTIAL SEARCH

An analysis of our dependence on technology for online communication in a social context.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Creating an initial search strategy

• Communication?

YES! A KEYWORD FOR OUR INTIAL SEARCH

An analysis of our dependence on technology for online communication in a social context.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Creating an initial search strategy

• Social?

YES! A KEYWORD FOR OUR INTIAL SEARCH

An analysis of our dependence on technology for online communication in a social context.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Creating an initial search strategy

• context? Not really . . . except that. . .you would not use context by itself because it

adds no value. You would only use it in the phrase “social context”

• “Social context”A POSSIBLE KEYWORD FOR OUR INTIAL SEARCH

An analysis of our dependence on technology for online communication in a social context.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Brainstorming for keywords

• The keywords identified in an assignment do not always pinpoint the specific information required.

• Keywords used in assignments may not be the ones used by writers.

• Word variations must be considered, to find alternative keywords.

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

The brainstorm includes:

• abbreviations e.g. Email

• plurals e.g. social aspects

• acronyms e.g. www

• spelling variations e.g. socialise, socialize

• different endings of a root word e.g. communicate, communication

• synonyms e.g. internet, world wide web

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Brain storming Keywords

online communication social

cyberspace“world wide web”wwwinternet

communicate“electronic mail”email“instant message”chat“text message”

socialisesocialize“social relationships”

“social aspects”

Credit: Waikato Information Skills Education. Used with permission: © 2009 The University of Waikato Library

Connecting the concepts with boolean terms

online AND communication AND social

OR

cyberspace communicate socialize

“world wide web”

email “social relationships”

www chat “social aspects”

internet instant message friendships