Research Methodologies:The Arts

Library ResourcesLibrary Website:

Ask-a-Librarian→ IM… InfoGuides

Library catalog: Books E-books (Net Library) DVD, VHS WRLC And more…

More Library ResourcesResearch DatabasesArts Databases

Art Fulltext

Bibliography History of Art (BHA)

Design & Applied Arts (DAAI)

ARTBibliographies Modern

Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals

More Library DatabasesGeneral Databases

Academic Search Complete (exs: Digital Creativity,

Visual Studies, Visual Anthropology)

ProQuest Research Library (ex: British Journal of

Photography, Journal of Glass Studies)

Wilson Omnifile (E-Journal Finder lists art journals, like Art

in America, as available here)

JSTOR (exs: Artibus et Historiae, Museum Studies)

Humanities International Complete (exs: Art Asia

Pacific, Word & Image)

Types of Information• Online Catalog – Books can provide general

overview OR detailed insight about your topic

• Research Databases – access to different types of periodicals (articles, reports…)

• Primary Sources – Original records like letters, manuscripts, newspapers, interviews, photos, recordings, works of art

• Reference Sources – From background information to images

• The Web – benefits and limitations for research

Research Process• Define Your Topic (Identify main concepts; Narrow or

broaden topic; List of search terms )

• Determine Your Information Needs (how current, specific publication type)

• Locate and Retrieve Relevant Information (search strategies)

• Access Information using Technology (catalog, databases, web)

• Evaluate Information (print & electronic)

• Use Information Ethically (cite sources)

Define Research Topic1. State your topic as a question.

2. Identify concepts.

3. Narrow or broaden your topic.

4. Keep a list of terms that work best for your topic & add to it as you go.

5. This works whether you’re writing a brief paper or an in-depth research paper.

Find an image you want to explore?

Title: Aboriginal Bark painting of funeral ceremony with kangaroo on Croker IslandLocation: Musee des Arts Africains et Oceaniens

Subjects: Australia; Archaeology; Religions; New Zealand; Aboriginal Culture; Death; Beliefs; Burial

Brainstorm: Search Terms

• Bark, bark painting

• Australia, Australian…

• Oceanic

• Aboriginal, aborigine

• Funeral, burial

*Try as general searches & see what you find…

Search Strategies Keyword:

• Simplest search• Looks for records that match the words typed, not the

ideas represented by the words

Controlled Vocabulary (Subjects):• Uses subject headings for more refined results• Looks for records that match the ideas represented by

the words.• Terms are standardized• Often active links

Color

More Search StrategiesBoolean Searching

AND/OR/NOTCombine keywords to narrow/broaden your search

AND— NARROWS YOUR SEARCHEX: Interior Design AND Color

OR—EXPANDS YOUR SEARCHEX: Film or video            OR

     Wall paintings or murals

NOT—LIMITS TERMS FROM SEARCH             NOT 

Interior design AND

Film Video

Maya Software

Start with General Search & Then Refine

• Keyword: “bark painting”

Individual Record

Subject Headings LinksAdvantages: Refine your topic

Narrow your focus

Take search in new directionFind resources wouldn’t have found otherwise

Advantages of…Books• Good for background information, timeline,

definitions, etc. • Length allow author to go more in-depth into a

subject

Articles• More specialized searching• Better for newer artists/designers (may not have

books yet)• More current information—more recently published

Evaluate Your Sources• Evaluate the sources you find!

• Print AND Online

• CRAAP Test:• Currency—Is the information out-of-date? • Relevance—Is the information on topic?• Authority—Who wrote the information?

• Accuracy—Is the information correct? • Purpose—What is the information intended to do?

Educate? Persuade? Entertain?