LIBRARY RESEARCH WORKBOOK

Transcription

1 LIBRARY RESEARCH WORKBOOK English 201A

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3 LIBRARY RESEARCH WORKBOOK Developing Research Skills Using Cuesta College Library Resources For use in English 201A Text by Laurie Allen Cuesta College Library/Learning Resources Center P.O. Box 8106 San Luis Obispo CA Fall 2016/ Spring & Summer 2017 Edition Copyright 2016 by Cuesta College No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any format without written permission

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5 Worksheet for online answer form Tear out and use this worksheet for your answers as you complete the workbook; it makes it easier to transfer your answers to the online answer form. You will also need the following information to submit the online workbook form. Instructor s name Class CRN# Transfer your answers to the online workbook form located on the English 201A Workbook page

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7 Contents Introduction: About the Workbook... Page 1 Part 1: What is Information?... Page 4 Part 2: Developing a Research Strategy a. Topic and Research Question... Page 6 b. Choosing the right sources... Page 9 Part 3: Locating Sources a. Cuesta Library Search... Page 14 b. Doing Research on the Internet... Page 20 Part 4: Evaluating Sources... Page 26 Part 5: Writing the Paper a. Critical reading... Page 33 b. Synthesis and Integration... Page 35 Part 6: Using Information Appropriately a. Avoiding Plagiarism... Page 38 b. Citation... Page 41

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9 Introduction: About the Workbook This workbook is used in conjunction with other course materials for English 201A. It encourages you to see research not as something you have to do to write a paper, but as a set of behaviors, skills and ideas that enable you to be a knowledgeable consumer of information all your life. The Library Research Workbook is designed to help you become an informationliterate person. What is Information Literacy? knowing how much and what type of information you need to do an assignment Being able to find, evaluate and incorporate information into a research project Understanding how to use information legally and ethically If you can do these things with confidence and understanding, you have the tools needed to use library and Internet sources efficiently and wisely. These skills will help you with college, your career, and personal research in the future. Research is a systematic inquiry into a subject in order to learn about or verify facts. This Workbook teaches general research skills and strategies as well as how to use Cuesta s Library Search and the Internet to locate books, articles, web pages, videos and other sources. The Workbook is designed as a virtual research paper, which guides you through the research process using Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) as the topic. You go through the step-by-step process of writing a research paper, keeping in mind the basics of information literacy listed above. Completing the Workbook will help you become a more efficient and successful researcher. When you finish you will be able to: Choose a topic and the best sources for your project Form a research strategy Locate books, ebooks, articles and websites using the Cuesta Library Narrow and refine your topic using keywords and phrases Search the Internet for scholarly sources Evaluate your sources, with emphasis on Internet sites Cite your sources in-text and on a Works Cited page Understand plagiarism and academic integrity 1

10 Workbook Links Some of the questions in the Workbook require you to link to websites. These links are noted in bold (REQUIRED LINK) and show the link icon in the Workbook and on the Workbook Links page. You must use these links to answer the associated questions. Read the Workbook at a computer in order to have all the necessary links in front of you as you go. The Workbook Links page is located on the Library home page and on the mycuesta Library channel under English 201A Workbook. Recommended links are also provided to help you better understand each piece of the research puzzle. The books on the Workbook Links page are available through the Cuesta Library Search and are on Reserve in the Library. Helpful Information You can connect to the Workbook Links page from the Library home page or mycuesta. From off-campus locations always use the mycuesta Library page. From mycuesta select the Resources tab; the Library is on the left. Workbook links are accessible from the English 201A Workbook drop-down box near the bottom. Updates to Workbook: Internet sources change constantly. Be sure to check Updates & Corrections on the English 201A Workbook page before starting. When using Cuesta databases remotely you may need to disable your browser s pop-up blocker. For problems with workbook questions not answered in the Updates and Corrections section call the Reference Desk in the library (SLO ext. 3157; NC ), jessica_gonsalves@cuesta.edu, or use the Chat function on the Library home page to get help. Submitting your answers: 1. You can use the worksheet at the front of the workbook for your answers. Make sure you know your instructor s name and your class section. After you answer all the questions, go to the English 201A Workbook drop-down box on the mycuesta Library channel or the Library home page. 2

11 2. Choose the Submit Your Library Research Workbook Answers link. You have to answer all the questions or the page won t submit, so don t start until you finish the Workbook and have your answers ready. 3. Later in the semester you will take a Workbook test in class. Review it before you take the test, since it is not open book. 4. For the in-class test, use a #882 Scantron and a #2 pencil. Your test score and grade will be returned in your English 201A class. 5. If you are a distance education student, your instructor will tell you how to address the Workbook test. Visit the Workbook Links page (Introduction) for websites with additional information on types of research and a general introduction to writing a research paper. 3

12 Part 1: What is information? Information comes in many formats, including digital files, books and magazines, video and audio downloads, interviews, and even concrete objects. In the broadest sense, information is anything that you take in using your five senses. Fact and Opinion: What s the Difference? You can categorize information in several ways. This helps in critical reading and thinking. One way to divide data is whether it is fact or opinion. Facts: are statements that can be proven, like = 2, or the earth is not flat. Facts can be based on personal observation as well. I am wearing a blue shirt today. Facts stay the same and can be re-proven over and over. Opinions: are based on personal feelings, judgments and beliefs. When you go out for dinner and a friend says the chicken is better than the steak, you may agree or disagree. You are getting information, but it is based on a person s preference, not on unchanging and provable facts. Distinguishing facts from opinions is a basic part of research. Another way to categorize information in the academic world is to know the difference between popular and scholarly works. Popular material is written for the general public, whether as a book, article or website. The author doesn t usually offer any proof for his opinion. Popular material can be written by journalists, celebrities or someone interested in the subject. Scholarly material is usually written by an expert with professional credentials, and contains facts, proofs, research, and citations which show how the author came to his conclusions. So what do we do with the facts and opinions of friends, family, teachers, newscasters and online friends? We unconsciously analyze all this incoming data. Analyzing is how people process facts and opinions. The U.S. Census might ask thousands of households how many pets do you have? Statistical analysis of the responses comes up with the average American family has 2.3 pets. We know that people will have both fewer and more pets (not too many people have 2.3). But the analysis here is based on facts, not opinions. Knowing the difference between facts and opinions is one of the basic requirements for doing research. You will be required to support your research conclusions. A third way to categorize information is whether it is primary, secondary or tertiary. In many classes you will be asked to use some primary sources for assignments. A Primary (firsthand) source of information is original or first-person information. It can come from someone s journal, from original scientific research, or from writers talking 4

13 about their work on YouTube. Research articles from databases and websites are primary sources, as are conversations you have with your friends. A Secondary (secondhand) source of information is material that has been taken from primary sources and then synthesized (combined), such as a book in which all the writer interviews are gathered together by the interviewer and published. A college textbook is another example of secondary information, since it synthesizes material taken from original sources. A Tertiary (third hand) source of information consists of secondary sources, such as books and articles, which have been gathered together in a database or reference book. Examples of tertiary information are the Cuesta Library Search catalog, which gathers books, articles, databases and videos and makes them available from a single search, or the Statistical Abstract of the United States, a reference book which compiles all the reports from various government departments. 1. Which of the following is a primary source? a. An interview with an architect about his newest building b. A book of essays by various authors reprinted from earlier works c. A textbook on biology d. A YouTube video about George Washington, using previously published sources 2. When your instructor tells you to use information that can be verified, he or she is asking for: a. Facts b. Opinions 3. Which of the following statements is based on opinion? a. A People magazine survey shows that blue is the favorite color of year olds b. A Sports Illustrated article announces that Roger Clemens is the best pitcher that ever lived c. A video shows someone painting with their foot d. A reporter shows the viewers the results of an earthquake in Chile Visit the Workbook Links page (Part 1) to learn more about information and information literacy. 5

14 When it comes to choosing a topic, you want: Part 2: Developing a Research Strategy a. Topic & Research Question a clearly defined subject to make your research easier and more productive a topic that is broad enough for you to find enough information and narrow enough so that you won t be overwhelmed a topic that interests you, since you will be spending a lot of time and thought researching it For the purposes of this Workbook, let s consider the topic of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), a complex and controversial subject. If you go directly to Google or the Cuesta Library Search you get more results than you need or want. In a real research project you have to narrow the topic down to a manageable size that works for your assignment. Ask yourself: What do I already know about the topic? Maybe you worry about foods using genetically modified ingredients. Do GMOs affect your health? Have you seen articles, blogs or tweets on the topic? If you find yourself with a topic you know nothing about, go to the Cuesta Library Search to find a basic source like an online encyclopedia or print Reference book for a general overview. What do I need to know to write my paper? What type of research paper are you writing: an opinion (pro/con) paper or an informational one? Are you trying to persuade or inform? Does your teacher have specific requirements concerning sources (peerreviewed articles), length of paper (is there a page limit), or formatting (MLA)? How can I make the topic manageable? Narrow your topic to make it more focused. 1. Learn more about it. You have a broad topic: Genetically modified organisms. If you don t know enough to formulate a research query, Google it or check a Reference book for an overview of the subject and possible sub-topics. REQUIRED LINK # 1: (Part 2a) Access the Wikipedia link on the Workbook Links page. Check out the sub-topics listed in the main article. 2. Keep narrowing your focus and get more specific. Try using the 5 Ws: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and WHY. You might choose Transgenic Plants. This is still a pretty large topic. Example: narrow the sub-topic Transgenic Plants using some of the 5 Ws. You might have to look through several sources. a. Who (are the different groups behind the production of these plants?) = businesses, corporations and medical researchers are modifying plants b. What (is this technology is being used for?) = transgenic technology is being used to create new crops. 6

15 c. Where (is most of the research and/or use of these plants is occurring?) = most transgenic plants are being created and used in the United States. Workbook Links page: (Part 2a) How to Narrow a Research topic with the 5 Ws. 3. Now you have a few possible paper topics. Refine your topic some more by additional reading. What are the major ideas or issues in your narrowed topic? These ideas will become the keywords for researching your topic. Find specific keywords that work for your topic and ignore materials that don t directly relate. Example: after choosing the What statement above you read some more background material, and found that some transgenic crops are being produced to resist herbicides. 4. NOW, write your topic down as a question to be answered. This becomes your Research Question. Example: Are there health risks in consuming transgenic herbicide-resistant plants? Workbook Links page: What Makes a Good Research Question? There are also videos and web pages on choosing and refining a topic. Spend some time at the beginning of your project refining your topic. It will make the rest of the assignment easier, and will help you discover the research question you want to pursue. The Research Question Refining and narrowing your topic and developing the Research Question happen together. This question will determine the direction your information search will take, and the types of sources you will need. Without a solid question your work will be all over the place, instead of being focused. The Research Question is the foundation of your overall Research Strategy, and it serves several purposes: It guides you to the types of sources (books, articles, websites) you will use It identifies the specific objectives your paper will address (thesis or topic) It enables you to focus on finding sources that address that question and to avoid information overload Most importantly, you will use your research question as a guide as you develop your topic statement later in the research process. 7

16 See the Workbook Links page (Part 2a) for some resources on developing a research question. 4. When you start researching a large topic, which of the following is the best method for making the subject manageable? a. Going straight to Google search b. Going right to a library database c. Starting to write a paper using what you already know about the subject d. Narrowing the topic by time, place, country, or other limiters 5. How does having a solid research question help you with your topic? a. It helps you choose a citation style b. It helps you focus when you search for sources c. It provides you with keywords to use when searching for sources d. a and b e. b and c 8

17 Part 2: Developing a Research Strategy b. Choosing the Right Sources REQUIRED LINKS # 2 and 3: From the Workbook Links page (Part 2b), access the two videos describing the Information Cycle and how it affects the way you do research. Knowing which sources work best for each project will speed up your research. You can choose books, journals, online databases and the web for your information needs. From the Information Cycle videos you saw that the specific timeframe of your topic will help determine which sources to use. Your instructor may also have requirements, including these: Peer-reviewed sources: articles reviewed by experts before they are published. They are considered high quality information. They are also called Scholarly or Academic articles. Primary Sources: (or Primary Literature) include original research, first-person interviews, diaries, artwork, dissertations and any other original thought. Evaluated Sources: are sources which have been evaluated by experts. Included are scholarly books, some journal articles, and professional or academic web pages. When you use the Cuesta Library Search you are searching all of these sources. The results you get using Cuesta Library differ from the Internet because the web has no automatic evaluation tools, and web pages can be authored by anyone for any reason. Other media sources: It is easy to find images, videos and other media formats online. Remember, if you use them you must cite them as you would books and articles. Periodicals: The term periodical is used for magazines, journals and newspapers as a group. Periodicals often provide newer information than can be found in books. You will use articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers in most research papers. How do magazines and journals differ? Know the difference between the information found in magazines and journals. Some instructors allow only scholarly journal sources when they assign papers, while others will allow you to use magazine citations as well. It depends on your topic. A magazine is a periodical that usually comes out weekly or monthly. It contains illustrations and advertising and is written for a general audience. Many articles are unsigned and tend to be written by journalists rather than by subject specialists. Examples: Time, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone. A journal is a research periodical, written for an academic audience, and free of most advertising. Illustrations tend to be charts and tables in support of the opinions expressed by the author, rather than glossy color photos. Journal articles are usually signed, are often peer-reviewed, and have a Works Cited page or bibliography. Example: New England Journal of Medicine. 9

18 Magazines and Journals: How are they Different? Author MAGAZINE Journalist or layperson; sometimes author is not named or may be a scholar JOURNAL Expert (scholar, professor, researcher, etc.) in the field covered; author nearly always named Notes Few or no references or notes Usually includes notes and/or bibliography Style Journalistic; written for the average reader Uses technical or specialized language; written for experts Editing Reviewed by one or more persons employed by the magazine Usually reviewed by an editorial board of outside scholars (this is called peer reviewed or jury reviewed ) Audience For the general public For scholars and researchers in the field of study Ads Many, often in color Few or none; if any, usually for books or professional materials Look Glossy, many pictures in color More sedate look; mostly text Frequency Usually weekly or monthly Usually monthly or quarterly Contents Currents events; general interest News and research from the field of study 10

19 6. One difference between magazines and journals is that: a. Journals are not written for a professional audience b. Magazines are not written for a professional audience c. Journals have higher quality color illustrations d. Only magazines are peer-reviewed Your topic ultimately determines which sources will be most useful. Keep in mind that no single source works for every information need. Example: Consider the following two scenarios: You are writing a paper on the relationship between the Vietnam War and social changes in America. You have to use at least 2 sources from that period ( ) You are writing about Bitcoin virtual currency. In the first scenario you need to find sources from a past event. Going to the Cuesta Library Search, you can put in keywords such as: Vietnam War and Society; Vietnam War and American Culture, etc. You can organize your results list by date from earliest to most current to see if Cuesta has books written from that time. There are some historical newspaper databases you can use, as well as online databases and web sources written today about that period. There are many places to look. In the second scenario you are writing about something that didn t exist until Bitcoin is an online (virtual) phenomenon, so a lot of information about it is online. Nothing is written about it before You can find journal and newspaper articles, as well as books, by searching the Cuesta Library, but there won t be as much in books. From the Information Cycle video you learned that books take a longer time to publish. Most of your sources will be online. Decide early on which sources and strategies work best for your topic. Start with the Cuesta Library Search instead of the Internet to get more evaluated sources. Understanding the differences between using academic sources and the Internet is important. If your topic is mostly online, be diligent in evaluating each web page you use. Cuesta Library Search: Allows you to look for books, articles, scholarly online sources, videos and ebooks in various databases from a single entry point Has evaluated results and resources chosen for college-level searching Is updated and added to on a regular basis, with outdated information being deleted 11

20 Is searchable by author, title, or keyword, with options to refine, narrow, or broaden a search Returns fewer results than search engines, and will often have a summary or abstract to help you decide if the article or book is useful TYPES OF SOURCES: Strengths and Weaknesses Source List Strengths Weaknesses Books and ebooks Comprehensive (in-depth coverage); Authoritative; Evaluated Not always current Scholarly Journals Magazines Search engines; Google and others Cuesta-owned databases Authoritative; Evaluated; Current Current; Cover popular culture subjects Current; Lots of responses; Cover most subjects Well-organized; Current; Cover most subjects; Evaluated Not comprehensive; Not always written for general reader Not evaluated; Not written by experts Information overload; Not evaluated; Not organized- too many responses Not always full text Coverage not good prior to 1990 s. THE RECAP: Which source is best? There isn t one best source for all projects. Choose your sources based on your topic or project. The best source for one paper might be useless for another. Keep track of your sources for your bibliography or Works Cited page. Get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each type of source you use. 7. Which of the following sources would give you the best (evaluated) information on GMOs and allergies? a. A 1968 medical text b. A website produced by Albertsons supermarkets c. An article written in a popular magazine like Prevention d. A recent journal article from the New England Journal of Medicine 12

21 8. Which of the following sources will usually have information that has been evaluated? (see list above) a. Popular magazines b. Scholarly journals c. Cuesta Library Search databases d. All of the above e. b and c 13

22 Part 3: Locating Sources a. Cuesta Library Search and Specialized Databases In the previous section we talked about Cuesta Library Search having more credibility than going to Google or Wikipedia; start with the Library to save time and get better results. The two ways to access the Cuesta Library Search and other Specialized Databases are from the Library home page or the Library channel in mycuesta. Once you log into mycuesta, choose the Resources tab to get to the Library channel to find the single search box for the Cuesta Library and its databases. From the Library page and mycuesta you can quickly link to: Cuesta Library Search to find books, ebooks, journal & newspaper articles, and evideos. Specialized Databases that are not included in the Cuesta Search (more on this below) the Workbook Links page for links to questions, Workbook URLs and extra help other research links, library information, and help with MLA citations If you use a laptop, use your mycuesta login for wireless access in the Library. Exploring Cuesta Library Search The Cuesta Library Search makes it easy to find research materials from a single search box, with results including databases for books, ebooks, journal and magazine articles, newspaper articles and evideos. 1. Go to the Cuesta Library Search box on mycuesta or the Library home page, type in gmos and choose the Search icon or Enter key on your keyboard. Do not change the default Library that is checked (Libraries Worldwide). You get a long list of results, which includes books, evideos, articles, etc. On the top banner you can see the number of results. 2. The left panel allows you to refine and narrow your search results. Use these options to find Peer Reviewed and Full Text articles, and items in many formats. Only the top 6 formats show. Use the See All to find other types of content, such as ebooks, encyclopedia articles or Dissertations. 3. The first page of results may show some evideos, part of the Cuesta streaming video collection. Note the View online tab at the bottom of the entry. All results with a View online tab are instantly available in full text from the Library s online resources. These include full text articles, videos and ebooks. 4. Look at the first entry that says Print book. At the bottom of the entry, instead of View online, you get the location, call number, and availability of the print book in the Cuesta library system. Any item with a call number instead of the View online link can be found in the Cuesta Library collection. Write down the call number to retrieve it from the book stacks. To find only the books in the SLO or NC campus collections choose San Luis Campus or North County Campus under the Library option. 14

23 5. On the results list, find the article Methods for detection of GMOs in food and feed. You might have to go to the second results page. Click on the View online icon. It takes you to the full text article link and shows you the database you are accessing (Academic Search Premier). You need to know the correct database to cite it in your Works Cited page. 6. Return to the results page. Note the number of results. If you have too many results, or they are too general, remember to use the modifiers and different keywords from your research question to narrow your topic. 7. Say your research question is: should gmos in food be labeled to give consumers a choice? Change the keyword term in the search box to gmos and labeling. Look at the number of results. 9. Compare the number of results from gmos and gmos and labeling. a. There are fewer and more focused results in gmos and labeling b. There are fewer and more focused results in gmos c. There are more results in gmos and labeling d. There are the same number of results in both Search using different keywords to get new results in various formats. Focus on your research question and use appropriate keywords to keep your results relevant to your topic and help you search quickly. Phrase Searching is an effective way to search. Enclose a keyword phrase in quotation marks. This constrains the database to return results using that phrase, not just the individual words in the phrase. You get more focused results. 8. Clear the search box and type in the keywords genetically modified crops. Notice the number of results. Now, put quotes around the entire phrase: genetically modified crops. 10. What are the results of the phrase search using genetically modified crops.? a. You get more and broader results b. You get fewer and more focused results c. You only get one type of source d. You can t use phrase searching in the Cuesta Library Search 9. Keep genetically modified foods in the search box and hit search. On the left panel under Format there are no results for ebooks. Choose See All to find and 15

24 check the ebook box; your results bring up the ebooks available at Cuesta. The Cuesta ebook collection is full text and available online anytime. 10. Click on View online to go directly to the full text ebook. To find ebooks on your topic, always check the Format option on the left of the results page. If Books is not one of the choices, try different keywords. Remember that any item on your results list with a View online tab is instantly available, whether article, ebook or web site. 11. What types of full text sources can you directly link to from the results page? a. Articles b. Print books c. ebooks d. All of the above e. a and c Spend some time exploring the Cuesta Library Search system. It is the most efficient way to find scholarly sources for research. It will save you time. Specialized Databases Cuesta has a number of databases that are not included in the main Search system, and need to be searched separately. These databases have specialized information. Here are just a few and the kind of resources they contain: 1. Opposing Viewpoints in Context this is the place to go for any pro/con current issue topic you are researching. You will find scholarly articles, book chapters, newspaper articles as well as video and audio clips. 2. NewsBank this is the only place to get local information from the SLO Tribune. It also has articles from other California Newspapers and research on current World Events. 3. PsycArticles and PsycInfo two specialized databases for researching psychology. You can find peer-reviewed articles, dissertations and more. 4. Credo this is Cuesta s online Reference source for finding quick information on people, topics or events. Use Credo to find evaluated definitions, short articles on any subject, and literary criticism. 5. Very Short Introductions this ebook collection has concise introductions to more than100 subjects, including Robotics, Sciences, and Media Studies. 16

25 View the entire list by choosing the Specialized Databases tab from the Library Home page. You can also link directly to the databases from the Specialized Databases list in mycuesta. 1. From the Specialized Database list choose Credo Reference. In the Basic Search box type in gmos. 2. There is a Topic Page followed by a number of definitions from various scholarly sources. 3. Choose the Topic Page by clicking on the title Genetically modified organism. Note that the summary article s length by choosing Continue Reading. Scroll down to the end of the summary to find the source of the article for your citation. Keep scrolling down to find other Credo entries and more databases. The Credo Reference Database provides access to many aspects of your topic, and is a good place to start your research. 12. What kind of resources are available from the Specialized Databases tab? a. Introductory Reference materials b. Resources on pro/con issues c. Local newspaper articles d. Psychology research articles e. All of the above 17

26 Locating print books in the library The Library of Congress Classification System 1. In the Library, books are shelved in 3 different places, based on whether you can check them out. The following location terms are used in Cuesta Library Search: Bookstacks this is the circulating collection of books you can check out Reference - books for library use only (they say ref in front of the call number and are shelved in a separate place) Reserve books - textbooks and other class materials placed on hold by faculty and kept at the Circulation desk (most are library use for 2 hours). 2. Call numbers: Books at Cuesta are shelved by call numbers based on the Library of Congress (LC) Classification System. A call number is the address for each book on the shelf. Every book has a unique call number. Most academic libraries, including Cal Poly, use the LC system to organize their holdings. Knowing how to find books in the library is a skill that transfers to other colleges and universities. 3. The LC is an alpha-numeric system. Each call number begins with letters, and continues with a series of numbers and letters. Example: SB L This is the call number for High Tech Harvest by Paul F Lurquin. Call numbers in the Cuesta Library Search results are printed going across like the example above, but on the book spine they appear in rows, as shown below. This is what the call number means: SB (the subject S=Agriculture; SB= Plant Culture) (the sub-category of Propagation) L8724 (the author s identifier) 2002 (the date the book was published) 4. To find this book in the library you would go to the shelf that includes SB, then look for , etc. All books about Agriculture as a general subject will start with S. 5. In the LC system books are organized by subject, not by author or title. Books dealing with the same subject are shelved together, making it easy to browse. For example, all books about Art will start with N. There are 21 major subject divisions in the LC Classification System. 6. All libraries that use the LC Classification System use the same subject headings, so that a book in Cuesta s Library and in Cal Poly s library will have the same number. The Library of Congress website has a complete list of LC subject headings. 18

27 13. Look at the 4 call numbers listed below. What can you say about them without going to the shelf? (You might want review the paragraphs above) a. They are all reference books b. They are all circulating books c. They are all hardback books d. They are all books in the same general subject area N 5300 I ref NB 432 W ND 82 H NT 7 A

28 Part 3: Locating Sources b. Doing Research on the Internet The Internet is a great source of information. Knowing about browsers and search engines, Internet addresses (URLs) and quality websites will help you with research. Browsers: What are they? A browser is an application used to access and view websites. Some commonly used web browsers include (Microsoft) Internet Explorer, (Google) Chrome, (Mozilla) Firefox, and (Apple) Safari. You need a browser to translate HTML code into easily-read text and images. If you have trouble getting web pages to load, try a different browser. Search Engines: What are they? Search engines are the most widely-used way to find information on the Internet. When you type a keyword or phrase, the program collects relevant web pages from its database. Search engines are constantly updated by programs that search the web for new pages to index and add. No one search engine covers the entire content of the web. There are many search engines. Some of the most popular and biggest engines are Google, Yahoo, Safari and Bing. Search engines are not all the same; each one has special features. Keywords won t always return the same results in different engines. Try more than one search engine, and learn about the features of each by using the Help screen. Using the Internet for Research: Some techniques Phrase Searching We used this to search the Cuesta databases. Enclose a keyword phrase in double quotation marks. This allows the search engine to return web pages that use the phrase, not just the individual words in the phrase. You are likely to get more useful results. Example: genetically modified crops. Boolean Searching Boolean searching can be used with databases and search engines. Use the operators: AND, OR, NOT to avoid pages of useless information. Examples: gmos NOT United States; genetically modified plants OR genetically altered plants. 20

29 Nesting Nesting is a way to help the Boolean search by placing similar search terms into one group. The database will search for GMOs and both of the terms. Example: gmos AND (genetic engineering AND modified food) Keyword Modifiers Add one of the following descriptive terms to your keyword phrase: directories, encyclopedias, dictionary, pro/con, web directories or viewpoints. These will return useful sites and remove many others. Examples: GMO dictionary; biotechnology encyclopedia; GMOs pro/con. Help Screen Every search engine has an extensive Help page. Topics will include advanced search techniques and other tips about using the search engine more effectively. Using Google Scholar Google is always finding new ways to access information. One helpful research feature is Google Scholar. Because the results of a Google Scholar search contain both full-text and citation results, there are a few tricks you can use to find valuable information. Type in Google Scholar from the search box of any browser At the Scholar search box, type in the keyword phrase genetically modified food. On the right side of the results page some of the entries say [PDF] from different sources. An article that has [PDF] or [HTML] on the right is a full text article you can link to. The rest are citations or articles you might have to pay for. On the left you can choose to narrow your search by year. You also can narrow your Scholar search by adding descriptive words (modifiers), such as United States, crops, etc. This produces even better results. 1. Stay in Google Scholar and type in GMOs. 2. Choose several entries that have [PDF] or [HTML] links on the right. You can click on the link or the article title to get to the full text. Depending on which browser you are using, you might have to save the file as a download and open it. Try a different browser if you are having trouble. 21

30 14. In general, what type of article have you found using Google Scholar? a. A magazine article b. A chapter from a book c. A research article d. A page from a blog Another way to use Google and other search engines for research is by phrase searching, mentioned above. 1. Go to Google and type in the keyword phrase genetically altered crops 2. Select Google Search. Note the number of responses you get. 3. Surround your phrase with double quotation marks: genetically altered crops. 4. You are now searching a phrase, rather than just a bunch of keywords. Note the number of responses this time. 15. What happens when you use quotation marks to enclose your keyword phrase on Google? a. You get more returns using quotation marks b. You get fewer returns using quotation marks c. You get the same number of returns either way d. You can t use quotation marks in databases While you still have the term genetically altered crops in the search box, add the word corn. Your search phrase should look like this: genetically altered crops corn. Look at the results. Google has the Boolean connector AND implied. You don t need to add it. 16. What can be said about your results? a. The subject has been refined and narrowed b. The results are no longer useful c. There are fewer results, but they are more relevant d. a and c 22

31 5. Clear your search box and type in: GMOs pro/con. To find an opinion paper or site, add a descriptive term (the modifier pro/con) to weed out a lot of unrelated and useless results. 6. Look at the first page of results you get. Go to some of the pages and check out the information. Lots of sites advocate their views with opinions, rather than facts. Compare these results with those from the Cuesta Library Search. 7. Many websites are written by people who have no credentials in the field. For online searching, here are some of the differences between search engines and the Cuesta Library Search. Cuesta Library Search Purchased by Library for student use Content evaluated for quality Information organized for author, title or keyword search Updated regularly Fewer results Very current Search Engines Free to anyone No review standards for content Information not wellorganized No stability of content or location Outdated information not removed More results Very current 17. Which of the following statements is true? a. With Cuesta Library Search you can search for and refine a subject without having to look through thousands of web pages b. Cuesta databases give you more results than searching Google c. Google's results are all evaluated, while the database results are not d. Neither databases nor Google are updated regularly 23

32 Using Open Access Journals Another tip for online research is to become familiar with public or open access sites for finding scholarly journals and articles. These sites have thousands of full text research articles available to you. Find them by using the phrase open access journals or open access scholarly journals. Two of the best open access scholarly journal sites are: PLOS ONE: research articles in the sciences and social sciences. You can choose one area (Biology, Chemistry). Directory of Open Access Journals: Easy to search by journal or article subject. Understanding URLs We see URLs all the time, but how can they help with research? What exactly is a URL? The Uniform Resource Locator is the address of a particular site or web page on the Internet. Each web site has a unique URL. It consists of 3 main parts: The Protocol ( tells you which Internet service you are using. HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is the most common protocol. The host computer s name, or domain ( is next. The www is for World Wide Web. Not all URLs begin with www, but many common addresses do. The top-level domain (.com) is the final section of the host s name. It can stand for a country or a type of site. This last part of the URL is useful to researchers, because it can often tell you the type of site you are looking at. Browse the chart below to see some of the most common top-level domains. There are many more. You are more likely to get better quality information if your site ends in.gov or.edu. 24

33 Some Top Level Domains.aero.biz.com.coop.edu.gov.info.int.mil.museum.name.net.org aviation business organizations commercial cooperative organizations educational U.S. government informational international organizations U.S. Department of Defense museums personal network organization 18. By looking carefully at a URL, you may be able to tell: a. If the website is from an academic institution b. If the website is from a network c. If the website is from a business d. All of the above e. None of the above 25

34 Part 4: Evaluating Sources To write a coherent research paper based on your research question, you want every source to add something to your understanding of the topic. Most importantly, you need to make sure that all of your sources are reputable and trustworthy. In the Finding Information section we talked about using peer-reviewed and scholarly resources, and where to go for good online information. But there are times when you want to use sources that haven t been evaluated by someone else. See the Workbook Links page (Part 4) for Purdue OWL: Evaluating Sources of Information, as well as other videos and websites on evaluating information sources. Here are some of the problems in evaluating websites and why it is especially important to be vigilant when using Internet sources. ANYONE can publish information on the Internet, from grade school students to fanatics and hate groups. It is far easier to publish a web page than to publish a book or article. All people need is an Internet account to publish their views to a global audience. Unlike traditional print resources and periodical databases, web pages rarely have editors and are not usually peer-reviewed. Most scholarly books and articles go through some kind of editing process. Writing and publishing on the web can involve just a single person, with no other input or oversight. There are no truth or accuracy standards on the web. There is no single place set aside on the web where people can object to the content of a website. Comment sections of websites can be manipulated and cannot be verified. Many web pages are filled with subjective information, that is, personal opinions and views. This is the opposite of objective (factual) information, so you must carefully examine all websites before using them in a research project. You have to be a critical reader, especially when dealing with Internet sources. We will talk about critical reading further on, but it involves being actively engaged in questioning the writer s information, purpose and success in presenting his argument. The single most important aspect of an assignment is the quality of the research, and you want the best quality information. 26

35 Checklist for Evaluating Information Sources Authority Bias/Balance Audience/Scope Is the author or organization credited on the document? Credentials listed? Is the author or publisher affiliated with or sponsored by a known university, business, or other organization? Is contact information clearly provided? What does the URL tell you? Is the site maintained and updated? Are the links viable? Are there spelling and grammatical errors? Has the site won any web awards for excellence? Is there political, philosophical, religious or other bias in the information? Are opposing or differing viewpoints presented to balance the information, or is there only a single point of view? If it is a position page that advocates a certain idea, does the author clearly state his or her agenda? Is the information supported with evidence; footnotes, works cited, or links? Does the site cover the topic sufficiently? Who is the intended audience: children, specialists, or the general public? Does the site link to other quality sites on the same subject? Purpose Currency Is the book, article, or site created to inform, persuade or sell a product? Is it clearly an editorial or opinion piece? If so, does the author offer evidence for his or her claims? Is the mission of the site clearly stated? Does it link to a sponsoring organization or group, with their stated agenda? Is the information applicable to your topic? Is the date the page was created, written or updated clearly shown? Is the information current enough to use? This will depend on your subject. 27

36 Anatomy of a web Page What to look for on a web page: About us This should include the mission statement or purpose and people involved in the organization. The author and the reason for the site are the most important parts of the website to know to evaluate it. Is the site advocating a position on a controversial subject? 28

37 Contact us This should link to more than an address; there should be a street address and phone number to contact, especially if it is an organization. Site map This link ought to show how the site is organized. Date The date of the last update to the page is usually at the bottom. Make sure the information is current. Other links Does the site link to other trustworthy sites? Personal web pages? Unknown groups? Evaluating web pages Required Links # 4-10 (Part 4). From the Workbooks Links page, access the links for the web evaluation sites. Select the corresponding URLs for questions Be sure you are on the right question. Use the Checklist for Evaluating Information Sources (page 27) as a guide. Select the URL for question 19. Facts About GMOS Scroll around the page. Who is the author? Is the site open about its agenda? Remember that knowing the author of a page helps you know if they are biased on an issue. 19. Which of the following is true for this page? a. The site is a hoax page b. The site is produced by people involved in the food industry c. The site has a robust area for About Us and Contact Us d. The site is very old and dated Select the URL for question 20. Center for Food Safety Check for authorship, credentials, agenda, etc. Look at Fact Sheets and Position papers. 20. Which of the following is true for this page? a. The site has no information about who authors it b. The site is produced by the food industry c. The site has an easy to find About Us and Contact Us tab d. The site clearly explains its advocacy mission e. c and d 29

38 Pages that advocate a certain position are not necessarily bad. Many organizations and groups have an agenda. The important thing is that the agenda or bias is clearly stated so that you can evaluate the facts underlying their point of view. Make sure you look at the About Us section, to check the credentials of the people involved in the site. Find the mission statement or agenda. It should be clearly stated on the web page. Sometimes you can click on the organization name to get to the home page. If the page is written by an individual check links from that page to organizations and other web pages. Track down the source of the information before using it. Select the URL for question 21. New World Order Media Read the article about the man who died after eating a GMO tomato. Scroll down to read some of the comments from concerned people. Choose the URL for Snopes.com and read the history of this article. Use websites like Snopes and Hoaxbuster if the information seems suspicious or unlikely. You can also check reputable online news sources, such as the NY Times or the BBC (British Broadcasting Corp.). 21. Which of the following is true? a. It is essential to check your information using a variety of means to verify it b. Internet articles are the same as magazine or newspaper articles c. Everyone tells the truth on the Internet d. All Internet sources are suspect and shouldn t be used Select the URL for question 22. Monsanto Corporation 22. When searching the web for GMOs and food safety, this page from Monsanto came up. Since the site is authored by a reputable corporation, which other part of the evaluation process would be most important to consider if you were going to use this web site? a. Bias b. Currency c. Audience d. None of the above 30

39 Select the URL for question 23. Abril Uno 23. You have found this online article and wonder if it is true. Which of the following could you use to check whether it is true (choose all that apply). a. Snopes or other hoax-detection sites b. Reputable online newspapers like the NY Times or the BBC c. Twitter d. a and b Select the URL for question 24. Wikipedia An important aspect of your research is your ability to document and defend your sources. Wikipedia is a good example of the problems of using online sources. Wikipedia is the largest and most successful attempt at producing an online encyclopedia with an open editing policy. It means that anyone can edit an article on a subject without regard for their level of expertise. It also means that people do not have to identify themselves when editing an article. The following disclaimer is from Wikipedia itself. As with any source, especially one of unknown authorship, you should be wary and independently verify the accuracy of Wikipedia information if possible. For many purposes, but particularly in academia, Wikipedia may not be an acceptable source; indeed, some professors and teachers may reject Wikipedia-sourced material completely. This is especially true when it is used without corroboration (Source: Wikipedia has been making efforts to have experts write more of their entries, but it still pays to be cautious when using it. One good thing about Wikipedia is its currency. You are at the Wikipedia main page. Type GMO or genetically modified organism in the Search box at the right. Scroll through the article. It has a lot of good information and topic ideas. It has an extended bibliography as well. Can you find the author s name and his or her credentials? 24. What would you do if you wanted to use this Wikipedia article? a. You would use it without further searching b. You would consider it a starting point, and verify the information from a scholarly source c. You would never use anything from Wikipedia because all the information is wrong d. You would not use any online information 31