This document provides an overview of library and research basics. It discusses contacting the research and instruction librarian Laksamee Putnam for research help. It covers evaluating information sources, using keywords and connectors in searches, and finding books and articles in the library catalog and databases. It also provides tips for analyzing websites and evaluating information. The document demonstrates how to search for information on a viral video and encourages students to contact the librarian with any other research questions.
1. COSC 111– LIBRARY
AND RESEARCH BASICS Laksamee
Putnam
lputnam@towson
.edu
Research and
Please login to the computer, then open a browser and go to: Instruction
http://bit.ly/COSC111research2012 Librarian
3. TAKE AWAY…
Readings Discussion
Evaluate the information
Keywords and Connectors
Finding books/articles in the Cook Library
Viral Video Research
Slides: http://bit.ly/COSC111research2012
4. RESEARCH IS COMPLICATED
Technology has made the way
Te c h n ology h a s m a de t h e way we we do research ver y dif ferent;
do re s e arc h ve r y di f fe re nt ; h oweve r however there are still some
t h e re a re s t i ll s o m e c o re re s e arc h core research skills which
s k ills w h i c h re m a in t h e s a m e. Wh a t
a re s o m e o f t h e s e s k ills ? remain the same. What are
some of these skills?
In s o me way s a l l i n fo rmat ion
pre s e n ted to yo u h a s be e n a l te re d In some ways all information
by t h e a ut h o r’ s pe r s pe c tive a n d i n
t urn yo u a re a l te ri ng i t w h e n yo u presented to you has been
pre s e n t i t . Wh a t a re s o m e n ew altered by the author’s
way s yo u s e e i n fo rmat ion pre s e nted per spective and in turn you
to day a n d w h a t a re th e pro s / c ons are altering it when you
o f e di t i ng i n fo rmat ion to “ m a ke i t present it. What are some new
bet te r. ”
ways you see information
presented today and what are
the pros/cons of editing
information to “make it
Kelly, T.M. (2011). "But Mine's Better": better.”
Teaching History in a Remix Culture.
History Teacher, 44(3), 369-377.
5. RESEARCH IS COMPLICATED
How is this video
connected to the library
session on plagiarism?
You are learning to build
and support your own
arguments, why is this
important?
Johnson, S. (2010) Where good
How can you stay ideas come from. TED: Ideas
connected/current/organi worth spreading.
zed while doing your http://www.ted.com/talks/steven
research? _johnson_where_good_ideas_co
me_from.html
6. EVALUATE WHAT YOU FIND
Go to one of the websites below and analyze it
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb1
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb2
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb4
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb5
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb6
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb7
7. CHECK FOR CRAP
Currency
How recent is the
information?
Can you locate a date
when the resource was
written/created/updat
ed?
Based on your topic, is
this current enough?
Why might the date
matter for your topic?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/393737419
3/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
8. CHECK FOR CRAP
Reliability
What kind of
information is included
in the resource?
Does the author
provide citations &
references for
quotations & data
Where are you
accessing this http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/
information?
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
9. CHECK FOR CRAP
Authority
Can you determine who
the author/creator is?
What are their
credentials (education,
affiliation, experience,
etc.)?
Who is the publisher or
sponsor of the
work/site?
Is this publisher/sponsor
reputable http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
10. CHECK FOR CRAP
Purpose/Point of
View
Is the content
primarily opinion?
Is the information
balanced or biased?
What is the purpose
of the information? Is
it to inform, teach,
sell, entertain or
persuade
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/
in/photostream/
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
11. PREPARING TO SEARCH
Articulate your topic
Choose important ideas
Identify keywords
Find background
information
Reference books
Websites
Gather, organize and http://youtu.be/WoZ2BgPVtA0
narrow it down
12. KEYWORDS ARE CRITICAL!
Sample topic:
What current technology improves disabled human mobility?
First, break the question down into keywords:
What current technology improves disabled human mobility?
13. FORMULATING A KEYWORD SEARCH
Consider synonyms/alternative spellings for terms
technology
prosthetic
bionic
automation
human
person
people
veteran/polio/child
mobility
paralyze
transportation
move
activity
15. FORMULATING A KEYWORD SEARCH
Formulate your search utilizing various combinations of your
words
String them together using AND/OR/NOT
Truncate *
Phrase searching
16. BOOLEAN SEARCH CONNECTORS
AND OR NOT
For example:
spam AND internet security
Combining >1 topic
OLED OR organic light emitting
diodes
Combining synonymous terms
20. PHRASE SEARCHING
Use quotations to keep a keyword phrase intact (words will be
searched in the specific order)
Examples:
“Bank of America”
“Cisco Systems”
21. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER…
How Apple created and marketed its products successfully?
Technology Human Mobility
bionic person transport*
prosthetic “disabled veteran” activ*
technolog* OR bionic OR prosthetic
AND
human OR person OR “disabled veteran”
AND
mobility OR transport*OR activ*
22. IMPROVE GOOGLE
sibling AND rivalry
Advanced Google Cook Library’s Guide to
searching the Web
Power searching
Duck Duck Go?
23. FINDING BOOKS
Plenty of relevant
information in print
Use broad keywords
Multiple places to search
Cook OneSearch
Library Catalog
USMAI Libraries
29. FINDING ARTICLES
Features to remember
Yellow Findit button
Citation creations
Email yourself
Also as you are searching
Take a look at the article citations
Make note of additional keywords
30. VIRAL VIDEO RESEARCH
View a list of the possible videos here:
http://bit.ly/COSCviral2012
After choosing a video research it!
Keywords
Website
Book
Article
Fill out the form here while researching your video:
http://bit.ly/COSCws2012
Extra time? Fill out the form for another video!
31. QUESTIONS?
Feel free to contact me:
Laksamee Putnam
lputnam@towson.edu
410.704.3746.
Or any reference librarian:
Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
410.704.2462.
IM – tucookchat