Library Research
VANESSA LAWRENCE – [email protected]
Research
Systematic investigation or inquiry aimed at contributing to knowledge of a
theory, topic, etc., by careful consideration, observation, or study of a subject.
Investigation undertaken in order to obtain material for a book, article, thesis,
etc.
◦ Investigation: To search or inquire into; to examine (a matter) systematically
or in detail; to make an inquiry or examination into
OED 2016
Library Research
Ask a question
Investigate and understand the context
Ask a specific question or form a specific argument
Search for supporting information
Read, understand, and analyze information
Write an answer to the question
What are you looking for?
Different types of research need a different amount of information
Different types of research use different types of information
◦ Books, journal articles, news articles, and websites are some sources you might use
A good researcher always looks for authoritative information
◦ Related
◦ Reliable
◦ Readable
Getting started
Do “pre-research” or background research to narrow down the scope of your
research topic and understand the context
This will help you decide what information related and reliable for your topic
when you’re searching
◦ What are important keywords for your topic?
◦ What disciplines study your topic?
◦ What dates or locations are important for your topic?
Background Research
Search for background information based on what you already know
Encyclopedia articles
◦ Wikipedia
◦ Academic encyclopedias
Textbooks and class readings
Library subject guides and course guides
Narrowing a Topic
Choose one aspect or group that is more specific
◦ People  adolescents; online communication  email; cars  SUVs
Choose a specific place
◦ East Asia  China; Canada  Ontario
Choose a specific time
◦ A shorter time period will be more specific
Choose two perspectives or variables and compare or look for a relationship
◦ Cause/effect, contemporary/historical, group/individual, male/female
Narrowing a Topic
Cross-cultural communications and business
◦ Subtopic 1: Cross-cultural Negotiation
◦ Research Question: How does culture influence communication in international business negotiations
between China and the United Sates?
◦ Research Question:
◦ Subtopic 2:
Activity: Narrowing a Topic
Write down your topic idea, and what you know about the topic
Use the keywords you know, and the course guide, to do background research
Find three (3) subtopics that are more specific
Write at least two (2) different specific research questions
Creating a search
Search for sources on your topic by deciding what key ideas are important
◦ Research question  Key ideas
◦ How does culture influence communication in international business negotiations
between China and the United Sates
◦  culture, business negotiation, China, United States
Search using key ideas in (parentheses), joined together using “AND”
◦ (culture) AND (negotiation) AND (China) AND (United States)
More key ideas will find less results
Creating a search
Brainstorm or research some synonyms for your key ideas
◦ More synonyms will help find more results
Use synonyms as keywords to describe each idea, joined together using “OR”
◦ (culture) AND (negotiation) AND (China) AND (United States)
◦ (culture) AND (negotiation OR business) AND (China) AND (United States OR America)
If a keyword is one idea but more than one word, you can use “quotation marks”
to search for the words in the same order you wrote them
Activity: Creating a search
Write both of your research questions, and circle the key ideas
◦ Are they the same for both questions? Do you need to do two searches?
Think of some synonyms for each keyword
◦ Share your ideas with a partner, and think of words together
Create a search with some key ideas and synonyms you can think of
◦ (key idea OR synonym) AND (key idea OR synonym)
Remember…
Start with background research to narrow your topic and learn the context
◦ Wikipedia, encyclopedia articles, or introductory books
Narrow the scope for your research question to something more specific
Turn your research question into key ideas and synonyms
◦ (keyword OR synonym) AND (keyword OR synonym)
Find sources that are related, reliable, and readable for the scope of your research
Ask for help
If you need any help with your research, you can always ask for help at the
library
◦ Visit the Research Help Desk or call 613-520-2735
◦ Email me, Vanessa Lawrence: [email protected]