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Survey results (And: thanks!)
1) Conducting substantial, relevant research on your topic (30% are confident)
2) Coming up with a strong thesis (35%)* [ the SLC can help with this ]3) Narrowing your topic (39%)4) Identifying scholarly sources (43%)5) Citing sources with APA style (48%)6) Avoiding plagiarism (83%)
CMPT 322: research workshop
n = 23
Agenda (derived from survey results)
1) Narrowing your topic2) Finding what you need
[ i.e., doing substantial, relevant research ]
3) Identifying scholarly sources4) Citing sources5) Getting help
CMPT 322: research workshop
Meet the CMPT 322W research guide
CMPT 322: research workshop
Are there any specific aspects of doing research that you find difficult to do well?
“writing an abstract for your paper.”
+“Clear arguments and
chained logic.”CMPT 322: research
workshop
Narrowing
Two suggestions: 1) Background sources 2) Quick and dirty searching
Tip: In general, you can only cover one idea per paragraph.
– This can help to determine if your topic is too broad.
CMPT 322: research workshop
Finding what you need
Finding what you need on your topic often stems from three things:
1) Finding good keywords for your searches2) Selecting the right search tools for the job3) Cycling your search
CMPT 322: research workshop
Finding good keywords
Finding what you need on your topic often stems from three things:
1) Finding good keywords for your searches2) Selecting the right search tools for the job3) Cycling your search
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracilawson/4575783486/
CMPT 322: research workshop
For example: Facebook
Are there any specific aspects of doing research that you find difficult to do well?
“Not sure how the commands work for
search bars.”
CMPT 322: research workshop
* * *
Selecting the right tools
Finding what you need on your topic often stems from three things:
1) Finding good keywords for your searches2) Selecting the right search tools for the job3) Cycling your search
http:
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CMPT 322: research workshop
Selecting the right tools
CMPT 322: research workshop
What do you think would be the right tool(s) for finding the following documents on your topic?
a) A high-level, big picture overview b) A bookc) Scholarly articlesd) A government reporte) Up-to-date information on the latest
developments in Canada
Selecting the right tools
These are the 3 search options on the Library’s homepage:
CMPT 322: research workshop
Selecting the right tools
Library Search
Catalogue
Fast Search
SFU Library’s Russian dolls
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiegall/288377539/
CMPT 322: research workshop
Selecting the right tools
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiegall/288377539/
CMPT 322: research workshop
Always access it through SFU Library; otherwise you’ll be asked to pay for articles
Another “quick and dirty” search tool
Are there any specific aspects of doing research that you find difficult to do well?
“Finding the right journal libraries to
search in.”
CMPT 322: research workshop
Selecting the right tools
The library has hundreds of databases (i.e., journal article search engines), each of them with different content.
The main types:– subject-specific databases (+ indexes) – multidisciplinary databases (+ indexes)
(Examples of both types are listed on the CMPT 322 guide.)
Some advice on picking the right one for your topic.CMPT 322: research
workshop
Cycling a search
Finding what you need on your topic often stems from three things:
1) Finding good keywords for your searches2) Selecting the right search tools for the job3) Cycling your search
http:
//w
ww
.flic
kr.c
om/p
hoto
s/w
v/69
1890
0587
/
CMPT 322: research workshop
Are there any specific aspects of doing research that you find difficult to do well?
“Narrowing down how many links show up.”
+“How to find related
books or topics.”CMPT 322: research
workshop
Are there any specific aspects of doing research that you find difficult to do well?
CMPT 322: research workshop
Are there any specific aspects of doing research that you find difficult to do well?
“Finding whether or not the SFU Library has access to a specific journal I'd like to get an article/paper/what-not from.”
CMPT 322: research workshop
Are there any specific aspects of doing research that you find difficult to do well?
CMPT 322: research workshop
Two methods: 50% vs. 100%
Are there any specific aspects of doing research that you find difficult to do well?
“-finding scholarly sources (peer-reviewed) -sometimes very dry material that is peer-reviewed
-boring to get through.”
CMPT 322: research workshop
Identifying scholarly articles
Do you think this article scholarly? Why/why not? – What are the differences between popular and
scholarly publications?
CMPT 322: research workshop
This journal is peer-reviewed, but this article isn’t.
Here is the complete article.
CMPT 322: research workshop
Evaluating sources
Popular Scholarly
Author No affiliation provided Affiliated with an academic / research institution
Abstract No Yes
Length Short Long
Images For aesthetic appeal Research findings displayed as graphs, charts, etc.
Language Easy to understand Elevated, specialized
Citations None at all, or very few
Yes, many
Review Editor Peer-reviewed
CMPT 322: research workshop
Are there any specific aspects of doing research that you find difficult to do well?
“Finding authoritative sources on the internet.”
CMPT 322: research workshop
Citing sources
- What information don’t you need to cite?- What information do you need to cite?
CMPT 322: research workshop
The very basics of APA
You need to cite each source in two places:
• In the body of the paper– Called an in-text citation
• At the back of the paper– In the list of References
CMPT 322’s Research Guide includes links to SFU Library’s APA style guide – It will likely answer 90% of questions; librarians (like me)
can help you to answer the other 10% CMPT 322: research
workshop
Getting help
The library provides many ways to get help:– In-person at the reference desk– Telephone– Email– IM– Text message – Student Learning Commons
CMPT 322: research workshop
