January 13 and 14, 2009Harold and Wilma Good

LibraryGoshen College

Writing mentors’ Research workshop

Learning objectivesTo understand the seven steps of

the research processTo review best practices for

researchTo gain experience with APA

citation style

Step 1: Identify and develop your topicFind a topicState your topic idea as a questionIdentify main concepts or

keywordsTest your topic

Step 2: Find background informationAsk a reference librarianUse subject encyclopedias and

dictionariesRead bibliographies

Step 3: Use catalogs to find books and media

Use the Good Library online catalog

Use WorldCat to search tens of thousands of libraries, then request via interlibrary loan.

Step 4: Use databases to find periodical articles

Ask a reference librarianConsult the subject guides for help

figuring out which database to use.Find articles when you don’t have

a citationFind articles when you do have a

citation

Step 5: Find internet resourcesLibrarians have identified important

internet resources (see Subject Guides).

Use subject directoriesGoogle DirectoryLibrarian’s Index to the InternetVirtual Reference Shelf

Use Google Scholar to find scholarly articles and books

Step 6: Evaluate what you findVisit the Writing Mentor’s webpage

for checklists and other tools for evaluating information

Initial appraisalAuthorDate of publicationEditionPublisherJournal title

Step 6: Evaluate what you find, cont.Content analysis

Intended audienceObjective reasoningCoverageWriting styleEvaluative reviews

Step 7: Cite what you findGive credit where credit is due.Allows your readers to locate your

sources and duplicate your research.

Research tipsWork from the general to the

specificRecord what you find and where

your found it.Translate your topic into the

subject language of the indexes and catalogs you use

More research tipsUse a statement that credits the

source in paraphrases.Try writing paraphrases or summaries

without looking at the original.Use quotation marks around unique

words or phrases.Maintain electronic copies of drafts in

different secure locations.Cross-check your notes and sources.

APA journal article citation with doiStrahan, E.J., et al. (2008). Victoria’s dirty secret: How sociocultural norms influence adolescent girls and women. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34(2), 288-301. doi:10.1037/0037/0022-3514.94.1.133

APA journal article citation without doi

Strahan, E.J., et al. (2008). Victoria’s dirty secret: How sociocultural norms influence adolescent girls and women. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34(2), 288-301. Retrieved from http://www.ebsco.com

References

The Seven Steps of the Research Process [http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill1.htm]. Permission given to adapt content for use.

Purdue Online Writing Lab: (OWL): Safe Practices[http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/

589/03/]

Please open your email provider

Email me, shinnefeld@goshen.edu 1 specific thing that you learned this afternoon.

1 question that you still have about the research process, library resources, or APA citation style.

Thank you for your attention!

Suzanne Hinnefeld