BASIC LIBRARY RESEARCH*

This page includes four sections:

Basic Library Research
Creating a Search Strategy
Facts about Periodicals
Searching Databases

BASIC LIBRARY RESEARCH

What are the facts? That question is central in analyzing most disputes. Here is a quick, four-step process for doing library research.

STEP 1

Use dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, and other general works to provide background information on your topic.
These sources may also include bibliographies that will lead you to additional information on your topic. (There are specialized bibliographies listed in the central catalog, and a librarian can help you find those that are relevant.) Here is how to use these general works.

Choose a topic of interest.
Determine the purpose of your research (to establish facts, to inform, to persuade, and so forth).
Select key words that will help you identify relevant information.
Broaden or narrow your topic to make it more manageable.

STEP 2

Use the online (or card) catalog to find books on your topic.

STEP 3

Use periodical indexes and databases (print, CD-ROM and online) to find articles in journals, magazines, and newspapers that relate to your topic.
Periodical indexes come in a variety of subject areas. Select the index most appropriate for your topic. (For details, see Creating a Search Strategy)

STEP 4

Ask a Reference Librarian to help you find specialized sources and other materials that may be helpful.
In larger libraries you can find a Reference Librarian at the Information or Reference Desk.

CREATING A SEARCH STRATEGY

Creating a search strategy involves "mapping out" the key components of a library research topic. Here is the basic process in nine steps.

STEP 1

Formulate a topic. Selecting a topic is the most important component of a successful search. State your topic in the form of a question, a phrase, or the title of an article or book on the subject.
     Sample topic: Can playing the violin cause repetitive stress injury to wrists and arms?
     On the line below, write the subject you are looking for. Use the sample topic as a guide.
     Topic:_________________________________

STEP 2

Analyze the topic. Scrutinize the topic and identify keywords or phrases. If necessary, consult specialized dictionaries, encyclopedias, controlled vocabulary lists, and thesauri for more terms.

STEP 3

Divide the keywords or phrases into concepts.

Sample	Your Keywords or Phrases
Concept 1: violin	_______________________
Concept 2: repetitive stress injury	_______________________
Concept 3: wrist	_______________________
Concept 4: arms	_______________________

STEP 4

Set up a search strategy using Boolean operators.
     A Boolean operator refers to the logical use of algebraic terms involving two or more values.
     Boolean operators are used in computer database searching to connect research concepts.
     Boolean operators use only three words: and, or, and not. Here is how they work.
     "AND" narrows the search topic because both concepts must be in each record.
     Concept 1 and Concept 2 and Concept 3
     If we specify violin and repetitive stress injury and wrists, the database will give us a list of sources in which all three concepts are mentioned. This is indicated by the crosshatching in the accompanying diagram.

"OR" broadens the search topic because all records containing one or both of the terms are included. If you need to broaden your topic, add synonyms or other phrases to the search strategy.
Concept 1-violins or Concept 2-stringed instruments

"NOT" eliminates unrelated records containing the concept.
Concept 1 not Concept 2-repetitive stress injury not carpal tunnel syndrome

STEP 5

Choose a database.
Choosing the right database is important because publishers construct their indexes (databases) for various subjects. Librarians are trained to help you select the database that best answers your research question. Examples of pertinent databases for the sample topic:

CINAHL	(Nursing)
Expanded Academic Index	(General)
MEDLINE	(Medical)

STEP 6

Execute the search strategy.
This simply means typing the search strategy into the database system. Watch your spelling; most databases look for keywords or phrases in strict alphabetical order.
Because each database service is slightly different, make sure that you read the HELP screens for detailed instructions on how to effectively use the service.

STEP 7

Examine the bibliographic citation/record.
Look at each bibliographic citation/record found. Locate keywords and phrases. See how the concepts of the topic are arranged throughout the record. This will help you to determine which records are actually relevant to the research.

STEP 8

Print.
Print the bibliographic citations related to the research. Remember printing features may vary from one database to the next. Be sure to read the screens.

STEP 9

Check if citations are available in the library.
Now that you have found citations, you need to see if they are available in the library. Use the library's online catalog. In many libraries this involves looking at the Main Menu, selecting P for Periodical Title, and typing the full name of the journal, magazine, or newspaper.

FACTS ABOUT PERIODICALS

The term periodical is used in libraries to refer to journal, magazine, or newspaper publications. Typically, a university or large college library will have over 1,000 subscriptions to periodicals, covering a wide range of subject areas.
Periodicals are very useful in doing research because:

they provide the most current information on a subject,
they help to identify very "new" or "hot" topics of interest that may not be found in books,
the findings may be limited to a specific concept, and
older issues may help to provide historical information on the topic.

Periodical Indexes

   The most efficient way to locate articles on a specific topic is to use a periodical index.
     Periodical indexes guide you through the contents of various publications. Some periodical indexes are general in nature and try to cover most subject areas (for example, Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature and Expanded Academic Index). Others are designed to be more subject-specific (such as Business Periodicals Index, General Science Index, Psychological Abstracts, and so on).
     Use the index appropriate for your topic. You will find periodical indexes in the print format, CD-ROM, and online. CD-ROM and online searching are fast ways of retrieving periodical information. Reference librarians are available at the Information Desk for assistance.
     Once you have a list of articles on your topics, go to the catalog to determine whether the library owns the periodical publication. At the catalog, type a P for a title search on the name of the periodical.

Scholarly Journal or Popular Magazine

   Students frequently want to know whether the periodical in which they have located an article is scholarly or popular (general).
     There are no hard-and-fast rules for making a decision because many periodicals have both scholarly and popular elements. Ultimately the student has to become familiar with the publications in a particular subject area and learn to make critical evaluations of each article.
     However, listed below are some characteristics that might help you in the selection process.

Journal	Magazine
scholarly reader (professor, student, and so forth)	general audience
written by person(s) trained in the subject area	written by journalist
has a bibliography or references	generally no references
specific structure (abstract, methods, conclusion, and so on)	written like a story

SEARCHING DATABASES

Databases are invaluable as timesavers. What used to take many hours of tedious searching can now be done in minutes.

Structure of a Database

Search Limitations

Here are common limits on a search.

Subjects covered
Dates covered
Frequency of updates
Currency of information

Selecting a Database

The database you select affects the amount and quality of information retrieved.

Determine which database best answers your information needs by asking your instructor and/or a librarian.

Access to Database Information

Databases are available in different formats: online, CD-ROM, and print. Sometimes the same database is even available in multiple formats. This is important because information that is free for you in one format may not be free in another.

Setting Up a Search Strategy

Brainstorm: talk with instructors and librarians
Consult reference sources: dictionaries, encyclopedias, and thesauri
Develop a list of keywords or phrases
Connect the keywords or phrases using Boolean operators: and, or, not
Type the search strategy into the database system

Looking at the Search Results

Use what you see on the screen to help you interpret and/or revise your search strategy. Look for:

Number of hits (records found)
Are there too many or too few?
Can you find your keywords or phrases anywhere in the record?

How to Change Search Results

Most databases have help screens and guides to assist you in your searching. Some have common commands, for example:

Type help or ?
Function keys (F1 is generally very helpful)
Limit the search by using different combinations of Boolean operators

How to Interpret Search Results

Look at each record for information that is relevant to the topic; for example, keywords, phrases.
Identify any labels (often abbreviated) used in the record.

Finding the Information in the Library

Look in the catalog to see if the items retrieved from the search are available in the library.
To find a periodical article, press P for periodical title and type in the full name of the periodical, that is, Time, Newsweek, and so on (this procedure is not standard on all library catalogs; check with librarian).
To find a book, press T for title or A for author's name.
If the item is not available in the library, go to the Information Desk and ask about the Interlibrary Loan Service.

*From Gary K. Clabaugh and Edward G. Rozycki, Analyzing Controversy: An Introductory Guide (McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 1997). Copyright (c) 1997 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. This essay is based on research guides originally developed by Bernetta Robinson Doane, Coordinator of Bibliographic Instruction, and Martha Lyle, Serials Librarian, both of the Connelly Library, La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Adapted by permission.

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