1. Research Sources &
Techniques
By Gina Singh

2. Research Sources
ENCYCLOPEDIAS SEARCH TOOL:
Provide short entries/articles for an LIBRARY CATALOG
overview of the topic and its main
ideas .
SEARCH TOOL:
PERIODICAL BOOKS
DATABASE Give more information for an in-depth
exploration of one or more aspects of
the topic.
(Example: Case study books, textbooks)
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Lengthy scholarly research studies on an
extremely focused aspect of a subject.

3. Research Sources
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Very brief news reports that focus on SEARCH TOOL:
current events or topics currently in the PERIODICAL
news. DATABASE
MAGAZINE ARTICLES
As short as encyclopedia articles, but
instead of an overview, magazines narrow
the focus to one or two specific aspects of
a topic.

4. Types of Resources
 Scholarly Sources
 It has abstract in the beginning
 It may have a list of keyword
 Article has a research problem
 Mentions studies that have addressed the problem in the past
 Has a purpose statement
 Has research question and hypothesis
 Uses qualitative, quantitative or mixed method approach to conduct research
 Has a conclusion at the end
 Has a bibliography or reference list at the end
 Popular Sources: Magazine articles like Style, Newsweek, Time etc.
 Newspaper sources: LA Times, Whittier Daily News etc.
 Primary Sources: Original writings created at the time when the event occurred.
 Secondary Sources: Sources that evaluate, summarize, analyze written by
experts from that field after the event has occurred.
Source:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/history/resources/pubs/usin
gprimarysources/index.cfm

5. Magazines vs. Scholarly Journals
Magazines Scholarly Journals
 Audience: Experts in the
field, students
 Audience: Large group of
people  Lengthy, technical language
 Brief, non-technical language  Author are experts in the field &
credentials are always listed
 Author is journalist or
freelance writer  Peer-reviewed
 Look:  Look: Graphs, charts, statistical
Graphics, images, advertising data, plain cover
 No references  References at the end
 Examples:  Examples: Child
Cosmopolitan, Newsweek, Sp Development, Social Science
orts Illustrated etc. Quarterly, Journal of Applied
Psychology etc.

6. Background Research
 Background research is needed to understand your topic and
narrow it down.
 Research Source: Encyclopedias like World Book Encyclopedia
(in the library) and eBooks like Encyclopedia Britannica and
Gale Virtual Reference Library for reference books online.
 Check out Library Catalog for books on topics for research
papers.
 Is the information relevant?
 Identify search terms
 Is the information from a legitimate source?

7. Narrow Your Topic
Questions To Ask
Yourself
Who?
What?
Background Research Which?
When?
Where?
Why?
Source: OSU Tutorial from
liblearn.osu.edu/courses/english110/old%20stuff/narrow_topic.ppt

8. Example
Topic :
Mexican
Revolution
Why? : Evaluate:
Causes & Who? : Age;
Reasons and
Race; Gender:
Results &
Outcomes. Madero’s
Presidency, Ade
Where? : latas
Place:
USA, California
Mexico What? : Types:
Youth
When? : Time Movement, Catholic
period: Church?
Current, historic
al or period of
life?

9. Research Question
Mix and Match two elements together and form a research
question and form a topic of your choice.
New Topic: Adelitas Contribution to Mexican Revolution.
Read the requirements of the assignment: How many
pages? How many sources are required? What kind of sources
are required?
What are the search terms and related terms that you
would use? For example: Adelatis, Mexico, Revolution etc.

10. Checklist for Evaluating Websites
Author: Credentials & professional affiliations, contact address, about link
Check the URL (Uniform Resource Locator or website address) because it may be the name & type of
organization sponsoring the webpage. E.g. .edu, .com, .gov, .net etc.
Reason for webpage: Its purpose
Determine the origin of the document
Timeframe: Current or past view. What time period does your topic require?
Objectivity : Point of View or Bias
Bibliography: Citations and references to other sources
Coverage: Relevance to the assignment. Is the source too narrow? Too broad? Can you understand it?
Format, Organization, Appearance: Is it Easy to read?
Source: http://libguides.uwb.edu/content.php?pid=103537&sid=778496
Source: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/history/resources/pubs/usingprimarysources/index.cfm#evaluating

11. Start Research from the library
homepage
FIND BOOKS
FIND JOURNAL,
MAGAZINE, AND
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLES

12. Databases To Explore
• Gale Virtual Reference Library
• Proquest
• EBSCO
• Professional Development Collection
• Hispanic Journal of Behavioral
Sciences (Sage Publications)

13. Two Search Tools to Find Good
Sources
PROQUEST
RESEARCH LIBRARY
(Journal Articles)
LIBRARY CATALOG
(Books)

14. EBSCO: For Articles
Through Online Databases link on http://library.riohondo.edu/
For Home Access: Login Access Rio, click on library tab and click
on EBSCO in the middle column.

15. Gale Virtual Reference Library Database
for Background
Info, Religion, Biography, History &
Multicultural Studies

16. For &
Against
Viewpoints
Issues & Controversies
Database
Gale Opposing
Viewpoints in
Context

17. Access Rio for Off Campus
Database Use

18. Where to Search
 For Books: Library Catalog http://library.riohondo.edu/
 For Scholarly Articles: Databases: Proquest, EBSCO, Gale Reference Library.
 Off Campus Users: Access Rio
 For Controversial Topics: Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context, Issues and Controversies, SIRS
 Check out Controversial Topics Books Link on the library homepage http://library.riohondo.edu/
 For Current Issues: CQ Researcher, EBSCO, Proquest, Gale Opposing Viewpoints, Issues and
Controversies
 For Biographies: Gale Biography in Context
 For Historical Books : Google Books at http://books.google.com/
 For Historical Newspapers: Google News Archives Search at http://news.google.com/archivesearch
 For Statistics Data & Charts: Social Science Database
 For Population Stats: US Census Bureau database
 Legitimate sources: Google Books, Google Scholar
 For Periodical Holdings List: Access from our library homepage. Direct url at
http://library.riohondo.edu/Research_Help/Periodical%20Holdings%20List%20-%202010-2011.pdf
(Check out the listings by subject in the end).

19. Citation Help
In the Library:
•Books: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research
Papers
•Handouts: Available at the reference desk &
given during orientation
Online:
•Son of Citation Machine
http://citationmachine.net/
•Easy Bib
http://www.easybib.com/
IMP: Always double check your citations
with the handbook or the handouts
given to you in the library. DONOT rely
on online citation generators for
correct and accurate citations.