This document outlines an agenda for a library instruction session on researching aging topics. It includes discussions of peer-reviewed vs popular sources, formulating searches using keywords and synonyms, finding books and articles, and citing sources. Students are then instructed to practice searches on their own research topics and document their findings. Contact information is provided for the librarian and reference desk for any questions.

1. GERO 101: Research Process
and Searching
LAKSAMEE PUTNAM
LPUTNAM@TOWSON.EDU
RESEARCH & INSTRUCTION LIBRARIAN

2. Agenda
 Peer reviewed vs Popular
 How to formulate a search
 Finding Books/Articles
 Citation Resources
 Hands on database practice

3. How can I help you?
 In class session to learn how to use resources
 Phone help 410.704.3359.
 Chat help
 Go to Library website and click “Ask a Librarian”
 One-on-one appointments
 Help at the reference desk

4. Peer Reviewed versus Popular
 Scholarly  Popular
 http://www.coastal.edu/li  The Invisible Web
brary/videos/  http://goshen.libguides.co
m/beyond_googling
 Support your argument
with high quality  Filter Bubbles
information  http://www.ted.com/talks
/eli_pariser_beware_onli
ne_filter_bubbles.html

5. Formulating a Keyword Search
1. Choose a Topic

6. Formulating a Keyword Search
1. Choose a Topic
 End of life care of elderly

7. Formulating a Keyword Search
2. Narrow/Broaden your search

8. Formulating a Keyword Search
2. Narrow/Broaden your search
 Elderly depression in end of life care

9. Formulating a Keyword Search
3. Identify the key concepts

10. Formulating a Keyword Search
3. Identify the key concepts
 Elder
 Depression
 End of life care

11. Formulating a Keyword Search
4. Consider synonyms/alternative spellings for terms
 Elder
 Depression
 End of life care

12. Formulating a Keyword Search
4. Consider synonyms/alternative spellings for terms
 Elder
 Elder*
 Senior
 Aged
 Older person
 Older adult
 Depression
 hopelessness
 End of life care
 Palliative care
 Terminal care

13. Formulating a Keyword Search
5. Formulate your search utilizing various
combinations of your words
 String them together using AND/OR/NOT
 Truncate *

14. Formulating a Keyword Search
6. Evaluate what you find
 Check for CRAP
Currency
Reliability
Authority
Purpose/Point of View

15. 3 ways to find Books
 http://cooklibrary.towson.edu
 Towson Books
 USMAI Books
 Interlibrary Loan

16. Finding Articles
 Go to the Gerontology Subject Gateway
 Numerous databases to choose from
 Search more than one
 Use your keywords and refine your search

17. Writing and
Citing  Allows your readers to verify and
Resources identify where the information
Cook Library and ideas in your paper
originated
Quick Tools
 Gives credit to the owners of the
Citing Sources ideas (avoiding plagiarism)
 Provides a connection between
your research and the research of
related sources

18. Let’s start searching!
 Follow the example searches first to familiarize
yourself with the databases
 Then begin researching your own topic
 As you are finding information on your topic please
fill in the Google Doc worksheet
 http://bit.ly/GERO101d

19. Questions?
 Feel free to contact me:
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @LibrarianLaks
 Or any reference librarian:
 Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
 410.704.2462.
 IM – tucookchat