MSA_Introduction to Research_081617

Introduction to Research

• How to plan your research
• How to search and access articles, books, etc.
• How to evaluate & document resources
• How to get help when you need it

Plan your research

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1. Identify your research problem
2. Select appropriate resources
3. Develop a search strategy

EXAMPLE

Select Resources

• Books
• Journal articles
• Newspapers
• Web sites

Scholarly?

• Ensures quality, accuracy and authority
• Gives credibility to your writing
• Points your readers to reliable resources

Research Strategy

• Relevant concepts
• Alternate terms
• Keyword vs. Descriptor

EXAMPLE: Does increased communication with employees help leaders to facilitate organizational change? –communication –employees –organizational change

Keyword vs. Descriptor

• Begin with keyword search
• Useful for very specific topics
• Use descriptor search to improve relevancy

Search for Articles

Click images

Which should I use?

Databases SmartSearch Google Scholar

Databases

• Subject-specific (more focused)
• Manageable results list
• Plan search strategy in advance
• Helps to know something about the topic
• Can search only one database at a time

• Search many resources at once
• Search across multiple disciplines
• Good if you don’t know which database to use
• Extra effort needed to refine/limit search results

Search for Books

Search for Web Resources

shortcuts

Exact phrase - “organizational change”Limit by domain - “organizational change” site:.gov (.edu, .mil, etc.)

Evaluate Resources

• Credibility
• Accuracy
• Reasonableness
• Support

CARS CHECKLIST

Document Resources

Adapted from EasyBib: http://info.easybib.com/understanding-plagiarism-infographic

Document Resources

Additional Resources

• Research Guides
• Writing Help
• GoResearch! Tutorial
• FAQs
• Contact us!

Contact us!

• Phone: (989) 774-3470
• Text: (989) 863-4639
• Email: libref@cmich.edu
• Ask a Librarian form: http://libguides.cmich.edu/askalibrarianform