Research Guides: Research Strategy

Library Home | Library Catalog | Periodicals List | Databases & Indexes | Ask a Librarian

Purpose

Get started early. Allow time if you have to request materials from other libraries, or if you have to wait for materials in this library that someone else has checked out.

Develop a logical strategy for conducting research on a topic. The library has the tools needed to make sense of the universe of information.

Topic

Begin by understanding your assignment or need for information.

Choose a topic of interest to you

• Narrow or broaden your topic subject to
• the materials you find
• the length your paper needs to be
• the aspect of the topic or perspective, bias or slant you choose

Reference Sources

Start with reference books such as general or subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, or statistical sources to

• Define your topic and its terminology

• Get an overview of what the topic includes

• Determine the keywords and buzzwords related to your topic

• Use bibliographies to take you to sources cited by experts on the topic

Books

Using the keywords, look in the library catalog for books on your topic. When you locate something, pay attention to the subject headings listed in the record. Use those subject headings to find more related books on your topic. The Library of Congress Subject Heading Guide can be used to find more related subject headings.

Reference sources, books and articles have bibliographies that will lead you to the best resources on a topic. Search by title for books listed in their bibliographies.

Periodical Articles

Current materials are usually found in periodicals. Old periodicals can give an important perspective on a topic of historical interest. Articles can be found in

• Magazines

• Journals (which are scholarly publications)

• Newspapers

To find lists of articles on a topic, use databases and periodical indexes

• Librarians can advise you on which index is most appropriate

• Some indexes are electronic, while some are in print

• Some indexes are multidisciplinary, while others are subject specific

Check the Periodicals List to see if the library has the magazine, journal or newspaper you need in print, microform or electronically.

Internet Web Sites

Contrary to popular myth, most of the world's knowledge does not exist on the Internet, nor will it solve most of your research and information needs. Anyone can publish anything on the Internet regardless of credibility or lack thereof.

Start at the library homepage: http://www.whitworth.edu/library and choose Databases, Indexes & Resources. The Specific Subject Areas menu contains an alphabetical list by topic. Scroll down for links to good, credible web sites.

• Use links from credible web sites to take you to other sites

• Always evaluate web sites for credibility, accuracy and timeliness

• Use search engines to look for subjects, keywords and buzzwords on your topic

• If you use a search engine, critically evaluate what you find

Citation

Plagiarism is when someone attempts to pass off as his/her own another's words or ideas, either verbally or in writing. It is against the law. Using the words of others is always to be indicated through an acceptable form of citation. Remember to write down all of the elements of the bibliographic citations from all of your sources before you leave the library.

Updated 8/07