W2-Unit1-finding info-intro-81313-230pm

Editor's Notes

• #2: Welcome to this lesson on finding information. We will be discussing the need for information as a student at Quinnipiac. We will identify the different types of information sources and the benefits they offer to you for course assignments. The process of selecting the appropriate sources to meet the research requirements will then be presented. Finally, discussion will center on search terms, limiting the search results to more on-point articles and books, and then retrieving and evaluating those resources found to be of interest.
• #4: Everyone needs information to function in our digital world and in our lives. Depending on what we are doing and where we are in life, we need different types of information. You will always want information for personal and social needs. Now that you are in college you will have academic course related information needs that must be met for success in your studies. During your professional work life you will have job related information needs.
• #5: You have regularly used the Internet for personal and social information needs. Much of your social engagement and activities depend on the Internet and all that it offers. Obviously, you will continue to use it for these purposes but now you will also have the need for academic information, too.
• #6: Now at Quinnipiac you will be building on what you already know by learning to find information for college research assignments efficiently and effectively. This is accomplished through the library resources and databases. They are the sources for the type of information your professors want you to use.  
• #7: The information research strategies learned in college will continue to assist you in your professional career, while new workplace information sources and tools will expand your knowledge base yet again.   For now, though, let’s concentrate on the information needed for college assignments.
• #8: The starting point for your college research is the Arnold Bernhard Library homepage. It is the key to unlock the academic library resources and databases that you will use throughout your Quinnipiac tenure. The majority of these resources are not available freely on the web. By starting at the library homepage you are recognized as a Quinnipiac community member with full privileges to access them.
• #9: Always Remember that: Information is Power and Where to Find the Right Information is the Key. Information is critical for your course work BUT not just any information…
• #10: At Quinnipiac you will need and want to use academic library resources and databases for course research. Professors will require that certain types of information sources be consulted. For example: Scholarly peer-reviewed journals Magazines Newspapers Books
• #11: All of these types of information can be searched simultaneously by using Library OneSearch which is located on the library homepage. This is a good place to start your research unless your professor directs you to a specific resource or database.
• #12: The Internet may also be an option for your research but it depends on your professor and the assignment. The Web, especially Wikipedia, Google and Google Scholar, may be a good starting point, but it is not a good ending point. Internet resources must be evaluated for quality and accuracy whereas academic resources lend authority and credibility to your research.
• #13: We will discuss OneSearch and other resources in the weeks ahead. Let’s review and get some background, too.
• #14: With so many choices, where do YOU start?
• #15: It’s natural to begin with the Internet. After all, there`s a LOT out there! You just have to find the right thing.
• #16: Makes sense! You’re probably already comfortable using Google to search the Internet!
• #17: Talking to someone like a professor or even a friend can be a great way to brainstorm research topic ideas or leads on sources. You can also talk to your librarian!
• #18: Library resources and databases are great places to find reliable scholarly journal articles and other materials appropriate for college-level research.
• #19: Most of us start with the Internet when we go to find information. Often the information we find there is correct or good enough but there are issues we can run into when using the Internet such as: the information is incomplete – the full book, article or piece of writing is not available, or only a summary is present misleading – information that can lead to an inaccurate conclusion out of date – current data or information is not listed just plain wrong – incorrect information is presented as true And there's a ton of it!  
• #20: When Google turns up 50,000 hits on your topic, can you find the five that will really set your paper apart and satisfy the requirements of the assignment? Even when the information is correct, it often won’t be adequate for the kinds of papers and projects your professors require of you at Quinnipiac. You will likely need scholarly resources. These are often research, or evidence-based articles and academic books. Illustration by Intersection Consulting http://www.flickr.com/photos/intersectionconsulting/7537238368/sizes/l/
• #21: Have you ever searched for a topic on the Internet and found something that looked really great, but you could only see a snippet or abstract of the article or book? What happened next? Did the site ask you for a password or money? Note the user login for the journal Science and the price for the special issue of the journal Camera Obscura.
• #22: This is because there are two sides of the Internet : The VISIBLE WEB that you can access for free and is what most of us use . The other side--which is known as the DEEP WEB or the INVISIBLE WEB . This is the part of the Internet that cannot be reached with search engines like Google or Bing, and this includes library resources and databases . Library resources are usually only available through subscriptions that you have access to because you are a student at Quinnipiac. They are not available to just anyone, and they typically do not show up in Google. You will need to look at library databases and catalogs to locate these resources. The combined resources of the library and the Internet create an almost endless amount of information available to you. You will need to learn to use both the visible web and the deep web to find the best sources for your assignments and papers.
• #23: So what's the answer to the question, "What's the best resource to start with?" IT DEPENDS! To determine what resources will be useful to you Consider what you need the information for How much information you need and Remember the requirements of the assignment.
• #24: The Arnold Bernhard Library offers a variety of resources for your use. Their purpose is to support your research but they may also address personal interests. These resources are available online as well as in print.
• #25: Reference materials are ideal places to find authoritative facts and begin research. These subject-specific sources provide essays written by scholars in the field of study and provide reliable background on a topic. Remember that Wikipedia may not be accepted by professors nor is it as reliable as reference materials.
• #26: Newspapers are great sources of current information on news events and popular culture. They also serve as a window on history for articles written during a particular time period of interest. References: Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ask-the-post/post/critique-the-posts-front-page-january-20/2012/01/04/gIQANa4eDQ_blog.html New York Times front page: Newsroom History http://newsroomhistory.com/newspaper/new-york-times/
• #27: Articles can be from news magazines, popular press, science and health publications, sports, the arts and personal interest magazines. They can provide in-depth articles or an overview of a topic. Magazine articles are written for the general reader, not a specialist. References Time cover: Toasting Toaster http://toastingtoaster.tumblr.com/post/50192766481/mediavengers-2011-time-magazine-covers Discover cover: http://elcidharth.com/2013/04/07/11452/
• #28: Journal articles provide in-depth, scholarly information to support your theories and hypotheses. Peer-reviewed journal articles are required for many classes. All disciplines have peer-reviewed journals and share the research of the scholars in that field. However , journals are not the best place to start if you do not know anything about a topic. References Science cover: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/340/6139.cover-expansion Journal of American History cover: http://www.oah.org/programs/civilwar/
• #29: Books and e-books are useful and often necessary for well-rounded research because they can provide an in-depth introduction or a thorough analysis of a topic. Reference: http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780739135518_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG
• #30: Databases are digital collections of information - usually journal, magazine, and newspaper articles; some even include books. They can include the full text of articles or books, or link to them. These databases are excellent places to go to when working on a course paper or project.
• #31: The Internet is a great source of extremely up-to-date information (including real-time), but you have to be judicious when using it. You'll find the great, the good, the bad, and the ugly on the Internet! Critical evaluation of web sites is required.
• #32: Remember, the library has most of these information sources in both print and digital formats--but even the digital material is unlikely to show up on Google!
• #33: Usually the professor will identify the types of information sources appropriate for an assignment, so pay attention to those instructions.