I hope you enjoy this first lesson. Some people hate online research, some love it. Lots of students tell me that they sign up for Library 100 specifically in order to improve their skills in online research. You might want to compare your feelings about online research right now to your feelings after finishing this lesson. Enjoy! And always feel free to ask for help with any of these lessons! -- Dave

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

* To understand what research is and how the Internet has revolutionized the way research is done in the electronic age.

• To understand the strengths and limitations of the Internet and libraries.

* To be able to tell the difference between a subject and a topic.

* To be able to formulate an appropriate college-level research topic.

* To be aware of the preliminary questions to ask yourself before setting out to do research on the Internet.

LESSON ONE TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. What is Research?
2. Research in the Electronic Age: The Internet
3. The Strengths and Limitations of the Internet
4. Partners not Competitors: Libraries and the Internet
5. Preparing to do Research: Subjects vs. Topics
6. Guidelines for Choosing a Topic
7. Information Sources on the Internet
8. Final Preparations
9. Key Points to Remember

1. WHAT IS RESEARCH?

At many times in your life, you will be in situations in which – for a variety of reasons and purposes -- you need more information. You might need information for a term paper, or about a medical condition, or about the cost of living in another city, and so forth. In order to find this information you need to do research.

Research is the process of gathering, evaluating, and interpreting information in order to answer a particular question or problem. Research projects of various types and complexity are an important part of the college experience. But even after college, the ability to locate and evaluate information is essential for many areas of life and a crucial part of what it means to be an educated person.

2. RESEARCH IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE:
THE INTERNET

More information is being produced and distributed today that at any other time in human history. In fact, experts believe that the amount of available information doubles about every 4 years, and that more new information has been generated in the last 30 years than in the previous 5,000 (Wurman 32).

Faced with this avalanche of information, how do you find what’s relevant to your particular topic or interest? Since approximately the mid 1990s, the general public has been able to access an astonishing variety and amount of information via the Internet.

The Internet can be defined as a global network of computer networks, linking computers to computers. It is the hardware, software, and telecommunications technology that links together computers all over the globe, so that documents and files residing on one computer can be transported to and viewed on other computers. Moreover, because of the way it allows communication between people (through email, newsgroups, etc.) as well as the option of “publishing” one’s ideas, it is sometimes called an “open information resource,” i.e. open to all those who want to participate, with no central authority in charge.

The terms “Internet” and “World Wide Web” are often used synonymously, although technically they are different. The World Wide Web is a large collection of information that’s available on the Internet, linked in a sort of web. Information on the Web is often presented in a multi-media format, with text, images, graphics, video, and/or audio.

The Internet has revolutionized the way information is produced and distributed. In order to be an effective researcher, you must know how to use it wisely.

3. THE STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE
INTERNET

Although the Internet offers an astounding amount and variety of information, it is not some sort of magic "brain in the sky" that will always provide reliable, accurate answers to any question. Whenever you use the Internet, keep in mind both its strengths and its limitations.

Internet strengths:
• A vast array of electronic information sources
• Convenient access to information that used to be inaccessible, very difficult to find, or never before published
• Extremely up-to-date information on current events and popular culture
• The ability to communicate with others through email, newsgroups, and web logs

Internet limitations:
• Lack of formal organization
• Lack of quality control. There is no governing body in charge of the Internet (although there are groups that oversee technical standards). Anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can "publish" information or opinion on the Web. This openness can be seen as one of the Internet's great strengths, but it also means that the quality, accuracy, and credibility of the information varies dramatically. In other words, anyone's ideas -- even if they are extremist political views or completely untrue ideas -- can be found on the Web and no one checks to make sure Web pages provide accurate information.
• Uneven subject coverage. The Internet is completely haphazard and unpredictable in terms of the depth, number, and kinds of subjects being covered. Thus, the Internet may or may not offer in-depth coverage of the topic that interests you.
Given these strengths and limitations, skilled researchers understand that the Internet supplements, but does not replace, libraries and traditional research tools such as online book catalogs and periodical indexes.

4. PARTNERS NOT COMPETITORS: LIBRARIES AND THE INTERNET

There is a widespread misperception among many people that the Internet has replaced libraries and the traditional tools and methods used by libraries. Skillful researchers realize, however, that the Internet and libraries each have their own strengths and limitations and will draw on each when appropriate. The Internet and libraries complement each other because they each offer some things that the other does not.
* What does the Internet offer that the library does not?
• Unpublished or previously inaccessible material -- such as the digitized archives of museums and special collections around the world
• Electronic texts -- such as e-journals and specialized "e-books" (electronic books with no printed equivalent, such as Stephen King's Riding the Bullet)
• Online discussion groups dedicated to various topics -- an excellent way to gain new perspectives and stay informed on topics of interest
• Millions of websites from a vast array of organizations and individuals

* What does the library offer that the Internet does not?
• Millions of documents (books, journals, newspapers, and other published material) that pre-date the Internet and are unlikely to ever be made available full-text on the Internet
• Thousands of periodicals that are not on the Internet (only 8% of the 165,000 periodicals published worldwide are on the Internet)
• Access to proprietary (i.e. for paid subscribers only) databases
• Tools to conduct historical research: print periodical indexes, backfiles on microfilm, etc.
• A high-quality, organized collection of materials
• Free access to e-books still protected by copyright

5. PREPARING TO DO RESEARCH: SUBJECTS vs. TOPICS

You cannot do research effectively unless you have an appropriate topic in mind. This will depend on understanding the difference between a subject and a topic:

* SUBJECT: a broad area of interest from which a more specific research question can be chosen. Examples of subjects include: illegal immigration, alcoholism, freedom of speech, computer networks, elementary education, astronomy.

* TOPIC: a question that focuses on one particular aspect, event, controversy, issue, or dilemma within the larger subject. It’s a relatively narrow area of interest that can be thoroughly researched and discussed.
Given below are examples of subjects and research topics:

SUBJECT VS. TOPIC

7. GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING A TOPIC

When formulating your topic, keep in mind the following guidelines:

* Don’t choose a topic that is too broad or too narrow.

Too Broad: What causes homelessness?
Too Narrow: How many homeless are in California and where are they concentrated?

Appropriately focused: How has deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill contributed to the problem of homelessness?

* Ask open-ended questions.
Notice that each of the topic examples in section 6 are open-ended questions, i.e. they are phrased in such a way that the researcher is deliberating inviting varying perspectives. This open-minded approach to all viewpoints is essential.

* Avoid topics that are too speculative.
Avoid topics in which you are merely presenting your own opinion on a philosophical or abstract topic. Good research topics allow you to find facts, evidence, and objective discussions.

Too speculative: What is the difference between a just and an unjust law?

* Avoid topics that are too bland.
Choose a topic that will be interesting and intellectually challenging both to you and your audience. Avoid questions that fail to provoke thought or engage readers in a debate.

Too bland: How was the Golden Gate Bridge built?

* Your topic should have at least 2 main ideas.

A well-formulated research question will always contain at least two aspects or main ideas, referred to as concepts. The concepts can be phrased in relation to each other, typically in one of the following ways:
“What is the effect of (concept #1) on (concept #2) ?"
"What is the role of (concept #1) in (concept #2) ?"
"How has the use of (concept #1) affected (concept #2) ?"
“Why has (concept #1) led to (concept #2) ?”

* Begin your research question with the words How, Why, or What.

Research questions beginning with these words automatically suggest a somewhat broad investigation and substantive discussion, thus helping you avoid phrasing your topic too narrowly. Avoid starting your research question with the words Who, Where, or When. These words tend to force your research into a limited aspect of your subject and you'll be unable to come up with enough material for your project.

8. INFORMATION SOURCES ON THE INTERNET

The three most numerous and widely used sources on the Internet are books, periodicals, and websites. Let’s take a brief look at each:

• Books: one of the most common sources of information, ideas, and entertainment. Throughout human history, from the Bible to Hitler’s Mein Kampf, books have been the vehicle for conveying the most honorable as well as the most contemptible accomplishments and speculations of the human mind.

The complete text of some books can be found on the Internet. These are called online books or e-books, and are accessible through websites such as Califa Digital Book Center, netLibrary, and many others.

More commonly, however, you use the Internet to access book catalogs known as OPACs (Online Public Access Catalog) that give you records describing printed books owned by libraries.

Books are divided into fiction and nonfiction:
1. Fiction: a narrative work of the imagination, i.e. a story.
Includes novels, short stories, drama, and poetry.

Fiction
2. Nonfiction: books that explain or comment upon facts and reality.
Examples include biography, history, scientific works, etc.

Nonfiction

• Periodicals: the term used to refer to newspapers, magazines, and journals. They are called “periodicals” (or “serials”) because they are published periodically or at regular intervals -- daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly. Newspapers and magazines offer information geared to the general reader, whereas journals usually offer more scholarly analysis and discussion.

Journal
Magazine
Newspaper

• Websites: A website is a coherent collection of Web pages that are linked together and reside on that part of the Internet known as the World Wide Web (aka the “Web”). Millions of websites exist, offering vast amounts of information of varying credibility and worth.

Website

This course will focus on using the Internet to find and evaluate books, periodical articles, and web resources.

9. FINAL PREPARATIONS

Successful research depends in part on having an overall plan of action, or strategy, in mind. Therefore, before you set out to look for information, ask yourself the following questions:

* Have I formulated an appropriate research question?
* Which academic discipline(s) cover my topic?

* What types of sources might provide the information I seek?
-- books?
-- reference sources?
-- periodicals?
-- Web sites?
-- specialized sources?
-- people?

* What types of information do I need?
-- scholarly?
-- non-scholarly? (i.e. “popular”)
-- professional?
-- primary sources?
-- secondary sources?

* How much information do I need?

* Which Web search tools are likely to provide the information I seek?
-- Web databases?
-- Web subject directories?
-- Web search engines?

Answering these preliminary questions automatically provides you with an overall plan of action to guide you in your research.

10. KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER

* Research is the process of gathering, evaluating, and interpreting information in order to answer a particular question or problem.

* An astonishing amount and variety of information is available on the Internet, a global network of computer networks.

* The World Wide Web is a large collection of information that’s available on the Internet, linked in a sort of web.

* When using the Internet for research, keep in mind both its strengths and its limitations.

* Skillful researchers know that the Internet and libraries each have their own strengths and limits and will use each as needed.

* Good research depends on beginning with an appropriate topic. A topic is a relatively narrow area of interest that can be thoroughly researched and discussed. By contrast, a subject is a broad area of interest.

* Before setting out to look for information on your topic, there are some important preliminary questions to ask yourself that will guide you in your research.

Lesson 1 Assignment

Each question is worth 1 point unless otherwise noted. Total points for this assignment: 32

Please print out this assignment and answer all of the questions below. Then place the completed assignment in Dave Patterson’s office in the Library 100 tray. If you prefer, you may complete this assignment online and e-mail it to pattersond@smccd.net.

1. Name one of the Internet's strengths.

2. Name one of the Internet’s limitations.

3. Name one thing that the Internet offers that libraries do not.

4. Name one thing libraries offer that the Internet does not.

5. Do you use Google or another search engine such asYahoo? Can you give a couple of example of how you use it? (3 points)

6. Briefly explain the difference between a subject and a research topic. (2 points)

Selecting a preliminary research topic:

7. Briefly (but clearly) describe the subject or topic of the research you plan to do for this course:

[If you have an assigned research question from another class that you want to use for this course, write out the question and what--if anything-- about the question that you want to focus on. Please include the class title (not just course number) and the name of the instructor.]
It's good to try to be specific, but since this is just the beginning of your research process, you can start by just telling us what you are generally interested in researching.
(Note: You will not be required to write a paper for this course. You will just be finding, evaluating and documenting the sources that would be used to write a paper.)

Preliminary periodical search on your topic using Expanded Academic ASAP:

Look up at least one article related to your research subject or topic using the Gale-InfoTrac Expanded Academic ASAP

• Go to www.canadacollege.edu/library
• Find Articles
• On Campus (If you are off campus, click on "Off Campus" . you will need to enter your library card number.)
• Click on the letter "E" or scroll down to Expanded Academic ASAP
• Type in some words for the topic in which you are interested and click SEARCH. (Examples: California Gold Rush; Women’s Rights; Bird Flu; Benjamin Franklin and Electricity) (Advice: Don’t type too many words; use only one to five words.)
• If the requested information below is not available for any specific question, please write: N/A (Not Available).

8. What were the exact search words you used?

9. How many citations were retrieved for your search?

Choose one article that's relevant to your topic, display the full record by clicking on the article title, and provide the following information:

10. Title of article

11. Author(s)

12. Name of the periodical

13. Date of publication

14. Volume # and issue # (if given)

15. The beginning page of the article and the number of pages of the article

16. Write or type the complete citation of the article here:

Use the Google Web search engine to try to find websites related to the same research subject or topic that you searched on the InfoTrac database.
For help in using Google, use "The Essentials of Google Search”

22. What were the exact search words you used?

23. How many web pages/sites were found by that search?
(See "Results 1 - 10 of about ---" at the top of the results page)

24. What are the titles of the two best web pages you found using the search engine? (2 points)

25. Copy the full URLs (Internet addresses) for the pages you selected. (When copying the URL, please include the complete address beginning with: http:// ) (2 points)

26. Compare your searches and search results on the Gale-InfoTrac Powersearch databases and the Google Web search engine. What were the advantages and disadvantages of each search tool, in terms of a) ease of searching and b) quality and quantity of the search results? (5 points)