1. Professor Traci Welch Moritz
Public Services Librarian
Heterick Memorial Library

2. What today is all about
Aid in constructing research
strategy for finding resources for
annotated bibliography
Find resources in library catalog
and databases available
•Everything shown today is available at
Research Guide for Comparative Politics

3. Research Guide

4. Writing an analytical research paper
Ask a question
DO: DO NOT:
Exploring the topic Take a stance
Research the topic Be persuasive
Explain the topic Worry about your
definitive research
Critically evaluate question too soon
Use primary and
secondary resources

5. What do I do first?
 Take a look at your topic and identify key
search terms, Ask a question.
 Most databases now use an implied Boolean
logic search scheme so a keyword search will
get you started.
 Boolean logic is the use of AND, NOT, OR to
narrow or expand your search
 See Research Guide
WHO

6. Research Strategy
•Start big doing background
reading
•Narrow your topic for a
more focused product
•Research narrowed topic
using subject specific
databases Ask a question
•Keep track of bibliographic
citations to avoid trouble
down the road.

7. Managing Information - RefWorks
Licensed state-wide, access free to Ohio
students for the rest of your life!
See: http://0-www.refworks.com.polar.onu.edu/
Write n’ Cite interfaces with MS Word
Excellent Tutorials
Help available at Heterick
Research Guide for instructions on how to
get your free-for-a-life-time account

8. Bibliographic Citation Software
REFWORKS

9. What do I do next?
Use library resources to continue your background
research.

10. •Highly structured information environment
Way individual records are arranged
Subject headings
Catalog software optimized for above
Deal with material in many formats
•Implies heavy human involvement
•Emphasis on precision
•Preparation relatively labor-intensive
•Implies a learning curve to use successfully

11. Find a Book -- POLAR

12. Books - Shortcuts
Hold on, I’ve got
an idea!

13. Books - Shortcuts
More to come in a minute

14. Background Research -- Books
Click on the POLAR tab or Search POLAR link

15. FIND A BOOK∞POLAR

16. FIND A BOOK∞POLAR
•Looks in several locations (usually
subject, article title, abstracts or
contents)
•Does not require an exact match
•Generates comparatively large
number of hits (not precise)
•Good if you are not familiar with
terminology
•Look for the same or similar words
which keep appearing

17. FIND A BOOK∞POLAR
•Looks in one place – subject
•Usually requires an exact match
between your term and a pre-set list
of terms
•Precise
•Can be used after keyword search
has identified specific subjects
• See Research Guide for suggestions
• Click on the “Find Similar Items” link
found on each item record

18. Find a Book∞OhioLink

19. Find a Book∞OhioLink
Materials owned by all Ohio colleges, universities,
several public libraries
Ca. 10 million items
Link from POLAR permits you to submit requests.
Available from Heterick home page
Most requests arrive in 3-5 working days
No charge
Limited to 100 items at a time
MAY RENEW UP TO 6 TIMES

20. SearchOhio
Access to several Ohio public libraries
Access via OhioLINK
An option when item wanted is not available at ONU or through OhioLINK

21. Internet Tools
Google and Wikipedia aren’t intrinsically evil,
just use them for the correct purpose in your
research.

22. Internet Tools
Note: If Google Scholar
working off
ONU buys
campus please
Full-text
see the database Google asks
“google to link to
scholar” tab at content
the Research OhioLINK
Guide for Permits
information on Google to Run Google
how to set link to full-text Scholar
your “scholar Search
preferences”
ONU user sees
licensed full-text
articles

23. Critically analyzing web sources
What? is the page/site about
Who? created and maintains this site
Where? Is the information coming from
Why? Is the information presented on the web
When? Was the page created or last updated
How? Accurate or credible is the page
Used with permission by the library staff
at Wisconsin

24. Other research guides to consult

25. Primary v. Secondary
Primary Secondary
Secondary Sources analyze or interpret
In the humanities, a primary source an historical event or artistic work.
could be defined as something that Secondary sources often base their
was created either during the time theories and arguments on the direct
evidence found in primary sources. A
period being studied or afterward by
secondary work for a subject is one that
individuals reflecting on their discusses the subject but is written
involvement in the events of that after the time contemporary with it.
time.
Primary Sources: Definitions. Lafayette College Libraries & Academic Information Resources.
<http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~library/guides/primarysources/definitions.html> Accessed August 8, 2007.
Secondary Sources defined. Ellen George. University of British Columbia Library
http://toby.library.ubc.ca/webpage/webpage.cfm?id=579#footnotes1>.Access August 8, 2007

26. What do I do next?
Use databases to find articles based on your
search strategy

27. Find an Article
Periodical means the
same as Magazine
Usually magazines are
more “popular”
Journals
Scholarly or Professional
See Research Guide
Peer reviewed for HONR 231 for this
and other Handouts

28. Research Tools∞Databases
Often tools for locating journal and
newspaper articles
Most are subject-specific – some multi-
disciplinary
Many give access to full text of articles
Heterick has over 250

29. Research Tools∞Databases
Over 20,000 journals indexed, most
are full text
Divided by subject area offered at
ONU
Begin with a general database,
•Academic Search Complete
•JSTOR

30. Research Tools∞Databases
A. JSTOR
B. Lexis-Nexis Academic
C. International Political Science
Abstracts
D.Columbia International Affairs
Online (CIAO)
E. Academic Search
Complete/Masterfile Premier

31. General Database
Scholarly journals,
peer reviewed articles

32. General Database
Scholarly journals,
peer reviewed articles

33. Newspapers at Heterick
Ada Herald Until microform arrives
Akron Beacon Journal 30 days
The Blade -- Toledo 30 days
Chicago Tribune 30 days
Chronicle of Higher Education Until microform arrives
Cincinnati Enquirer 30 days
Columbus Dispatch 30 days
Courier -- Findlay 30 days
Courier Journal -- Louisville 30 days
Dayton Daily News 30 days
Kenton Times 30 days
Lima News 30 days
Los Angeles Times 30 days
New York Times Until microform arrives
Plain Dealer -- Cleveland 30 days
Wall Street Journal Until microform arrives
Washington Post 30 days
Lexis Nexis Academic Wall Street Journal Historical
New York Times Newspaper databases at HML

34. Lexis Nexis Academic

35. Subject Specific Database
• International
Organizations
• IPSA
• CIAO

36. Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
Use when you need a book or article
that is not available online, not
owned by ONU or available via
OhioLINK
No charge/ limit on requests
Most requests take 5-7 days to fill
Use ILL form on library web pages.

37. QUESTIONS?
Ask at the Reference Desk
Phone the Reference Desk – 2185
Contact us by E-mail reference@onu.edu
t-moritz@onu.edu for personal reference
appointments