Police Foundations:Communications 1Doing Library Research at Durham College

www.durhamcollege.ca/library

Welcome to College!• High School

– Textbook– Websites – Books (maybe?)– Periodical index

(maybe?)

• College– textbook– books (catalogue)– periodical indexes

(80+)– Subject specific

encyclopedias– specialized legal

resources and databases

– specialized statistical resources

– government documents

Library Research Simplified…• Figure out what KEYWORDS you

will use to search• Figure out WHERE to search

The Research Process

Step One: Organize and Articulate

Step Two: Find Information

Step Three: Analyze and Evaluate

Step Four: Present and Cite

STEP ONE: ORGANIZE AND ARTICULATE

Researching a Person or Topic

What I know about my Topic• Hometown Brantford• Hockey career

– Edmonton Oilers– Stanley Cups– Awards

• Traded to Los Angeles– Sad day

• Got married to Janet Jones• Owner/coach Phoenix

Supplementary Sources of Knowledge• Books• Videos• Trusted Websites• Encyclopedias

CREDIBLE SOURCES: Reference book Subject Encyclopedia Introductory textbook Professional association or

government website

Wikipedia?

Source:http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/07/2562940.htm See also: http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2009/05/11/irish-student-dupes-media-with-wikipedia/

Let’s find a book about Wayne Gretzky in the library…

The TRC is the “Teacher Resource Centre” affiliated

with UOIT’s Education

Program. These books are far too low level for your academic needs!

This item is a video…you can book it through Media Services

(B200)

Let’s look at this book…

Next Steps• Go find the book on the

shelf• Take it to the

CIRCULATION DESK with your student card

• Normal loan period is 14 days

Options to find more books…• Broader Subject

– Hockey– Famous Canadians– Sports heroes

• Google Books (books.google.ca)

• Public Library

RESERVES• Loan period is 3-hours, 1-

day or 3-days• Look up call number, take

it to the CIRCULATION DESK and they will give you the item

Rick Kerr Students?• Look up the book(s)

Professor Kerr has put on Reserve for you.

• Write down the CALL NUMBER(s) of the book.

• Review: How do you get this book?

It is often helpful to create a visual map (Mind Map) for your Assignment

Wayne Gretzky

Contribution tocommunity

Canadian Hero

Team CanadaMinor leagues NHL

Hockey Career

Contribution to sports

Coach/Phoenix

Gambling Scandal

Marriage/family

My thesis…

Wayne Gretzky is a true Canadian hero, having made significant contributions to the Edmonton Oilers, Canada’s Olympic teams, and a number of charities.

Step One Summary• Mind Map

– What you know about your topic

– More general information about your topic

• Draft a thesis statement

STEP TWO: FIND MORE DETAILED INFORMATION TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS

Sources of Detailed Information• Book Chapters• Articles

– Newspapers– Magazines

• Websites (trusted)– CBC Archives– News Organizations

Credible?Relevant?Helpful?

Google is not always an effective way to find information!

You need to have MORE OPTIONS.

FINDING ARTICLES IN THE LIBRARY

Mostly U.S. Perspective!

Let’s choose a different

database.

Multidisciplinary Resources

Library Databases do not use the same language as Google!

• Need to use Boolean Searching…

Translating a Google Search into a Library Database Search

• Google: – Wayne Gretzky charities

• Library: – Wayne Gretzky AND charities

• Better Library Search:– Wayne Gretzky AND (charity or

charities or charitable), or– Wayne Gretzky AND charit*

Most databases allow you to fill in the appropriate boxes:

Boolean Searching: A Summary

• Use AND to connect unique concepts– Gretzky AND olympics

• Use OR to connect synonyms– olympics OR team canada

• Use * to include all endings on a root word– Olympic*

• Use “ “ for phrases– “Team Canada”

Boolean Searching: A Game!• Practice your Boolean

Searching by playing “Snakes and Ladders”…

• http://faculty.uoit.ca/pratt/Doyle/Boolean%20Snakes%20and%20Ladders/index.htm

What does this article have to do with Wayne Gretzky and charities??

Nothing!

Why?

IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST GOOGLE…

scholar.google.ca

How many hits on Google Scholar?How many recent hits?What types of journals are the articles from? How is the list sorted?Where can you get the full text?

Step Three: Analyzing and Evaluating

Who is the author? What are his/her credentials?When was it published? Is there a bias?Does it support what you need?What type of source is it?Has it been edited or peer-

reviewed?

Always Cite your SourcesThe book is in the Reference

section at REF. LB 2369 .G45 2009.

The help sheet is on the library website under:

“Research a Topic.”

Because plagiarism is big trouble

Durham Policies and Procedures – Penalties for academic honesty matters

First OffenceMinimum – mark of ‘0’ in test, assignments and/or loss of one alpha

grade in course.Maximum – withdrawal from course.

Second OffenceNormally results in dismissal from the college for balance of academic

year.

Third OffenceNormally results in dismissal from college with no possibility of

readmission for three years.

Summary: Hints from your Librarian• Use books and encyclopedias to FOCUS your

topic • will save you time later

• Draft your THESIS and then search for supporting material

• Not the other way around!• Use the web INTELLIGENTLY and EFFICIENTLY

• don’t waste valuable time• Be CRITICAL of your information sources• Document what you find so you can CITE it

later!

Help is Available• Visit the Reference Desk in the

library (the one to the RIGHT when you enter the building)– Monday to Friday 8am-9pm– Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm

• Extension 2390• Email: reference@dc-uoit.ca