PPAS 3190:Introduction to Library Research

Timothy Bristow – Scott LibraryPolitical Science & Public Policy Librarian

Class Goals:• Learn how to construct an effective keyword search

• Learn how to use the Library Catalogue, Periodical Indexes, and Government sites to find relevant information

• Discuss ways to think critically about your research sources

• Prepare you to work on your Research Paper Proposal

Devising a Topic:• Ideas for essay topics can come from course readings,

lectures, class discussion, news events, etc.

• Effective topics are often expressed in the form of a research question that you would like to answer

• You may need to alter the scope of your topic to ensure your work is focused and manageable

Keyword Searching:1. Prepare your search by writing out your research question and then

identifying the key concepts

2. The same concept can often be expressed in multiple ways, so consider alternative keywords: synonyms

3. Construct your search using language that the database understands to get the best possible results: syntax

4. Search, examine the results, and modify your search

How has Canadian policy on climate change developed over

the past two decades?

QUESTION:

Library Catalogue:• The Library Catalogue is a database containing records for

materials in all York Libraries

• Use the Catalogue to find books, government reports, and other government documents – not journal articles

• Advanced Search will give you more control and often better results when searching for a topic

Periodical Indexes:• Periodical Indexes are databases that contain records of

journal articles in a particular subject area

• Use the Library’s online Subject Guides and the PPAS 3190 Course Guide to identify useful indexes

• The indexes contain records for many articles that we have at York and for some that we don’t

Government Web Sites:

• A large amount of government information is now made freely available online

• Reports, policy papers, and other documents can often be found on the site of the relevant government ministry

• Materials are not always easy to find – consult the PPAS 3190 Course Guide for useful starting points

Thinking Critically: 1

• Authority: Who is responsible for producing the source? Is the author or publisher affiliated with an organization?

• Audience: What is the intended audience of the source? E.g. researchers, students, the general public

• Purpose: Why was the source created, what is its purpose? E.g. to present research, set policy, inform, entertain, persuade

Thinking Critically: 2

• Perspective: Does the source express a particular political or institutional perspective?

• Currency: When was the source created? Is the information still relevant?

• Validity: Are the author’s claims supported by evidence and research? Does the research method seem sound?

Getting Help:• Visit the Research Questions Desk

at the Scott Library

• Ask a question online with askON

• Consult the PPAS 3190 Course Guide