Report 3 - Finding Sources PDF

REPORT 3 Finding Sources  Aims:  To discuss the minimum source requirements for a 201 report.  To learn how to find good sources  To introduce basic source evaluation   When writing a research paper or an assignment what kind of sources do you...

REPORT 3 Finding Sources  Aims:  To discuss the minimum source requirements for a 201 report.  To learn how to find good sources  To introduce basic source evaluation   When writing a research paper or an assignment what kind of sources do you rely on for information? 214 ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION Your sources should generally:  be fairly new ( 5 years - major plays a role)  be at least one page in length  have full bibliographical information such as an author, a title , page number, and a date of publication  come from reputable websites, publications, sources  come from a variety of places 2 Types of Research  Primary research  Secondary research Decide whether the following sources are primary or secondary. Be ready to justify.  Survey Data Collected from Industrial Workers on the impact of automation on job satisfaction.  Textbook on Machine Learning Algorithms  Conference Presentation Summarizing Advances in Nanotechnology  A newspaper article discussing a new technology  A summary article from a website (e.g., a tech blog)  A Field Report on Energy Consumption Primary research  Work done “in the field”  Writer interacts with respondents  Interviews, surveys, excursions, correspondence  Discover your own information  Considerable time spent in preparation, compiling results, and analysing results  Secondary research Locating and using sources that already exist  Books  Journals  Magazines  University / government documents  Reports  Encyclopaedia & Dictionaries  2 ways to acquire sources PRIMARY RESEARCH SECONDARY RESEARCH  Interviews  Library  Summon search  Correspondence engine  Surveys  Databases  Site visits  Print collection  Internet PRIMARY RESEARCH  Primary research INTERVIEWS  Face to face, telephone, video  Expert in the field  Carefully compose questions  Make reasonable requests  Open ended rather than yes/no  Should be recorded  Transcript is required  In-text citation required (not reference)  Primary research CORRESPONDENCE  Letter or email  Make reasonable requests  Adopt a courteous tone  Send a follow up / thank you letter  In-text citation required (not reference)  Primary research SURVEYS  Questions asked to many people  Orally or by questionnaire  Compose a set of questions  Multiple-choice, yes/no, ranking, open-ended  Collate results into a table / chart  This becomes the source  Primary research SITE VISITS  Writer takes a field trip to observe / measure  Record your observations  Perhaps combine your visit with an interview  Permission will be required SECONDARY RESEARCH  Secondary research SUMMON SEARCH ENGINE  Accesses the library’s electronic resources  These are extensive  Advanced searches, refining, and filtering tools  https:// Full-text online, or PDF ulrls.summon.serialssolut  ions.com/search? Writes references in a s.q=help#!/search? number of styles pn=1&ho=t&include.ft.ma tches=f&l=en&q=help Secondary research DATABASES 40+ electronic databases  ABI/Inform Global (mainly for business, finance, economics, and marketing)  Academic Search Premier (5000 journals in science, engineering and the humanities)  Applied Science and Technology Plus  KFUPM theses & dissertations  700 individual journals  Credo Reference & ebrary (eBook databases) ‘  Saudi Digital Library  Secondary research PRINT COLLECTION  Many thousands of books and magazines  In some ways more convenient / inconvenient  Periodicals, journals, encyclopaedia Secondary research INTERNET  Millions of websites  Most of them unreliable, unverifiable, subjective, biased  Anyone can post anything  Skilful use of search terms is essential  Your report should contain: 6 sources minimum  1 book (hard copy / Google books/ ebook)  2 electronic sources (From databases)  3 others (web doc, government doc, university doc, newspaper article, organization, documentary, interview)  Visual data (graphs, tables, charts)  How to find: 1. Book Sources 2. Library Sources 3. Other sources (web doc, government doc, university doc, newspaper article, organization, documentary, interviews, graphs, tables, charts) Book Source (1 minimum) Book Source (1 minimum) Book Source (1 minimum) Look for books with a Preview Or Book Source (1 minimum) Book Source (1 minimum) Book Source (1 minimum) Use the call number to locate the book )or ask for help from library staff( Library Sources (2 minimum) Summon Search Make your search as specific as possible to limit the number of results (less is more) Choose Content Type Summon Search Example: Limiting the search to Journal Articles, from 2012 onwards….…will bring the number down significantly The super-source Browse articles Downloading If it is suitable, then read the full text… Downloading … or save it as a.pdf Downloading It will even write your reference for you if you like  Other sources (3 minimum)  Google – web docs, government docs, university docs, newspaper articles  Web – organisations  YouTube – documentaries  Email – to organize interviews Refining a Google search YouTube  Interviews  Many students have a great experience by conducting interviews with an expert.  Find out how to contact an an expert in your field.  Write to him and tell him you are writing a report about something in his field.  Prepare a list of questions for him.  Setup an interview, and record it.  Source Quality Published reports by international authorities, with multiple, expert, PHD Consider the value and authors from Ivy-League !universities Published reports by credibility of your sources reputable, topic specific organizations Interviews with experts in the field Periodicals and Journal articles by respected educated persons, CEOs, University Professors, Universities, Government agencies Encyclopedia articles Reports / Articles by unknowns Web-Pages by unknowns Web-Pages without authors, or dates  Sources to avoid  Sources without authors.  Sources without dates.  Sources by questionable authors.  Sources by questionable organisations.  Sources in questionable publications.  Sources that are out-dated.  Sources written in informal language.  Sources that are biased.  Homework R3: Find 2 good sources for your report  1 book  2 electronic sources from UPM Library or other databases  3 other sources (one may include a plan for an interview with an expert)  Submit them into the assignment titled “Homework R3” or PRINT and bring to next class.