5. Determine what you need:
• Book –
• Article
– General
– Peer-reviewed, scientific
– Review articles
• Background information
Think before you search
6. Types of Literature
• Primary – Original, first hand reporting of new
data or experience.
• Secondary – Information taken from other
sources and summarized.
– Objective – multiple points of view (unbiased).
– Subjective – single point of view (biased).
• Tertiary – Refers to an information source
(a bibliography)
7. When does information become
literature?
When recorded in a tangible medium such
as a book, magazine or journal article or
web site.
8. Literature Research
• Scientific research builds on previous
research.
• Literature search will reveal seminal
articles in a field.
• Some databases link live to articles in
bibliography.
9. Recognize the difference
between a magazine and a
journal…..
Peer review:
suitability for publication
credibility
quality control
Often primary literature
10. Primary Sources
& Peer Review
A peer reviewed primary source is a work that is
evaluated by experts in the field of study prior
to publication. Serves as a measure of quality.
Primary Source - Original document containing
firsthand information
– Diaries, interviews
– Original research including journal articles and preprints
11. Secondary Source
Information taken from other sources and
summarized and evaluated
• Important Secondary Sources –
Annual Reviews of…
CQ Researcher
Plunkett Research Online
14. Databases!
Do you have your own
database?
• Cell phone address book
• iTunes
15. Article Research
1. Background information
– Be able to talk about your topic for 5 minutes
before you begin your research!
– Annual Reviews
2. Find your “classic paper”
– Basis for or generated a great deal of research
– A highly cited paper
3. Current primary source articles
25. When searching databases…
Remember: RATS
Read All The Screens!
• Key words
• Synonyms
• Subjects
• Suggested topics
• Types of materials
– Scholarly Journals, Magazines, etc.
29. How to get help….
• AskUs Service
• R & R Clinics in LSC Atrium
– Friday, 10/21, 9am-12pm
– Wed, 10/26, 9am-12pm
– Wed, 11/2, 9am-12pm
– No clinic 11/9
– Wed, 11/16, 9am-12pm
• Contact me! galloway@syr.edu