Library Resources

Turn first to your college’s library. Before visiting the library in person, review its Web site to get general information. You may be able to do some initial research from the Web site, but you will need to visit the library in person to access books and other print materials.

Librarians

Librarians are essential resources to help you find appropriate information in both print and electronic forms. If your library allows it, make an appointment with a librarian to discuss your project and information needs. Or, you and some other students might arrange to go together for a helpful orientation. Before your appointment, make a list of questions you would like to ask, either based on what you have seen on the library Web site or some of the following questions.

QUESTIONS FOR THE LIBRARIAN

BOOKS

To find books on your topic, use the library catalog, which is likely to be online. By typing the keywords green landscaping into the library catalog, student Michael McQuiston found the following item:

ONLINE DATABASES/PERIODICAL INDEXES

Most libraries subscribe to online databases, which are lists of all periodical (journal, newspaper, and magazine) articles on different topics. Because the library pays a subscription fee for these databases, only library members may use them. By entering your student number on the college library Web site, you can access all these helpful reference sources, which have already been checked for reliability. Some databases are general; some are more specialized with a focus on, for example, psychology or education. Some databases have the full texts of the periodicals online, which is handy.

Most college libraries subscribe to the most popular and comprehensive subscription databases: Academic Search Premier, LexisNexis Academic, ProQuest Research Library, and InfoTrac. These databases are excellent places to start looking for sources because they cover the widest range of periodicals.

ENCYCLOPEDIAS

Encyclopedias give brief, basic information on a wide range of subjects. Like databases, encyclopedias can be general or specialized. A reliable general encyclopedia, the Encyclopedia Britannica, is usually available in print in the reference section of the library and online (www.britannica.com). Specialized encyclopedias exist for almost any subject you can imagine; you can find them in the reference section or in the online catalog. Encyclopedias might be a good place to get an overview of your topic, but many instructors want students to use more specialized sources in their writing.

Other Resources

Although your library is the best place to find good sources, other ways can work well too. But you should always make sure these types of sources are reliable.

OPEN DATABASES

Many databases, both general and specialized, are free and open. Some particularly good ones are InfoPlease (www.infoplease.com), the Librarian’s Internet Index (www.ipl.org), the Library of Congress Online (www.loc.gov/library/libarch-digital.html), and Martindale’s Reference Desk (www.martindalecenter.com).

SEARCH ENGINES

Using a general search engine to search the Web will bring you more sources on your topic, some reliable and some not. Some of the most popular search engines are

To use a search engine, enter your keywords in the subject box. Michael McQuiston used Google and tried several variations on his search keywords, which netted the following results.

Finding good sources among the countless sites online can take a long time. Therefore, using library sources is often a better strategy than using general sources.

STATISTICAL SOURCES

Statistical data are facts and figures. When they are directly related to the thesis of your research essay and are from a reliable source, they can provide very strong support. One good source of statistical data is the Statistical Abstract of the United States, published annually by the U.S. Census Bureau. It can help you find useful statistics related to social trends, social issues, population trends, economics, demographics, and other topics.

ONLINE RESEARCH SITES

Online research sites constitute another valuable source of information on how to do research. At macmillanhighered.com/researchroom, the publisher of this book hosts the Bedford Research Room, which includes guided tutorials on research processes; advice on finding, evaluating, and documenting sources; tips on avoiding plagiarism; and more. Other useful sites include Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) at http://owl.english.purdue.edu. This site offers a variety of materials and resources for writers, including research information.

Interviews

Personal interviews can be excellent sources of information. Before interviewing anyone, however, plan carefully. First, consider what kind of person to interview. Do you want information from an expert on the subject or from someone directly affected by the issue? How would the experience or comments of each person help support your points? The person should be knowledgeable about the subject and have firsthand experience. When you have decided whom to interview, schedule an appointment.

Next, to get ready for the interview, prepare a list of five to ten questions. Ask open-ended questions (What is your position on regulating cell-phone use by drivers?) rather than questions that require only a simple yes-or-no response (Do you favor regulating cell-phone use by drivers?). Leave space for notes about the person’s responses and for additional questions that may occur to you during the interview. Include in your notes the person’s full name and qualifications and the date of the interview.

As you conduct the interview, listen carefully, and write down any important ideas. If you plan to use any of the interviewee’s exact words, put them in quotation marks in your notes. Confirm the wording with the interviewee to be sure you have it correctly in your notes. (For more on using direct quotations, see “Take Careful Notes” and “Quotation Marks” in Chapter 18.)

NOTE: If you plan to record an interview (whether on tape, or using a digital recorder), get your subject’s permission first. Recording what a person says without being granted permission is unethical and, in some states, against the law.