Research Paper Research Paper NE 201NE 201

Honora EskridgeHonora Eskridge

NCSU LibrariesNCSU Libraries

September 27, 2006September 27, 2006

The Research ProcessThe Research Process

1.1. Define the problem Define the problem scope/breadth/depthscope/breadth/depth

2.2. Consider audience/where it would Consider audience/where it would be publishedbe published

3.3. Select search tools and keywordsSelect search tools and keywords

4.4. SearchSearch

5.5. Analyze resultsAnalyze results

6.6. Present informationPresent information

Web Search Engines –Yahoo!, Google, Lycos, etc.

World Wide Web – Millions of web pages!

This is the surface of the Web

The Deep Web

World Wide Web – Millions of web pages!

Web pages containing search tools

Web Search Engines

Silos of Information

$

$

$ free!

$ $

$

free!

free!

$

$

free!

World Wide Web – Millions of web pages!

Web pages containing search tools (DATABASES)

Web Search Engines

Compare looking for research articles to finding and buying an airline ticket

Searching Google doesn’t work – you haveto select the right type of database (Expedia, Travelocity).The database is free – ads pay for it.

Discovery. You are now searching a database for a specificdocument – the right ticket.

Now you choose the best document for your needs,in this case the best flight.

Access means buying the ticket.The ‘document’ costs money!

Searching Google doesn’t work well – you haveto select the right type of database (Compendex, Inspec).The database costs money – no ads! The library pays for it.

Discovery. You are now searching a database for specificdocuments – research articles.

Now you choose the best document(s) for your needs,in this case an IEEE article.

Access occurs because the library bought the journal.The ‘document’ costs money!

Now you determine if the library owns this article

Choosing DatabasesChoosing Databases

Library CatalogLibrary Catalog CompendexCompendex Applied Science and Technology IndexApplied Science and Technology Index Subject-specific databases outside of Subject-specific databases outside of

engineeringengineering Food ScienceFood Science MedicineMedicine AgricultureAgriculture Etc.Etc.

Citing SourcesCiting Sources

Use any standard citation style (APA, Use any standard citation style (APA, MLA, etc.)MLA, etc.)

Use Refworks to manage citations Use Refworks to manage citations and create your bibliographyand create your bibliography

How to cite in the text of your paper.How to cite in the text of your paper.