Library Research Workshop

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Library Research Workshop

• EDUC 210 Lec. CC
• October 23, 2014

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Workshop Outline

• Term Paper Proposal
• Narrowing your subject focus from broad topics
• Locating peer reviewed journal articles using
  ERIC database
• Using APA style for references

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Getting Help with your Research

• Chris Bober (Education Librarian)
• Consultations upon appointment
• office Webster library (LB-504)
• phone [phone] ext.7697
• e-mail chris.bober_at_concordia.ca
• Use Librarys Ask a Librarian web site

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Analyze Term Paper Topics

• Start with broad topics motivation
• Narrow the subject focus
• student motivation, student engagement, etc.
• Select an age group/ educational level
• teens, adolescents, high school, etc.
• Select impact variables
• teacher characteristics, teacher attitudes,
  teacher behavior, etc.

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Analyze Term Paper Topics (contd)

• Think of synonyms for your topics
• e.g. teens adolescents
• Avoid using non essential words like
• advantages, benefits, optimize, minimize, impact,
  etc.

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Term paper topic Can a teachers personality
contribute to the motivation of elementary school
children? gt Select all main concepts and
related terms
Main Concept 1 teachers personality Related term(s) or Synonyms teacher characteristics, teacher attitudes, teacher behavior, teaching style
Main Concept 2 motivation Related term(s) or Synonyms student motivation, student engagement, learning motivation
Main Concept 3 elementary school children Related term(s) or Synonyms elementary schools, primary education
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Resources for Finding Research Studies

• Use ERIC (Education) and PsycINFO (Psychology)
• Best resources for locating educational
  psychology journals
• Current research studies in peer reviewed journal
  articles.
• Locate fulltext of journal articles by linking
  to pdf files or by linking to Findit_at_Concordia

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Selecting ERIC Search Options
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Selecting PsycINFO Search Options
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Search Operators for ERIC PsycINFO

• AND - search operator used to connect two
  distinct concepts.
• Locate articles that include both terms

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Search Operators for ERIC PsycINFO

• OR search used to link similar concepts
• Search results can include either term,or both

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Techniques for Refining ERIC PsycINFO Searches

• Use Truncation (asterisk character ) to find all
  variations of a root word
• Asterisk replaces all characters to the right
  of the word
• e.g child
• Searches child
• children
• childhood
• childs
• Enclose Phrases two or more words with
  parentheses
• Retrieves exact expressions
• e.g. learning style AND high school AND
  academic performance

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Preparing Reference Section

• APA Quick Links on library website will answer
  most of your questions
• Complete APA printed manuals in Library
• APA style guide to electronic references (pdf)
• RefWorks prepares bibliographies in APA style
• Also useful for organizing and storing references

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Closing Remarks

• If you are having difficulty finding relevant
  sources for your Reference section, please
  contact Chris.
• For writing assistance, contact Counselling
  Development (Learning Support)
• For assistance with APA format, contact
• Webster Library Reference Desk / Ask a Librarian
  (7 days a week)
• Good luck with your research assignments.