How to do research: Environment
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Transcript of How to do research: Environment
HOW TO DO RESEARCH
GET READY, SET, GO
GET READY
Choose a topic
List keywords, synonyms and concepts
Search the library catalog
Read background information
Choose a Topic
Of interest to you
Manageable
Specific
Brainstorm
List keywords, concepts, synonyms
Formulate a question or hypothesis
Search the Library Catalog
Search the Library Catalog
Find books and media: new titles, encyclopedias and reference books
Read for background information
Note sources in bibliographies
Check dates for recency
Check for availability in catalog
Library Catalog Search
Get Set: Construct a Search Strategy
How can green construction become a standard for home building
and save energy consumption?
Concepts/Keywords
green construction sustainable construction energy efficient
Related terms
green building green business environmentally friendly alternative energy home building
Multiple spellings
ecofriendly eco friendly
Acronyms
LEED IGCC AIA
Use Advanced Searching Techniques
quotations “ “ to search for multiple terms as a complete phrase “green construction” “sustainable development”
truncation * to include all variant endings: environ* (environment, environmentally
Parentheses ( ) Sets the order of search. Terms in parentheses are searched first:
“alternative energy” AND (solar energy or radiant energy)
If more than one set is used the one on the left is searched first
Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT
Combine search terms for a narrow result: “green construction” AND “building standards”
Combine synonyms or closely related terms for a wider search: “green construction” OR “green building”
Excludes terms from the search result: “home building” NOT “commercial building”
Use Research Port
Select Databases
General Databases
Academic Search Premier
JSTOR
Project Muse
Subject Related Databases
Business Source Complete
Guide to Hospitality Management
Environmental Science and Pollution
Ecology Abstracts
Garden, Landscape and Horticulture Index
GreenFile
Academic Search Premier
Academic Search Premier
Academic Search Premier
Academic Search Premier
Environment Sci. & Pollution
Environmental Sci. & Pollution
Environmental Sci. & Pollution
UM find it: Publisher’s Catalog
Science Direct
Science Direct
Searching on the Internet
Search in Google but evaluate the site before using the information
Information is written by anyone
It is not authoritative or peer reviewed by experts in the field
It is not organized and is difficult to find. Popular items come up first.
Is flexible with search terms and recognizes phrases or natural languagae
Go
Read sources, take notes
Organize ideas
Make an outline
Write first draft
Document sources (footnotes or endnotes)
Write a bibliography
Revise first draft
Proofread final draft
APA CITATION FORMAT
Citing Sources Using the APA Publication Manual http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/citing_apa.html
APA Style Help http://www.apastyle.org/apa-style-help.aspx
How to Write an Annotated Bibliography http://www.umuc.edu/library/tutorials/bibliography/bibliography-text.shtml