Research Skills

1. “Data, data, data. I cannot make bricks without clay” Conan-Doyle (1892): p33 Fanart.tv (2012) “My journey took me some what further down the rabbit hole than I intended and though I dirtied my fluffy white tail I have emerged, enlightened.” Sherlock Holmes (2009) Research Skills: Sarah Crowson

2. Objectives • Introduce (or refresh) the concept of academic research • Suggest strategies to support efficient research skills, including online resources • Develop awareness of how to spot invalid online resources • Introduce ways of organizing research effectively

3. What is academic research? Sherlock called it ‘deductive reasoning’ – in other words, our input – our reasoning and deduction is as important as the facts we find out. Bornstein, B (2013)

4. Three levels of research Basic level: Discovering information about a subject – fact finding Intermediate level: Analysing and commenting on information (for example, primary and secondary sources/ bias) Advanced level: Evaluating information, using it as part of your critical argument and to inform your creative practise

5. Why research? "The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." --- Eden Phillpots Phillpots, E (p.19)

6. Practical and Theoretical

7. Practical research tips “The real purpose of books is to trap the mind into doing its own thinking.” ---- Christopher Morley Morley, C: ThinkExist.com Welcome to Gateshead libraries (2013)

8. Questioning Basic questioning skills: • How old..? • What media..? • Where born..? Intermediate skills: • Did his relationships inform his work? • Why did she use that media? askville.com

9. Advanced Questioning skills Advanced Questioning skills: Does his age make a difference to..? What if she had worked using a different media..? What effect did his social situation have on his work..? How does his/her work compare to..? Belluci, M

10. Your thesis statement • You’ll use your advanced research questions to form your thesis statement (part of your introduction): • “in this essay I will be discussing the impact of the snail in late twentieth century painting, and discussing whether it is, as Dibble claims “of huge iconic significance and value. Personally, I feel that…<insert statement here>” • Then you’ll use the research generated from your thesis statement as the basis for your critical argument: • However, as Sprod so eloquently puts it ‘few paintings actually feature the snail, so how on earth can we judge its significance or value?’)

11. Where? Books Magazines Online articles Websites Youtube

12. Books Pros: • Give good general overview of a situation • Your brain processes and holds information longer from books and other tangible sources • Usually valid (printing costs money!) Cons: • Can be expensive or hard to get hold of • Can take longer to find information

13. Online sources Pros: • Easy to access • Usually free • Portable • Fast • Huge wealth of information out there! Cons: • Can be unreliable and/or biased • Difficult to cite in references • Requires skill to find relevant information • Huge wealth of information out there!

14. Academic sources: These should be: Valid Reliable You must check them for bias, and comment accordingly • Professor Cuthbert, of Trumpton University states that Dibble’s work is “insightful, and presents inarguable facts that shed a whole new light on how we view the history of modern art….”

15. The significance of the snail… • …however, since Professor Cuthbert is closely related to Dibble (his wife), and a professor of microbiology, not art, I would have to conclude that… • Look at handout 1 Is this valid? What evidence at first glance would make you question this? • Look at handout 2 What questions would you ask of this text?

16. Online Sources (should be valid) Use academic search engines such as: http://scholar.google.co.uk (Google scholar) http://education.iseek.com/iseek/home.page (iseek) http://www.virtuallrc.com (virtual learning resource) http://www.questia.com (need to pay for Questia) Use online libraries: http://www.siris.si.edu (Smithsonian) http://www.bl.uk(British Library Catalogue)

17. Organising your research

18. Tips, tips, tips… • Make a note of EVERYTHING you look at • Consider using the Cornell system • Consider using sites like Evernote (free productivity software) • Skim and scan indexes or Web engine search results for key words • Remember you will have to REFERENCE your research later (more on this later…)

19. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Any Questions?

20. References The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Adventure of the Copper Beeches - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1892 Sherlock Holmes (2009) Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) Directed by Michael Moore [Film]. Santa Monica, Calif: Lions Gate Films. Badbrad, C (2012) Fanart.tv (making the most of your movie collection http://fanart.tv/movie/10528/sherlock-holmes/ [accessed 10/10/2013] Bornstein, B (2013) University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Jury, Justice and Eyewitness Research Group http://psychology.unl.edu/juryjusticeeyewitness/ [accessed 10/10/2013] Anon (2012) MoyeaPowerpoint to DVD http://www.dvd-ppt-slideshow.com/powerpoint-background/ [accessed 10/10/2013] 1918, A Shadow Passes by Eden Phillpotts, Page 19, Cecil Palmer & Hayward, London (Anon) Welcome to Gateshead libraries (2013) Bringing words to live: Gateshead libraries http://www.asaplive.com/your-local-library [accessed 10/10/2013]

21. References • ThinkExist.com Quotations. “Christopher Morley quotes”. ThinkExist.com Quotations Online 1 Sep. 2013. 10 Oct. 2013 <http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/christopher_morley [accessed 10/10/2013] • Anon (2012-13) Askville.com http://askville.amazon.com/Nutty-QUESTION-MARK-avatars-forward-sing-official-co • unt/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=9019408 [accessed 10/10/2013] • Belluci, M (2005) Exhibition of Jean-Michel Folon.Forte Belvedere, Firenzehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/marcobellucci/3534516458/ [accessed 10/10/2013]

22. Bibliography • Schechter, J (2012) Deductive Reasoning, The Encyclopedia of the Mind, edited by Hal Pashler, SAGE Publishing.