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Finding Resources

Finding Resources. Senior Projects – 2013-14. Not All Information is Created Equal. Ask yourself these questions about every resource you find: What is the source of this information? Who created it? What was their motivation for doing so?.

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Finding Resources

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  1. Finding Resources Senior Projects – 2013-14

  2. Not All Information is Created Equal Ask yourself these questions about every resource you find: • What is the source of this information? • Who created it? • What was their motivation for doing so? Matt Farley has created more than 14,000 songs for the sole purpose of getting Web hits.

  3. Print (Books) Pros: • A comprehensive source of information about a subject • Often thoroughly reviewed and edited before publication • Usually includes a helpful list of resources • A great starting point Cons: • Can be expensive, out-of-date or hard to find.

  4. The Proposal: Diet and Exercise

  5. Print (Journals) A professional or scholarly publication on a particular topic Pros: • Highly specific information from a reliable source • Up-to-date and peer reviewed Cons: • Can be very expensive or difficult to find

  6. The Proposal: Creating an Autonomous Robot The International Journal of Intelligent Mechatronics and Robotics (IJIMR) publishes original and innovative research and practical developments in the field of mechatronics and robotics. The journal covers a wide range of application areas, such as robotic-assisted manufacturing; advanced mechanisms and robotics; systems modelling and analysis; instrumentation and device control; automation systems; intelligent sensing and control; medical robotics; and autonomous and complex systems. The International Journal of Intelligent Mechatronics and Robotics (IJIMR) publishes original research papers, review papers, case studies, and patent alerts on the latest innovations in methodologies, technologies, and products within the fields of mechatronics and robotics.

  7. Print (Magazines) • Includes both general interest magazines (TIME, Road & Track) and trade publications (Poets & Writers, Club Business International). • Information is usually current and easier to read than professional journals. • Often available online

  8. The Proposal: Build an RC car

  9. Print (Newspapers) Pros: • Articles tend to be well-researched, reported and edited • Written for a general audience and easy to read • Provide sources the researcher can use for follow-ups Cons: • Reporters are not usually experts in their subjects • Paywells can make online newspapers difficult to access • Exceptions: The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal

  10. The Proposal: How Do Roller Coasters Work? MASON, Ohio -- Track work on the Banshee, the longest inverted roller coaster in the world, was completed Thursday at Kings Island near Cincinnati. Track piece No. 100 was the final piece of track installed on the 4,124-foot long, $24 million steel coaster. It was lowered into place at 10:04 a.m. It took the Adena Corp. 160 days to erect the ride after the first piece of track was delivered to the 364-acre amusement and waterpark Aug. 16, 2013. The coaster is manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers Inc. The Swiss firm also created Diamondback, the park's most recent roller coaster, which opened in 2009. With speeds up to 68 mph, Banshee will become the fastest Bolliger & Mabillard coaster in the nation, surpassing the previous record of 67 mph held by Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Alpengeist in James City County, Va. From The Indianapolis Star:

  11. Electronic: Web sites • Wikipedia.org: Useful as a starting point, especially external links • Academic institutions • Organizations and associations • Businesses • Hobby sites • Blogs • Always ask the question: who made this, and why?

  12. People: Academic Sources • The Proposal: Create an Animated Film • The Source: Ashley G, AdjunctProfessor of Animation PreProductionat Bloomfield College

  13. People: Professional Sources • The Proposal: How to write a Beat poem • The Source: Lawrence Ferlinghetti has written poetry, translation, fiction, theater, art criticism, film narration, and essays. In 1953, with Peter D. Martin, he founded City Lights Bookstore, the first all-paperbound bookshop in the country, and by 1955 he had launched the City Lights publishing house. The San Francisco bookstore has served for half a century as a meeting place for writers, artists, and intellectuals.

  14. People: Members of Associations • The Proposal: How do different cancers affect the human body? • The Source: Peggy McGuire joined the staff of the Women’s Cancer Resource Centeras Executive Director in 2005. The WCRC provides an array of services designed to help our clients cope with the physical and emotional changes caused by treatment, the disease, and the challenges of caring for someone with cancer. We provide information on prevention and early detection and outreach to communities throughout the East Bay. 

  15. People: Museum Staff • The Proposal: Learn to Drive a Dragster • The Source: Greg Sharp, Curator, The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. We collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the vehicles, stories, and artifacts that represent our affection for, and the influence of, automotive speed and style in all its forms. We are the place to view and learn about hot rods, customs, racecars and speed records, and the West Coast's role as the historic center for their past and present development.

  16. People: Members of Advocacy Groups • Proposal: Create a Law to Legalize Gay Marriage in the U.S. • The Source: Leslie S., organizer for Contra Costa County Marriage Equality. Leslie is a straight ally, married 40 years with two offspring. She's been involved in marriage equality since just before Proposition 22 in California. Leslie has worked for nonprofits for over 25 years, primarily the League of Women Voters, and is currently the Finance Manager for the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, CA.

  17. People: Random People on the Street • Could provide ordinary view of things… but you never know… The Proposal: Are the use of drones morally, ethically and legally valid in the war on terror? The Source: Random people who may or may not know anything about the subject…

  18. For all sources • What is their motivation for helping you? • What information can they provide to you?

  19. How to contact a source • Introduce yourself • Explain your project. Include the fact that it is required for graduation. • Let them know the kind of information you need, and the amount of time you expect your interview will take. • If requested, provide your questions in advance (but allow for follow-ups). • Be sure to contact sources through multiple means

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