
Health 239 Drug Cultures and Drug Wars Fall Term 2003
Identify the Types of Materials for Your Research • Books • Government documents • Statistics • Journal articles • Newspaper articles • Internet resources
What is Your Research Strategy? • Consider these questions before proceeding: • What dates of materials should you consider? • How will you identify which index to search? • Which keywords will you use? • How will you evaluate what you find?
Search for Books • Click library catalogue (QCAT) for books, journal or newspaper subscription titles and government documents.
Keyword Search • Keyword searches allow you to search QCAT using a single word or a combination of words that you consider to be the main focus.
Keyword Search • Use and to combine search terms and narrow results. • Use quotations for phrases.
Boolean Logic “AND” violence and crime
Keyword Search • Useorto expand search results. • Use?for plural forms and variant word endings.
Boolean Logic “OR” violence OR crime
Journal Indexes • Journal indexes and databases contain references to journal and newspaper articles. • Indexes can be subject-specific for in-depth research or can be of a general nature.
Journal Indexes • You will find most of your references in electronic indexes. • These are best searched using keywords. • Apply the same keyword strategies as you would when searching for books.
How to Select a Journal Index • Click on Indexes and Databases on the library homepage. • Under Subject Area, click your area. • Once you know the name of the database, enter via the alphabetical list.
Relevant Databases • America History and Life • Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA) Fulltext Reference • Canadian Newsstand
Databases Continued • Canadian Research Index • JSTOR • LEXIS/NEXIS • Medline
Databases Continued • New York Times (Full-Text, 1851-1999) • PAIS International • Reader’s Guide Abstracts • Web of Science
Does Queen’s Have the Journal You Need? • To find out if Queen’s has the journal, click on “Check to see if Queen’s Library has this item.” • This searches QCAT to see if we subscribe to the journal. • If we hold this title, the location for the print volume and/or link to the electronic copy is provided.
Points to Remember • Identify key words. • Check which operators to use. • Do phrases need quotations? Is a * used for different word endings or is it ?. • Do words need to be connected with “and”?
Points to Remember • Look for subject headings or descriptors in a useful record for more keyword ideas. • Do not search QCAT by journal author or article title. Only journal title is in QCAT.
http://library.queensu.ca/reference/ journals.htm
Searching the Internet • There are no uniform standards on the Internet. Always evaluate the accuracy and quality of the information you find on the Internet. • Always use the Advanced search capabilities of a search engine for research topics.
Evaluate Your Information Evaluation Criteria • Is it a popular or scholarly article? • What is the date of publication? • What are the author’s qualifications? • Why did the author write the article/book?
Evaluate Your Information • How was the information obtained? • Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda? • Are the author’s conclusions or facts supported with references? • Are there footnotes or a bibliography?
Citation and Style Guides For assistance go to: http://library.queensu.ca/ libguides/citationguides.htm
Any Questions? Please Contact: Michele Chittenden chittend@post.queensu.ca Or Nathalie Soini soinin@post.queensu.ca