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9 Changemakers: Research Skills

Search Strategies

AND

  • will find the words together to narrow your results
  • tells the database that ALL search terms must be included in the results
  • example: cloning AND humans AND ethics => a result about all three topics

OR

  • connects two or more similar concepts 
  • broadens your results, telling the database that ANY of your search terms can be present in the resulting records
  • example: cloning OR genetics OR reproduction => Results can have 1, 2, or all of the words

NOT

  • excludes words you have identified as not helpful 
  • example: cloning NOT sheep => Gives results the limit a word, in this case "Sheep" should not appear

Try Boolify!

  • Practice various search strategies & build "Search Strings" with Boolify
  • Drag limiters onto the board, add a search term, and click anywhere on the board
  • Watch the Keyboard Shortcuts results space below to see the codes Google uses to command its search engine to do what YOU want

   Search Tips:

  • Identify Key Words: Write out questions, circle necessary words, anticipate words in the answer
  • Use Booleans to narrow or broaden your search (And, Or, Not)
  • Use truncation (*) to catch more results (for example: creat* will bring create, creation, creating...)
  • Use quotation marks to keep exact phrases together ("Florida Marlins")
  • Use wildcards (?) to catch various spellings or meanings (wom?n brings woman and women)
  • Use a minus sign to filter out irrelevant results (-fish)
  • Filter results with "Search Tools" in Google
  • Search for files and scans using " filetype:pdf" in a search
  • Limit results by domain, such as .gov  .edu  .cn
  • Limit to terms in the title of a site or article with "intitle:"

Sample Search String:

  • "amnesty international"    iran   intitle:execution*    site:http://.gov    "cultur* impact"    -oil

Using Google? Choose Advanced Search

Build a search string with Boolify - a puzzle-style google search

Source Evaluation

More like this, just for fun

The 5 W's of Source Evaluation

Who

  • Who wrote the pages and are they an expert?
  • Is a biography of the author included?
  • How can I find out more about the author?

What

  • What does the author say is the purpose of the site?
  • What else might the author have in mind for the site?
  • What makes the site easy to use?
  • What information is included and does this information differ from other sites?

When

  • When was the site created?
  • When was the site last updated?

Where

  • Where does the information come from?
  • Where can I look to find out more about the sponsor of the site?

Why

  • Why is this information useful for my purpose?
  • Why should I use this information?
  • Why is this page better than another?

The 5Ws of Source Evaluation, via Kathy Schrock

OPVL

  • Origin
    • Where is the information FROM?
  • Purpose
    • What is the information trying to do...sell, persuade, inform?
  • Value
    • How will the information be useful to your information need?
  • Limitations
    • What does the information not address? What might be an issue with using it? What other information might be needed in addition?

OPVL Video Explanation:

Lateral Reading (ftw)

Note-Taking 

Reading &  Process Notes

Use a Research Log to gather all sources, take quick reading notes about your sources, and track your goals and process along the way

Detailed Notes

Only take detailed notes on information you will USE in your paper

Paste the template you like best into your Research Log 

Rules of Note-Taking: 

  • Decide on a strategy and stick with it
  • Follow the rule of three: Quoted material + Paraphrase + Source in every note
  • Paraphrase everything (Writing in your own words helps you understand)
  • Trace every idea in your notes back to a source
  • Write just enough to remember what you meant 
  • Use symbols, abbreviations, diagrams, drawings if that helps you

Paraphrasing Tips

#1 Tip: Write as if you're talking to your parents at dinner about what you learned

Outlining

  • An Outline SAVES time
  • When you organize your evidence ahead of time, you will see if you have a balance of ideas and enough evidence before you write
  • Copy/paste your notes into the order that makes sense for your argument / task
  • Use the sample outlines in the Research Log