Core 119 - Sports in American Society

research guide

Librarian: Nancy Young

E-mail: nyoung@uidaho.edu

UI Library Website: www.lib.uidaho.edu

If you need additional help with your research, try:

• Ask a Librarian (email reference)
• Research Assistance Program (RAP)
• Visit the Information Desk on the 1st floor of the Library or call 208-885-6584

• Are you confident that the information you’re finding and using is reliable? Or is it just CRAAP?
• Spend a few minutes looking over Module 5.1 and 5.2 of the University of Idaho Library’s online Information Literacy tutorial. Then learn about the CRAAP test here and learn to apply it in Module 5.4.
•  This class wrestles with the major ethical dilemmas surrounding sports in today’s culture. Words like “honesty,” “fairness,” and “responsibility” are often used.  Competition for grades and scholarships can also be fierce and present some of the same problems. That is why the University of Idaho has a plagiarism policy. For more tips on what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, see Modules 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6 of the IL tutorial.
• For help in citing your sources (that is, telling the reader where you got your information), see Modules 6.2 and 6.3. Make sure to click on the Online Resources to get more details and test out your skills.

hat: You can find other articles on the Tour de France by using the following database ProQuest Newspapers.
How:  Click on the link and use keywords such as Tour de France.
Why: Full text access to articles in 27 national newspapers including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

• Ever hear of CQ Researcher? Each week this full text electronic publication focuses on a different issue that’s currently in the news. You can search by keyword or browse all reports by date or topic. The beauty of this source is that there is usually a pro/con section, a bibliography, chronology, and links to related topics and websites. Hint: try looking up sports ethics, Olympics, baseball, etc. You’ll find a ton of good info. Note: The August 1, 2008 issue is devoted to the question: “Internet Accuracy; Is Information on the Web Reliable?”
• A reliable source for finding good websites is the Librarians’ Internet Index. Check out all the headings under Sports. Might lead to something helpful for the latest assignment.

What: An excellent starting place for up-to-date articles about Barry Bonds is EBSCO Search,
How: Use the phrase “barry bonds” to search. Click on the ArticleLinker icon to see if full text is available.
Why: EBSCO Search is a good general database of both scholarly and popular articles in almost all subject areas, many full text or with links to full text. 

EXTRA STUFF FOR YOU

What: See the Wikipedia entry for the List of sports team names and mascots derived from Indigenous peoples.
But: Is an article in Wikipedia reliable? How do you judge its accuracy and reliability?
How to find out: A thorough discussion of Wikipedia’s history, accuracy, etc. can be found here:
Schiff, S. (2006). KNOW IT ALL.New Yorker, 82(23), 36-43. Retrieved August 21, 2008, from the Academic Search Premier database.
Note: Academic Search Premier lets you choose the citation format you’d like to use for your references. The citation for the article above is in APA format, as required for this class.

What: Let’s use the database called Lexis/Nexis to get current articles about the mascot controversy.
How: Just type in “Indian team mascots” in the Easy Search screen. Choose the categories you want to search, such as major U.S. and world publications, broadcast services, etc.

• For a change of pace, let’s look at some books (rather than online sources) in the University of Idaho Library’s collection.. To find the best area to browse, try doing a keyword search in the online catalog with the following search: sports +ethics. The title list will lead you to several call number areas in the GV section (sports and recreation) and RC (sports and medicine). Here’s a quick tutorial on how to use the University of Idaho Library online catalog.
• Check out the website of the National Institute for Sports Reform.