Here are some resources and quick tips to help you get started with your research. Some of this may seem very basic to you. However, going back and making sure that your research is as efficient and as far reaching as possible can save you countless hours down the road.
If you have any questions about researching or using the library, please do not hesitate to contact Ben Hunter, the UI Library's Sociology liaison. Either email (bhunter@uidaho.edu) or phone (885-5858) are fine. Ben can quickly answer questions about doing research and using the library and is also happy to set up appointments.
When you want to browse news sources:
Current Newspapers
• located on the second floor of the UI Library
• almost all Idaho newpapers, some national
• most current on sticks
• older issues in bins and on microfilm
Current Magazines and Journals
• located on the second floor of the UI Library
• new issues shelved alphabetically
• older issues bound, but still on second floor
• older issues in bins and on microfilm
When you are trying to do a more focused news search:
• offers full-text of articles from many news sources
• generally considered our best news database
• more recent articles are more likely to have full-text available, but some articles as far back as 1980 are available
• search NY Times articles all the way back to 1851
• full-text is not included; if you find an article you would like to read, we have a large collection of NY Times microfilm on the second floor of the library
• not as comprehensive as LexisNexis, but has some material not found in LexisNexis
• like Newspaper Source, not as comprehensive as LexisNexis, but has some material not found in LexisNexis
Please view Module 6 of the UI Library's Information Literacy Tutorial for more information on properly citing sources and avioding plagarism.
Click here for a quick tutorial on using the library's catalog.
Research your paper with a clear strategy. This will save you time and probably improve your grade. Everybody has their own strategy that works for them; there is no one solution for every person and every problem. Even so, the sample strategy below may help to get you started.
Please view Module 6 of the UI Library's Information Literacy Tutorial for more information on properly citing sources and avioding plagarism.
Some web sites to help you cite works and create bibliographies:
• American Sociological Association style citation guide - from the ASA web site
• ASA style citation guide - from Cal State LA
• ASA style citation guide - from Purdue University
• UI Library recommended websites on writing - includes links to citation guides for styles other than ASA
Click here for a quick tutorial on using the library's catalog.
Where you can find them:
• find call numbers using the UI Library Catalog.
• books are located on the third and fourth floor of the UI Library
• books with a location listed as NIC or LCSC can be obtained within a few days by clicking on "Request," then placing a "Hold" on the book
• WorldCat is a library catalog that combines the catalogs of thousands of library catalogs around the world; an amazing resource for locating books not owned by the UI Library
• if we don't own a book you need, you can almost always order it through ILL (interlibrary loan).
• books are located on the third and fourth floor of the UI Library
• books with a location listed as NIC or LCSC can be obtained within a few days by clicking on "Request," then placing a "Hold" on the book
• WorldCat is a library catalog that combines the catalogs of thousands of library catalogs around the world; an amazing resource for locating books not owned by the UI Library
• if we don't own a book you need, you can almost always order it through ILL (interlibrary loan).
What they are good for:
• in-depth information
• specific information
• lots of information
• (sometimes) getting background information on a topic
• specific information
• lots of information
• (sometimes) getting background information on a topic
Where to go if have a specific article or journal you are looking for:
• from the UI Library Catalog, click on "Journal List", then search for the name of the journal.
• note that you can only search for journals by title; article names, keywords and authors must be search for using a database (see below)
• all of our paper journals are accessible from the second floor of the library; electronic journals can be used by anybody currently affiliated with the UI
• if we don't own an article you need, you can almost always order it through ILL (interlibrary loan).
Where to find article databases:
• on the UI Library Catalog click on "Find Articles"; select "Social Sciences" from the "Databases by Subject" pull-down menu
A few of our databases that you may find useful:
• Sociological Abstracts - provides abstracts of journal articles and citations to book reviews drawn from over 1,800+ serials publications, and also provides abstracts of books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers; indexes as far back as 1952
• Synergy - full text access to many journals in the sciences and social sciences
• Humanities and Social Science Retrospective - indexes approximately 1,200 periodicals in the humanities and social sciences with citations to more than 1,100,000 articles; covers 1907-1984
• Social Services Abstracts - provides bibliographic coverage of current research focused on social work, human services, and related areas, including social welfare, social policy, and community development; 1980 - present
Research your paper with a clear strategy. This will save you time and probably improve your grade. Everybody has their own strategy that works for them; there is no one solution for every person and every problem. Even so, the sample strategy below may help to get you started.
1. Choose a topic:
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
• Is this topic interesting to me? If not, find a new topic.
• Will there be enough information? If not, consider a broader topic.
• Will there be too much information? If so, consider a narrower topic.
2. Explore your topic:
• Start by looking at reference books, web sites, magazines and other general resources.
• Get a solid idea of how much information there is on this topic.
• Find keywords related to your topic that you can use to search for relevant materials.
• You may find at this point that you need to return to step one and choose a new topic.
• Make sure and keep track of any material that you intend on using in your paper; be very careful not to plagarize.
3. Begin your research:
• At this point, you should be finished with the more general reference works that you used in step 2.
• Use the UI Library Catalog and WorldCat to find books that are relevant to your topic.
• Use article databases to find relevant journal articles.
4. Do your research:
• Carefully document all of the information sources that you plan on using in your paper.
• Take careful notes as you read, making sure that every note says where it comes from.
• If you need more information, go back to step 3.
5. Write your paper:
• Outline your paper and begin writing and revising.
• Be very careful to cite all the information you are using in your paper.
• If you need more information, go back to step 3.