Step 1: Reference Books and the CQ Researcher

• Reference books are authoritative and can provide background, historical, and statistical information on your topic.
• Reference books will help you to identify key concepts and related terms associated with your topic.
• Reference books will also help you to narrow and define your topic and to determine whether sufficient research/information exists on your topic.
• The CQ Researcher is a weekly publication that functions as a "current topics" reference source. The CQ Researcher will provide you with an excellent overview of a topic.

How and where can I find these resources?

• Go to the McQuest main menu and click on the link, Selected Reference books (or click here).
• Look for a Broad Topic Area or a Specific Topic Area that is related to your topic. Follow the link to see titles of reference books with information on this topic.
• Record the call numbers for any reference titles that could potentially provide useful information for your research.
• Reference books are located in the reference collection on the east end of the main floor of the library.
  
• CQ Researcher
  

  on-campus access

  off-campus access

  
  

• Books will provide detailed and quite possibly more current, information on your topic.
• Books may also provide comprehensive histories on your topic.
• Books will help to put your topic in context with other important issues
• Books will provide summaries of research to support an argument
  

How and where can I find these resources?

• Go to the McQuest main menu and click on the link, Search for Books, Journal Titles, or Films (or click here).
• Perform a keyword or phrase search on your topic. Use Boolean operators to connect your terms (e.g. gun control and government)
• From the results list, select titles that are relevant to your topic.
• Identify whether the book has a call number OR a web link to the Internet (for online books).
• The majority of books in print are located in Main Stacks, which is downstairs in the library. Check the STATUS of the book to make sure it is available.
  

Step 3: Journal, Magazine, and Newspaper Articles

• Journal, magazine, and newspaper articles contain the most current information on a topic.
• Articles can be scholarly (written by an expert in the field) or can be popular (written for a general audience by staff writers and/or editors).

How and where can I find these resources?

• Go to the McQuest main menu and lick on the link, Databases by Subject.
• On the next screen, click on the link General Resources (or click here).
• These databases are excellent resources for finding articles:
  
  

  Academic Search Premier
  on-campus	off-campus
  Expanded Academic ASAP
  on-campus	off-campus
  Points of View
  on-campus	off-campus
  JSTOR
  on-campus	off-campus
  Project Muse
  on-campus	off-campus
  Polling the Nation
  on-campus	off-campus
  Other Subject Areas

  
  
• Enter keywords or phrases associated with your topic and limit to scholarly/refereed publications if you need authoritative information.
• If the article or information you need is not available in full-text in the database, do the following:
  • Search for the journal title in the
    library's print collection
  • Or, search for the journal title in the
    E-Journal Portal.

Step 4: Internet Resources
(Comprehensive Evaluation Criteria)

• Internet resources can be very useful for finding the most current information on a topic.
• Many Internet resources provide news and statistical information on topic.
• You must critically evaluate the information found on Internet sites because the information could be biased, misleading, or false. To determine the quality of information on an Internet site, look for the following:
  • The reputation, credentials, or qualifications of the organization or person(s) publishing the information
  • The purpose of the information (Is the purpose to inform or to persuade? Is the purpose to promote a product or idea? Does the information provide both sides of an issue?)
  • The nature of the information (Is the information based on scientific research or on personal testimony?)
  • The accuracy of the information
  • The reliability of the information (Does the information contain cited references to sources used?)

How and where can I find these resources?

• Several Internet search engines will help you to find quality information. Three recommended search engines are:

Google Scholar http://scholar.google.com

Librarian's Index to the Internet
http://lii.org/

INFOMINE
http://infomine.ucr.edu/

These search engines will lead you to web sites that have been evaluated and selected based on the quality of information provided.

Step 5: Ask a Librarian

If you cannot find the information you need, please ask the librarian at the Research Assistance desk for help. The reference librarian will direct you to and teach you to use sources that may contain useful information for your topic.

How and where can I find the reference librarian?

Reference librarians are available during the follow times at the Research Assistance desk in the library:

• Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
• Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Saturday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• Sunday, 1:00 pm - 10:00 pm

For research assistance over the phone, please call 981-8256.