When starting a project, there simple guidelines to keep in mind:

• When beginning, a good way to obtain background information and ideas to build on your topic area is with reference materials such as encyclopedias, almanacs, and abstracts.
• Plan ahead! Set a time line and allow for unexpected developments and planned revision.

Library Catalog

Search for materials in Randall Library by using the online Library Catalog located on the Randall Library homepage at http://library.uncwil.edu. Searching the Library Catalog will give you call numbers and locations for books, maps, N. C. documents, U.S. Government documents, special collections, microforms, music scores, periodicals, audiovisual materials, and reserve materials.

Perform a search for library materials with a keyword search using your keywords, such as "cultures". If you would like to combine related keywords use the connector AND. For example: "mark twain" and "criticism" will bring back a list of encyclopedias that deal with cultures.

A subject search such as "twain mark" will give you the main subject of the materials available at Randall Library.

Finding Articles

Before you start your search: 

1. List the ideas and concepts that describe your search topic. 
2. Narrow your topic. Remember, your goal is to get a manageable number of useful records. 
3. Think of as many search terms describing your topic as you can. You might find what you want right away, but results
    can improve as you become more familiar with each database.
4. Using AND to combine multiple search terms into a single, more focused search request. 
    AND retrieves records with both search terms. For example: television viewing and academic achievement retrieves
    records with both television viewing and academic achievement. 

EbscoHost and InfoTrac index periodicals in various disciplines, and are therefore very broad in subject scope. However, they may not be as deep in the subject you are particularly addressing. These two interdisciplinary databases listed can provide citations to magazine and scholarly/academic/peer review journals as well as each offers some full-text articles.

• EBSCOhost -- Academic Search Elite & MasterFILE Premier
  Coverage of 3,000 journals, covering the social sciences, humanities, general science, multi-cultural studies, general reference, business, health, education, and much more.
• InfoTrac OneFile
  Includes over 6,325 titles indexed from 1980 to present; nearly 3,000 full-text titles, including Expanded Academic Index ASAP, General Reference Center Gold, and LegalTrac.

Consider using some of the following subject specific databases depending upon your topic area. If you are unsure what databases are available for your topic, be sure to look at the "Subject Research Guides" linked off of the Library page.

MLA International Bibliography
    Provides access to scholarly research in nearly 4,000 journals and series pertaining to literature, language, linguistics, 
    and folklore and includes coverage from 1963 to the present.
Humanities Index
    Citations to art, archaeology, folklore, literature, music, philosophy, religion, and world history. 
Gale Literary Index
    Master index to the print series. (CLC, DLB, TCLC, etc.)

Web-Site Evaluation

The reliability and quality of information from Web sources has created much debate in the academic world. Researchers must always remember that the Web is a vast, unregulated information resource that ANYONE with the proper tools and a little money can create a site on the Web. When viewing a site for research purposes the three most important features to consider are:

Authority: Who's responsible for the page content? Are there any clues about that person's qualifications?
Content: Does it seem accurate? If you don't know much about the topic yet, consider these other questions. Are there citations to other works? Has the page been updated recently? Are there facts you could try to verify?
Audience/Objectivity: Who designed it? And for whom? Is there obvious (or not so obvious) bias? Is the page nothing more than a marketing tool? What level of audience is it designed for (e.g. children, adults, students, professionals)? 

Helpful Links

• Accessing Randall Library Databases from a Home Computer [http://library.uncwil.edu/offcampus.html]
• Randall Library Homepage [http://library.uncwil.edu/]
• Randall Library Reference Desk phone number - 962-3760
  Last Update: December 12, 2005
  
  Return to Top