August 25th, 2010
Hi! I’m Becky Canovan, the liaison librarian for Sociology. I just wanted to say welcome to UD. As the sociology librarian, I’m here to help with all your research needs for your classes, but feel free to ask questions about anything. If I don’t know the answer I’ll be sure to find someone who does.
This blog is another great resource. I’ll keep it updated throughout the semester with resources for specific assignments and tips and tricks that might help in other classes. I’ll try to highlight new books and movies that might be of interest too.
Have an idea about something I could post here? Or have a question you need help with? Feel free to contact me at extension X3649, in my office (L107) or by email at bcanovan@dbq.edu. You can also find me on Facebook or AIM (beckycanovan).
Good luck with your first semester!!
June 8th, 2010
So now that you’ve picked your topics for your Mental Illness Research Paper, it’s time to start finding those 10 required sources! These can include books, articles, websites, etc. This blog post can help you get started with that.
Search tips:
Sometimes the official name of a disorder and the one used by the catalog or a database don’t match, so don’t forget to try the common name or alternate name for a disorder as well! For example, in SocINDEX, the database uses manic depressive disorder, not bipolar disorder.They’re also not forgiving of spelling errors like Google, so type carefully. Some topics will cross subject areas, don’t just look in one place.
Looking for books? Start with the library catalog: Don’t forget to use subject headings to help you out. Also, we may not have an entire book specifically about your topic, but don’t dismiss using a chapter of a book about a particular type of mental illness. If you need help finding a book on the shelf, come find a librarian!
Looking for articles? Library search engines (databases) are a great place to find scholarly journal articlesor other sources for your paper. Each search engine has a different flavor/subject area it covers. If the full text isn’t right there, click the Find It button. If we don’t have the article, you can request it from another library by clicking the “get this article or book chapter” link.
- Credo: This is a database that includes a bunch of psychology encyclopedias. A great place to look for background information about your mental illness before digging a little deeper.
- Academic Search: This is probably the database you’re most familiar with; it’s like the Google of library databases. It covers a wide range of topics and has something for just about everyone. But remember, it also includes magazines and newspapers, not just scholarly articles!!
- PsycINFO: This one looks just like Academic Search, but it only includes psychology articles and journals. This is a great place to find scholarly journal articles about your topic.
- SocINDEX: If your topic deals with how a disorder or behavior affects society, this sociology heavy database will help.
- JSTOR: Like Academic Search Premier, this database has a lot of articles on different topics, but it doesn’t use subject headings; it only searches the full text. You might want to put your disorder/illness in quotes so it searches for those words as a phrase.
Don’t forget to properly cite your sources. Many of the databases will help you format your citations for your bibliography. If you don’t remember how, watch this short video Also, check out the APA guide for examples of how to do in-text citations and your works cited. Need different examples? Check out Diana Hacker’s website.
Need help finding resources? Don’t know how to use one of these links?
Ask a librarian! We have regular summer reference hours Mondays 1-3:30 and Thursdays 9-11:30, or by appointment. You can also send us an email at (reference@dbq.edu).
February 3rd, 2010
Just a few links we’ll be using in class today!
Searching for articles
What is an Implicit Associations Test (IAT) used for in the real world? Using one of the library search engines below, search for “implicit association test” (Don’t forget to put it in quotes so the search engine knows to search for it as a phrase.). Find an article and skim it or read the abstract. Be ready to share your findings.
Taking the Implicit Association Test
Read these directions first! Use the link below to take the IAT. Once on the webpage, click Demonstration, then the link that says “Go to the Demonstration Tests.” Read the disclaimer and the bolded sentence at the bottom of the page, then click “I wish to proceed.”
You need to take the Race IAT and 2 others of your choosing. Write down your reaction/response to each before proceeding to the next.
Implicit Association Test
November 1st, 2009
This post is your one stop shop for this assignment. Is there something else you think should be here, but isn’t? Let me know!
The assignment options (because it’s hard to complete the project if you don’t know what the assignment is!):
Doing the research-Where to look
Some of you will have to do more research than others depending on which project option you pick, but all of you need to do at least some research for your project. For the fieldwork option, you’ll want to look for articles that will help you understand the actions and behaviors you observe or help you identify a larger question your fieldwork might answer. For the paper option, this research will be the basis of your paper!
- Academic Search: Looking for magazines and newspapers? Limit your search using the subjects in the left column.
- SocINDEX: Search here for scholarly journal articles about your topic.
Citing your research
So, now that you’ve found something, how do you cite it? APA style is required for this project (it says so in the assignment!). Use the handy Library APA Style Cheat Sheet or Diana Hacker’s APA Help page for examples of bibliography and in-text citation examples. Don’t remember how to get Academic Search and SocINDEX to cite it for you? Watch this short video to see it again. Remember, you’re smarter than the computer. Double-check those citations to make sure they’re right!
Tutorials
Getting into SocINDEX
InterLibrary Loaning an article
Lexis-Nexis
Library Catalog
Need help finding resources? Can’t remember how to get to a search engine? Ask me. You can find me in my office just outside the library computer classroom or at the reference desk, or contact me by phone (x3649) or email (bcanovan@dbq.edu) You can always leave a comment here too!
October 4th, 2009
This blog post will be your homebase for this assignment. I’ve tried to put all the necessary resources at your fingertips. Is there something else you think should be here? Let me know!
Film assignment: in case you lose your copy
Powerpoint from class
Movies: List of the possible movie options for class
Now that you’ve picked your movie, it’s on to the research part. Where to look:
Reserve books: List of books on reserve for your class. Some of these books talk specifically about certain movies, others take on major themes like homosexuality. Click on the titles to see the catalog record. Not all books that may be useful are on reserve. Don’t forget to search the library catalog too!
Library search engines (databases): A great place to find in-depth movie reviews or critiques
- Academic Search: Try searching your movie title in quotes and adding Motion Picture as a subject
- SocINDEX: Try searching your movie title in quotes for this search engine
- MasterFILE: Your movie title (film) is a subject in this search engine
- JSTOR: Put your movie title in quotes, if you still get too many hits, try adding the name of your director or the subject it covers to your search
Don’t forget to properly cite your sources. Check out the APA guide for examples of how to do in-text citations and your works cited. Need different examples? Check out Diana Hacker’s website, especially about how to cite a movie Don’t remember how to get Academic Search and SocINDEX to cite it for you? Watch this short video (1:24) to see it again. Remember, you’re smarter than the computer. Double-check those citations to make sure they’re right!
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Need help finding resources? Can’t remember how to get to a search engine? Ask me. You can find me in my office just outside the library computer classroom or at the reference desk, or contact me by phone (x3649) or email (bcanovan@dbq.edu) You can always leave a comment here too!
February 3rd, 2009
Here are a few resources that may be helpful as you work on your paper:
Assignment sheet: Your Bible for this project, it’s the place to go to for clarifications about the paper
APA citation guide: A PDF quick guide to APA style for your bibliography and paper. The guide can help you tweak those MLA citations from the library catalog.
SourceAid: Didn’t remember to send yourself the citations already formatted? Use SourceAid to help you format in APA. But remember, it’s not as smart as you are, so check the final product to make sure it’s correct.
Diana Hacker: Don’t trust technology to do it right? Check out Diana Hacker’s site for examples of how your citations should look.
Powerpoint from class: Want to check out the powerpoint again?
Here are the subject-specific library databases (search engines) that might be useful to your theorist:
Need help finding resources? Can’t remember the difference between subject and keywords? Ask me. You can find me in my office just outside the library computer classroom or at the reference desk, or contact me by phone (x3649) or email (bcanovan@dbq.edu) You can always leave a comment here too!
January 30th, 2009
Looking for books? Start with the library catalog: If you need help finding a book on the shelf, come find a librarian!
Library search engines (databases) are a great place to find scholarly journal articles or other sources for your paper. Each search engine has a different flavor/subject area it covers.
- Academic Search: This is like the Google of library databases. It covers a wide range of topics and has something for just about everyone.
- SocINDEX: If your topic is straight sociology, try this one.
- PsycINFO: If the topic focusing on psychology, look here too. Many sociology topics also have a psych component.
- JSTOR: Like Academic Search Premier, this database has a lot of articles on different topics, but what it does really well is historical stuff, especially historical sociology topics.
- ERIC: If you’re looking for education topics, or articles about students and the learning process, try ERIC. It’s all about education.
Things to keep in mind when searching the library search engines. They’re not forgiving of spelling errors like Google, so type carefully. Some topics will cross subject areas, don’t just look in one place. If the full text isn’t right there, click the Find It button. If we don’t have the article, you can request it through ILL.
Don’t forget to properly cite your sources. Check out the APA guide for examples of how to do in-text citations and your works cited. Need different examples? Check out Diana Hacker’s website. What’s an annotated bibliography? Check out this template to help you.
Need help finding resources? Don’t know how to use one of these links? Ask me. You can find me in my office just outside the library computer classroom or at the reference desk, or contact me by phone (x3649) or email (bcanovan@dbq.edu) You can always leave a comment here too!
January 22nd, 2009
Looking for help finding those Court cases for class? Check out this video to help you get started. All you’ll need is a case name.
Have any cases where the name isn’t in the Person vs. Person format? LexisNexis isn’t great at finding those without a little help. Try locating the citation number and using that to search. Not sure how to do that? Watch this. I’d suggest using Google or Wikipedia to find the citation number.
If you need a backup source, Oyez is a great source. Searching is pretty simple. Once you find the case, you’ll want to click on written opinion to get to the case.
Have questions? Ask me. You can find me in my office just outside the library computer classroom or at the reference desk, or contact me by phone (x3649), email (bcanovan@dbq.edu), or Facebook. You can always leave a comment here too!
January 1st, 2009
Here are a few resources that may be helpful as you work on your paper:
Looking for books? Try searching the library catalog.
Looking for articles? Try using these library resources. Here are the subject-specific library databases (search engines) that might be useful to your theorist/theory:
Things to keep in mind when searching the library search engines. They’re not forgiving of spelling errors like Google, so type carefully. Some topics will cross subject areas, don’t just look in one place (psychology and sociology tend to work together). If the full text isn’t right there, click the Find It button. If we don’t have the article, you can request it through ILL.
Citation help
APA citation guide: A PDF quick guide to APA style for your bibliography and paper. The guide can help you tweak those MLA citations from the library catalog.
SourceAid: Didn’t remember to send yourself the citations already formatted? Use SourceAid to help you format in APA. But remember, it’s not as smart as you are, so check the final product to make sure it’s correct.
Diana Hacker: Don’t trust technology to do it right? Check out Diana Hacker’s site for examples of how your citations should look.
Need help finding sources? Or don’t remember how to use the library catalog or databases? Ask me. You can find me in my office just outside the library computer classroom or at the reference desk, or contact me by phone (x3649) or email (bcanovan@dbq.edu) You can always leave a comment here too!
October 23rd, 2008
Students in Intro to Sociology brainstormed for keywords about college students and drinking. We put the results into wordle.net to create a word cloud and see what they came up with. The larger the word the more frequently it came up.
