BA 324 - Library Research
Background Info |Web| Books | Articles
What kind of information do you need?
Broad Subject Overview
If you usually begin your research with Google, think about the type of site you need (.edu, .org, .gov) and use advanced searching to limit to that domain.
Access Google Scholar from the library web page: www.lib.u
texas.edu for better results.
Wikipedia, is a good place to get ideas, but follow the sources.
Authority: |
Who wrote this?
Do they have credentials or a reputation in the field?
Should I be using them as a source of information? |
Content: |
Is the information relevant?
Is this information current enough?
Is the information accurate?
Is there documentation or evidence? |
Purpose: |
Why was this page made?
Is there a bias or an agenda?
Who is the audience? |
Approach your subject broadly by executing some preliminary searches in the Library Catalog and The Gale Virtual Reference Library. Interesting subtopics may become apparent. Choosing a subtopic, or narrowing your search becomes easier when you look at the whole picture.
The
Library Catalog is a first stop if finding books is your quest. Unless you know the author or title of a book, keyword might be the best method of accessing this kind of information.
The UT Libraries subscribe to nearly 100,000 ebooks and over a thousand audio books.
To find an electronic book on a topic, select Advanced Keyword to do a search -- then limit by Material Type: Keyword search for "cover letters" and then limit to Material Type " EBooks."
Current Information
Articles from journals, magazines and newspapers offer the best choice for accessing current information.
Databases may be subject specific or multidisciplinary.
Choosing the most appropriate database is critical for success. If the information that you seek is business oriented, then the business databases are where you need to start.
Scholarly/Peer Reviewed Articles
The best database for locating scholarly research and journal articles in business is Business Source Complete.
Over 1,200 of their 12,000 full text titles are peer-reviewed, scholarly business journals.
Trade Journals/Magazines
Business Source Complete,
Business & Company Resource Center,
Factiva and
LexisNexis Academic each provide access to the top industry trade publications.
News Articles/News Wire Reports
Factiva,
LexisNexis Academic, and the
Library Web site link to news and newspapers provide current as well as past news articles.
Academic Search Complete , and
Academic OneFile are all excellent multidisciplinary databases which index some scholarly and many popular press publications.
Company/Industry Research
Resource Guides for Company/Industry Information or
Mergent Online, Hoovers, Factiva and Business & Company Resource Center can provide almost anything that you ever wanted to know about a company or industry. Industry associations and government web sites, like the Census Bureau, can provide valuable statistical data about specific industries.
Consumer or Organizational Behavior
Although Business Source Complete will have some articles in these areas, other Social Sciences Databases can provide information on learning, personal and group management, human and organizational behavior, cooperation and competition that might be overlooked in business databases.
Technology
Technology information at the layman's level may be located through
Academic Search Complete. A more scholarly look at technology, including e-commerce, telephony, imbedded systems, etc. can be found in
Engineering Index and INSPEC. Market research on these topics is more difficult to find. The Gartner database contains information about technology industries.
Market Research
Mintel provides consumer product and lifestyle market research. Business Source Complete and Gartner also provide market research information.
Multidisciplinary Research
Try
Academic OneFile or
Academic Search Complete both of which are excellent multidisciplinary databases.
When is your project due? The end of the semester, mid-semester, next week, tomorrow?
Allow plenty of time for the possibility of recalling books or obtaining articles from Interlibrary Services.
Allow at least two weeks for the arrival of
interlibrary service books. If specified, "rush" articles may arrive within 2 days, but always allow at least one week. Articles ordered through ILS may arrive as early as the following day.
How large or comprehensive is your project?
Most of your research and information retrieval can occur at your desktop. However, remember that the library has group study rooms available if your project team needs to meet and research together. Check here for PCL study room and collaborative area locations.
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Citing Electronic Resources & link to NoodleBib
Credit must be given for outside information used in your project.
This site accesses several "electronic style manuals" which provide guidance in citation and bibliographic methodology. |
