Module 1.
How to Solve an Information Problem
1. Define Problem
2. Strategize
3. Seek & Evaluate
4. Use & Evaluate
5. Synthesize
Where to Start Research

Contents:
Introduction
Module 2: Search Techniques
Module 3: SD Library Network
Module 4: Proquest
Module 5: Infotrac
Module 6: Lexis-Nexis
Module 7: OCLC Firstsearch
Module 8: 
Module 9: 
Module 10: 
Module 11: Internet Searching
Module 12: Evaluating Internet sources
Module 13: Scholarly vs. Popular
Module 14: Citing sources
Module 15: How to Get Material Not Available Online

How to Solve an Information Problem... Where to Start Research

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Now, let's consider how you can put this process into action. To strategize (step 2), you'll need to know what search tools -- information services -- are useful for what purposes and how to use each of these information services.

Later modules will tell you how to use the various information services, but right now let's consider which information services will be most useful to you for your composition papers.

For ENGL 101:

• Start with the databases of Infotrac. Two of its databases, General Reference Center Gold and Expanded Academic, will provide articles (mainly from magazines and journals but also from some encyclopedias) on almost any topic. Many of the articles are full-text; that is, you will be able to read the full article online.
• Research Library in Proquest and the "News" category in Lexis-Nexis also provide full-text articles on a broad range of topics.
• Ask for help if you are not finding what you need -- by clicking on the "Ask a Librarian" button on the library home page and e-mailing your question.

For ENGL 201:

• Start by doing some preliminary searching in the Expanded Academic database in Infotrac. This should help you determine what words to use for searching and what some of the key issues are related to the topic you are researching.
• Then determine what specialized databases for your topic area are available to you in all the information services except Firstsearch. For example, for business topics, use Businessfile ASAP in Infotrac. For education topics, use the ERIC databases in the SD Library Network. For literary topics, use Project Muse or MLA Bibliography.

To figure out what each information service might do for you, you can to try them out -- either after you complete all modules or while you are working on the modules for the information services.

A list of databases arranged by subject is also available. In the yellow "Search Tools" section of the library home page, click on "databases by SUBJECT." 

• The databases you select should: cover the topic you are researching, cover the level of material wanted, cover the kind of material wanted, and cover the time period you are researching

1.  cover the topic you are researching

     a.  general indexes -- cover broad range of topics.  For example: Expanded Academic Index (in Infotrac); General Reference Center Gold (in Infotrac); Research Library (in Proquest);  News (in Lexis-Nexis)

      b.  specialized indexes -- cover a specific subject area (and, therefore, can include more articles/items about the specific subject area than a general index can) .  For example: Health Reference Center Academic (in Infotrac) ; BusinessFile ASAP (in Infotrac); ERIC Journals in Education (in SD Library Network); Proquest Computing and Proquest Education Periodicals; BasicBIOSIS (in OCLC Firstsearch)

2.  cover the level of material wanted   (popular? substantial news/general interest? technical/trade? scholarly?)  -- Most specialized subject indexes are intended for scholars/specialists so include technical/trade and scholarly material, but they may also index some items that are popular or general interest.

     a.  In Infotrac, General Reference Center Gold covers popular  articles; Expanded Academic covers more scholarly articles; the specialized databases  (BusinessFile ASAP & Health Reference Center) include a range of levels from general interest to scholarly articles

     b.  In SDLN, ERIC Journals in Education indexes primarily technical/trade and scholarly journals in education.  However, it also includes some titles from the popular end of the continuum such as Parenting magazine.

3.  cover the kind of material wanted    (magazine or journal articles? newspaper articles?     radio or TV transcripts?)

     a. For transcripts, go to Lexis-Nexis / News / Transcripts

     b.  For journal articles, use a periodical index.

     c.  For newspaper articles, use a periodical index (that includes newspapers) or a newspaper index

4.  cover the time period you are researching

• After you have searched the specialized databases appropriate to your topic in the information services above, check to see if Firstsearch -- with over 80 databases -- can provide you more information or fill in any gaps.
• Ask for help if you are not finding what you need -- by clicking on the "Ask a Librarian" button on the library home page and e-mailing your question.

Before you can do any of the above, you need to know how to use the online information services. So continue.....

END OF MODULE 1. 
Continue to next page to begin MODULE 2.

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