A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations, Ninth edition - Kate L. Turabian 2018
Search for sources systematically
Finding useful sources
Research and writing
Knowing where to begin your search for sources can be overwhelming at first. It is tempting to simply enter terms into a familiar search engine (e.g., Google) and see what comes up. We do this too, but we also know that there are more systematic and productive ways for discovering useful, credible sources. Make the library the focus of your search strategies even as you draw on the expertise of others inside or outside the academic community and use the resources of the internet.
3.2.1 Ask a Librarian
The best advice we can offer is to draw on the research expertise of librarians. Both general reference librarians and (in larger libraries) subject area specialists can help you refine your search parameters and direct you to the right tools for your specific research question. They can help you use the catalog to locate materials held by your library or by other libraries (and obtainable through interlibrary loan). These same librarians typically design research guides that identify reference works and online databases for specific fields. If you’re a new researcher, seize every opportunity to learn online search techniques in your field.
And don’t be shy. Librarians love to assist researchers of all levels and at all stages of the research process. They can help you formulate your research question and plan, develop search terms, and inventory your results to ensure you haven’t overlooked something of value. The only embarrassing question is the one you failed to ask. If you already have a research question, share it: I’m looking for data on X because I want to find out . . . If you have a working hypothesis and reasons, share them too: I’m looking for data to show Y [your reason] because I want to claim Z [your hypothesis]. Rehearse your questions to avoid wasting your time and theirs.
3.2.2 Consult Reference Works
Researchers in all fields share common values and habits of thought, but every field has its own ways of doing things. To learn about the ways of your field, browse the shelves in your library’s reference room that hold guides to your field’s particular research methods, databases, and special resources (in the bibliography, see items in category 3 in your field). At least familiarize yourself with the following resources (in the bibliography, see category 4 for lists of sources in your field; many are also online):
✵ ▪ a bibliography of works published each year in your field, such as Philosopher’s Index or Education Index
✵ ▪ summary bibliographies of works on a specific topic collected over several years (Bibliographic Index is a bibliography of bibliographies)
✵ ▪ annual literature reviews; look for a title in your field beginning with Reviews in . . .
✵ ▪ specialized reference works such as the Encyclopedia of Philosophy or the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, where you may find an overview of your topic and often a list of standard primary and secondary sources (in the bibliography, see items in categories 1 and 2 in your field).
3.2.3 Explore Online Databases
What sets libraries apart from the internet are subscriptions to indexes and databases. After books, these are arguably a library’s most valuable assets, since they give researchers access to materials they could not obtain otherwise. Each library’s subscriptions will differ, with major research libraries offering the most comprehensive access to specialized indexes and databases. However, academic libraries and many public libraries offer powerful online tools that greatly extend their actual collections. You will certainly want to make use of these general and specialized resources in your research. At least become familiar with the major databases to which your library subscribes, such as Academic Search Premier, MLA International Bibliography, or PubMed. Many academic databases either provide abstracts or direct you to articles that include abstracts. Looking at these can help you decide if an article itself is worth reading carefully. Some databases allow you to access full-text articles or books. But beware: if your library does not subscribe to a particular journal included in a database, you might be asked to pay a fee to access a full-text article. Before doing so, always speak with a librarian about other means of access.
3.2.4 Search Your Library Catalog
In your research, you will likely use your library’s catalog in two ways: keyword searching and browsing. When you have examined some sources to identify a list of keywords related to your topic, you are ready to use these terms to search the catalog. In most libraries you must choose the category (books, articles, journals, etc.) you wish to use for your search.
If your sources include books, you can use the Library of Congress subject headings, found either on the back of their title page or on their “details” page in the online catalog, to search for related materials. For example, the online entry for this book includes these two topics:
✵ 1. Dissertations, Academic. 2. Academic writing.
If you search an online catalog, you will find all the books on that subject in that library. A book may be cross-listed under multiple subject headings. In that case, look at titles listed under those headings as well. You can also browse the catalog for books with similar call numbers.
Also search your online catalog using keywords from your question or working hypothesis—Alamo, Texas independence, James Bowie. If you find too many titles, start with those published in the last ten or fifteen years by well-known university presses. For a wider selection, search WorldCat if your library subscribes. Otherwise, search the Library of Congress catalog at https://www.loc.gov. It has links to large university catalogs. Start early if you expect to get books on interlibrary loan.
If most sources on your topic are articles, locate a recent one in your library’s online databases. Its database entry will include a list of keywords. Search for them to find more articles on your topic. In most cases you can just click on them. Use the keywords to search the library catalog as well. Some databases also provide abstracts of journal articles that you can skim for search terms.
3.2.5 Search Guides to Periodical Literature
If you’ve done research before, you’re probably familiar with annual guides such as Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, which cites sources such as magazines and newspapers. Most specialized fields also have yearly guides to secondary sources, such as Art Abstracts, Historical Abstracts, and Abstracts in Anthropology (in the bibliography, see items in category 4 in your field). Most are available online or in other digital forms.
All those resources will direct you to more sources, but none of them can substitute for the kind of in-library search that turns up an unexpectedly useful source.
3.2.6 Prowl the Stacks
Doing research online is faster than on foot, but if you never go into the stacks of your library (assuming you have access), you may miss crucial sources that you’d find only there. More important, you’ll miss the benefits of serendipity—a chance encounter with a source that you find only in person. If you can get to the stacks, find the shelf with books on your topic, then scan the titles on that shelf and the ones above, below, and on either side, especially for books with new bindings published by university presses. Then turn around and skim titles behind you; you never know. When you spot a promising title, skim its table of contents, then its index for keywords related to your question or its answer. Then skim its bibliography for titles that look relevant to your project. You can do all that faster with books on a shelf than you can online.
If the book looks promising, skim its preface or introduction. If it still looks promising, set it aside for a closer look. Even if it doesn’t seem relevant, record its Library of Congress call number and bibliographic data (author, title, publisher, date of publication and so on; see part 2 of this manual for the details), and in a few words summarize what the book seems to be about. A month later, you might realize that it’s more useful than you thought.
You can check tables of contents for many journals online, but browsing in the journals area of a library can be more productive. Find the journals that have promising articles. Skim tables of contents for the prior ten years. Most volumes include a yearly summary table of contents. Then take a quick look at the journals shelved nearby. Skim their most recent tables of contents. You will be surprised at how often you find a relevant article that you would have missed had you done your work entirely online.
If you are new to a field, you can get a rough impression of the academic quality of a journal by its look. If it’s on glossy paper with lots of illustrations, even advertisements, it might be more journalistic than scholarly. Those are not infallible signs of unreliable scholarship, but they are worth considering.
3.2.7 Follow Bibliographic Trails
Most sources will give you trailheads for bibliographic searches. When you find a book or article that seems useful, skim its bibliography or works cited. Its index will list the authors cited most often. Journal articles usually begin with a review of previous research, all cited. Finally, look for recent PhD dissertations even marginally related to your topic. Almost every dissertation reviews research in its first of second chapter. By following these bibliographic trails, you can navigate the most difficult research territory, because one source leads to another, and another . . .
3.2.8 Search the Internet
Your practical experience using the internet for everyday research might lead you to believe that it is comprehensive and reliable, but that would be a mistake. Your library’s catalog and databases provide access to information that you cannot get through a search engine. When doing research online, maintain a healthy skepticism: most of what we retrieve using Google or some other search engine is perfectly reliable, but not everything is. In contrast to your library’s catalog and databases, the internet is essentially unmonitored. There is no one to vouch for the credibility of materials posted to countless websites. And finally, keep in mind that companies offering free search engines make their money by acquiring data about you through online behavior and by selling advertising, and that webmasters routinely modify their sites to make them appear higher in search results.
But if you keep these limitations in mind, the internet can be an enormously valuable resource. In particular, you can do useful preliminary work with a scholarly search engine such as Google Scholar or with a tertiary source such as Wikipedia (which you should never cite as a reference). Of course, the internet can also be a primary source if you are researching the internet itself, including social media.
3.2.9 Look for Someone Who Knows Something about Your Topic
You might also ask around or search online to find someone who knows something about your topic and standard reference works on it: advanced students, faculty, even people outside the academic community. You won’t always find someone, but you might get lucky.