Research

 Research can feel very overwhelming.  A great place to begin is in your school’s media center.  Talking to the media specialist can help you formalize your ideas and give you a starting point.  

A first step

A first step in research should be to determine where you are going to look for information.  One of the first questions to ask yourself is,”Should I look on the internet or should I look in print sources (books)? “ There are a few things to consider before answering this question.

Print Resources

Print resources are generally books you can find in your library.  Print resources have been very well researched.  Academic research relies on the use of accurate and well documented information.  Academic research is written by subject area professionals and reviewed by an editor.  If it is found in a library, it has also been reviewed and selected by the librarian or media specialist. 

Start your research by searching the book collection at GIHS.  Don’t forget to look in encyclopedias.  Encyclopedias contain an overview of information and are a great place to begin. 

Print resources do have limitations.  The first is timeliness.  If you need very current, up to date information print resources probably aren’t the best choice.  Another limitation to adding reference books to library collections is cost.  Reference books are costly, especially to a small library like the GIHS library.  Therefore, there may not be any print resources in the GIHS library on very narrow topics.

Online Databases

Even though online databases are found on the internet, they are generally thought of as print resources.  The reason for this is the information generally started out in print form and then was put in the database that is offered online to create easy access for all.

You can find books, encyclopedias, journal articles and magazine articles on databases.  The information contained in these databases has been as well researched as a print resource.

How do you find online databases?  Check out the link to MEL, the Michigan Electronic Library, on the GIHS media center website.  Are you still confused?  Ask your media specialist!

World Wide Web

When you search the web, remember to evaluate the material you find very carefully.  No one on the web evaluates the information before it’s posted.  The information you find that you think may be great to use in your research paper, may be written by a college professor or it may be written by a fourth grader. 

The information you find may also be biased.  Bias means the author is only presenting one side of an issue.  Check to see if the website is sponsored by a company selling a product or affiliated with a lobbying group.

A good way to check to see if the website you are looking at is reliable is to check if the data or facts presented are cited.  Did the author tell you where he or she got the information?   Are the sources the author is citing reliable? (credible?)

Plagiarism

The GIHS handbook defines cheating and or plagiarism as copying homework, giving answers to or taking answers from another person, telling someone what questions or answers are on a test or quiz, or using a cheat sheet, electronic translators or electronic device to reproduce answers. These methods of securing information  are all considered cheating.  The appropriation or imitation of the language, ideas, and thoughts of another author, and representation of them as one’s own original work is plagiarism.

Consequence- Students who cheat or submit plagiarized work will receive a zero or “E” for assignment; may face suspension or loss of credit.

How can you avoid plagiarism?

• Take clear and accurate notes. 
• Paraphrase, or take the notes in your own words. 
• Record the page number where you obtained the information.
• Take care to write down the citation information as you go (see citation page).

**Remember, your teachers are subject area experts and knowledgeable about current and past research.