Search strategy is a library term for the process of finding information in a logical, step-by-step manner that will help you find the information you need as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Research Steps:
- Choose your topic
- Find background information
- Find books on your topic
- Find periodical articles
- Find relevant Web sites
- Cite your sources
For additional help with the research process, see the online research tutorial, Library Research, a
Hypertext Guide.
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 USING ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND DICTIONARIES
Look up your keywords in the indexes of subject encyclopedias. Reading articles in these encyclopedias sets the context for your research topic and gives you the background information you need to contiue your work. Note any relevant items in the bibliographies at the end of the encyclopedia articles. Skimming subject encyclopedias is also an excellent way to choose a topic on a given subject.
Olin and Uris Libraries have an extensive array of subject encyclopedias on every topic in the humanities and social sciences. Ask the staff at the reference desk to suggest specific titles for you.
Examples of encyclopedias and dictionaries on human sexuality
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Find books by searching the Cornell Library Catalog. Besides books, the catalog lists journals by title, videotapes, audiotapes, CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs, manuscripts, microfilm, microfiche, microprint, and networked resources--in short, anything the Library owns or subscribes to.
Search by author, title, subject heading, call number, or journal title. Or search by keyword--any combination of words in the author, title, subject, contents, and notes fields. In Command Keyword searching, you can combine words using the Boolean operators AND, OR, or NOT; find phrases by putting quotes around the phrase; and truncate words using the question mark.
This Web-based catalog also allows you to recall or put a hold on items that are currently checked out by other library users. Clicking on the Requests button allows you to see what you have checked out; you can also renew your books from this page.
For more online help using the catalog, click on the Help button on the catalog home page.
Things to remember about the Cornell Library Catalog:
- Some items published before 1973 will not be listed in the catalog. Check the card catalog in Olin Library if you don't find a pre-1973 item.
- The online catalog lists the holdings of all seventeen Cornell libraries on campus.
- You cannot find journal articles in the catalog. Only the titles of journals, magazines, and newspapers are listed along with the years and volumes that we own. See below for information about finding periodical articles.
Evaluating Books: Critical Questions to Ask
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FINDING AND EVALUATING PERIODICAL ARTICLES
Periodical indexes identify articles published in journals, magazines, and newspapers. You can find online indexes in the Networked Resources section of the Library Gateway.
More detailed information about finding articles in magazines, newspapers, and journals.
Some useful periodical indexes to start with:
- LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe. Dayton: Mead Data Central.
(Library Gateway - - Networked Resources)
The searchable full text of a number of large- and medium-size newspapers; transcripts of broadcast news shows, interviews, and press conferences; wire services; and legal materials. Updated daily, this is an excellent for tracking current topics and events.
- Periodical Abstracts. ProQuest Direct Web: 1986- .
(Library Gateway - - Networked Resources)
Available as part of the ProQuest Direct system, Periodical Abstracts indexes and abstracts over 1500 periodicals, covering general interest magazines, some newspapers, and scholarly journals in the social sciences, humanities and sciences. A signficant number of articles are available full-text as well.
Evaluating Periodical Articles: Scholarly or Popular?
Evaluating Periodical Articles: Critical Questions to Ask
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WEB SEARCHING AND EVALUATION
Evaluating Web Documents: A Chart
Evaluating Web Documents: A Guide
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CITING SOURCES
Give credit where credit is due. Cite your sources using one of the styles listed below or another style approved by your instructor. Handouts summarizing the APA and MLA styles are available at Uris and Olin Reference.
Networked guides:
Printed guides:
- Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 4th ed.
New York: MLA, 1995.
(Uris Ref Z 253 .M68 1995; also Olin)
This handbook is based on the MLA Style Manualand is intended as an aid for college students writing research papers. Included here is information on selecting a topic, researching the topic, note taking, the writing of footnotes and bibliographies, as well as sample pages of a research paper. Useful for the beginning researcher.
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 4th ed.
Washington: APA, 1994.
(Uris Ref BF 76.7 A51 1994+, also Olin Ref Z 253 .A51 1994+)
The authoritative style manual for psychology and useful for the social sciences generally. Its chapters discuss the content and organization of a manuscript, writing style, the American Psychological Association citation style, and typing, mailing and proofreading.
- Walker, Janice R., and Todd W. Taylor. The Columbia Guide to Online Style. New York: Columbia UP, 1998.
(Uris Ref PN 171 .F56 W35x 1998; also Olin Ready Reference, Law, Management, Mann and Vet Ref. A brief online version is available.)
A new guide to citing networked resources that uses examples similar to both the APA and MLA styles.
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RESEARCH HELP IN PERSON
RESEARCH HELP ONLINE
WRITING HELP
Writing and Grammar:
Online Dictionaries for Definitions and Spelling:
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