Research Guide for STS 1123: Do Cyborgs Have Ethics?

Social and Ethical Issues in Science Fiction

http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/sts1123.html

 Developing a Research Strategy
 Finding Background Information
 Finding Books
 Finding Periodical Articles
 Evaluating Sources
 Citing Sources
 Research and Reference Help

 

   

DEVELOPING A RESEARCH STRATEGY

Search strategy is the process of finding information in a logical, step-by-step manner. Using a search strategy insures that you will find the information and materials you need as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Research Steps

  1. Choose your topic
  2. Find background information
  3. Find books on your topic
  4. Find periodical articles
  5. Find networked resources or relevant Web sites
  6. Evaluate your sources
  7. Cite your sources

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FINDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Guides and Handbooks

The materials listed below are a selection of reference resources for finding background information or supplying context for topics you will be covering in this class. Note the call numbers and library locations for these materials and check the reference collections for additional sources of background information.

The authors of articles in reference books often provide bibliographies of selected books and articles for further study.

Selected Sources

AccessScience @ McGraw-Hill: the Online Encyclopedia of Science & technology
20 Vols. 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002
(Mann Ref   Q121 .M14x 2002)
Also 8th ed. (Engr Ref, Mann Ref   Q121 .M14x 1997)
and 7th ed. (Olin Ref, Phys. Sci. Ref   Q121 .M14x 1992)

Online version offers full access to 7100+ articles, 115,000 dictionary terms, and hundreds of Research Updates in all areas of science and technology updated daily. Also includes over 2000 biographies of leading scientists, weekly updates of breakthroughs and discoveries in science and technology, a science dictionary, and links to related web sites.
Print version presents pertinent information in every area of modern science and technology. Each article is signed and is followed by a bibliography. There is a section "Scientific notation in the encyclopedia" which clarifies usage of symbols, abbreviations and scientific terms.

Brave New Words: the Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction
Prucher, Jeffery, ed.
Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
(Olin Ref PN3433.4 .P78 2006)

"The first historical dictionary devoted to science fiction, this book shows exactly how science-fictional words and their associated concepts have developed over time, with full citations and bibliographic information. It's a window on a whole genre of literature through the words invented and passed along by the genre's most talented writers. In addition, it shows how many words we consider everyday vocabulary-words like "spacesuit," "blast off," and "robot"-had their roots in imaginative literature, and not in hard science.Citations are included for each definition, starting with the earliest usage that can be found. These citations are drawn not only from science fiction books and magazines, but also from mainstream publications, fanzines, screenplays, newspapers, comics, film, songs, and the Internet. Brave New Words covers the shared language of science fiction, as well as the vocabulary of science fiction criticism and its fans--those terms that are used by many authors in multiple settings." (Publisher)

The Concise Encyclopedia of the Ethics of New Technologies
Chadwick, Ruth, ed.
San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 2001.
(Olin Ref  TP248.23 .C664x 2001+)

This title includes 23 articles previously published in the highly-acclaimed Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics, nine updated articles, and five new articles, commissioned especially for this volume. Over half of the previously published articles include updated facts and bibliographic citations.

Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics
Chadwick, Ruth, ed.
4 Vols. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1998.
(Olin Ref  BJ63 .E44x 1998+)

A multi-disciplinary guide to the application of ethical principles in a wide variety of areas, including medicine, science, the environment, law, education, politics, business, media, social services and society. Among the many specific issues addressed are animal research, infertility, biodiversity, vegetariansim, capital punishment, jury conduct, political correctness, gun control, broadcast journalism, disability rights, racism, and transsecualism. Signed entries are generally lengthy, and provide issue-specific gloassaries as well as secondary references. A number of entries also define ethical theories and concepts.

Encyclopedia of Bioethics
Post, Stephen G., ed.
5 Vols. 3rd ed. New York: Macmillian Reference USA/Thomson Gale, 2004.
(Olin Ref QH332. E56 2004+)

Complete revision of the Darthmouth Medal - winning set first published in 1995. Covering a wealth of topics on the ethics of health professions, animal research, population control and the environment, the set helps researchers to consider the impact of new scientific knowledge and its potential to harm or benefit present and future generations.

Encyclopedia of Ethical, Legal, and Policy Issues in Biotechnology
Thomas H. Murray, Maxwell J. Mehlman, eds.
2 Vols New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000.
(Olin Ref TP248.16 .M87x 2000)

This title is a comprehensive reference work on the ethical, legal, and policy issues involved in biotechnology. The editorial team of Thomas Murray and Maxwell Mehlman, bring together leading experts from a variety of fields to describe the issues, analyze their implications, and present public policy options.

Encyclopedia of Ethics
Becker Lawrence C. and Charlotte B. Becker, eds.
3 Vols 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2001.
(Olin Ref BJ63 .E45x 2001+)

The Encyclopedia of Ethics provides general, cross disciplinary scope, very theory based. Articles are signed with a list of references.

Literature Resource Center

A complete literature database combing biographical, bibliographical, and contextual information on authors and their works (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, history, and journalism). Draws from Gale Group's core literary database including Contemporary authors, Dictionary of literary biography, and Contemporary literary criticism. Provides additional search capability for Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of literature and Gale literary index.

Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy
Blackburn, Simon.
2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
(Olin Ref B41 B53 2005)

Also available through the Library Catalog

This dictionary is meant to be a "resource for anyone interested in general intellectual movements." (Preface). It contains definitinos to over 3000 philosophical terms as those from related disciplines (theology,physics, psychology, sociology) "where such terminology is heavily embedded in the philosophical discussion." (Preface). It also includes historical philosophers and scientists whose work brought about major changes in philosophical thought. The definitions contain extensive cross-references.

Oxford Reference Online
Soanes, Catherine and Angus Stevenson, eds.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002-.

Searchable database of 100 language and subject dictionaries and reference works of Oxford University Press. Each topical division contains searchable versions of the latest editions of published dictionaries and encyclopedias. Includes English and bilingual dictionaries, dictionaries of quotations, etymology and euphemisms, and the World Encyclopedia. Covers general reference, language, science and medicine, humanities and social sciences, business and professional subjects.

 Reference Guide to Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
Burgess, Michael and Lisa Bartle, eds.
Westport Conn.: Libriaries Unlimited, 2002.
(Olin Ref Z5917. S36 B87 2003)  

"This revision of Burgess's critically acclaimed guide to reference works in the fascinating genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror thoroughly maps the territory of reference works, covering all major (and some minor) information sources published in the field starting in the 1950s and well into 2001. Annotations are lengthy, detailed, and evaluative, often comparing works to other similar titles. Fan publications, serials, periodicals with reference value and nongenre materials of interest to science fiction researchers are reviewed in addition to such standard tools as bibliographies, encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, and indexes." (Publisher)Routledge Encyclopdia of Philosophy
Craig, Edward, ed.
10 Vols. London; New York: Routledge, 1998.
(Olin Ref B51 R68 1998 and the Olin Library Electronic Text Center)

Available online through the Library Catalog

The Routledge Encyclopedia provides an excellent update to the older Encyclopedia of Philosophy. The Routledge Encyclopedia's coverage of ethics is noticeably better, making this a first choice for ethicists. Articles are followed by brief bibliographies. An excellent resource. The Online version of the 10-volume Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy can be browsed by philosophical themes, philosophies, historical periods, and religions. Full text entries can be searched by keyword, title, contributor, or bibliography.

Science, Technology and Society: An Encyclopedia
Restivo, Sal, ed.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
(Olin Ref   HM846 .S43 2005 +), see Table of Contents.

"Contains over 130 A to Z signed articles written by major scholars and experts from academic and scientific institutions and institutes worldwide. It emphasizes an interdisciplinary and international coverage of the functions and effects of science and technology in society and culture. Each article is accompanied by a selected bibliography." (Publisher)

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FINDING BOOKS

Connect to the Cornell Library Catalog

Help Using the Cornell Library Catalog

Understanding Library of Congress Call Numbers

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FINDING PERIODICAL ARTICLES

Periodical Indexes and Abstracts

Periodical indexes and abstracts identify and locate articles in magazines, journals and newspapers. Periodical indexes provide the authors, titles, and sometimes abstracts, of relevant articles, along with the name of the periodical, volume, pages and date. Some online periodical indexes also provide the full-text of the article. When full-text articles are not provided, use the Cornell Library Catalog to determine which library owns the periodicals you need.

Selected Periodical Indexes

Academic Search Premier

EBSCO Academic Search Premier provides full text for nearly 4,650 academic multi-disciplinary serials, including full text for more than 3,600 peer-reviewed titles. PDF backfiles to 1975 or further are available for well over one hundred journals, and searchable cited references are provided for more than 1,000 titles. This database is updated on a daily basis.

Literature Resource Center

A complete literature database combing biographical, bibliographical, and contextual information on authors and their works (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, history, and journalism). Draws from Gale Group's core literary database including Contemporary authors, Dictionary of literary biography, and Contemporary literary criticism. Provides additional search capability for Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of literature and Gale literary index.

MLA

The premier scholarly bibliography covering languages, literatures, folklore, film and linguistics from all over the world. Online coverage back to 1926.

Philosopher's Index

Provides indexing and abstracts from books and many journals on philosophy and related interdisciplinary fields published in the U.S. and the Western World. Coverage is from 1940 to the present for U.S. materials, and 1967 to the present for non-U.S. references.

ProQuest Research Library

Research Library, formerly known as Periodical Abstracts, is a comprehensive database available through the ProQuest online system. It indexes and abstracts general interest magazines and scholarly journals in the social sciences, humanities and sciences. Full text of many articles is provided.

ScienceDirect

Online service for scientific research that contains the full text of Elsevier Science journals in the life, physical, medical, technical, and social sciences. Also includes Academic IDEAL titles as of 2003.

Sociological Abstracts

Abstracts and indexes the international literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. Provides citations from 1963 to the present, and abstracts since 1974, to journal articles, conference papers, books, and dissertations. Subjects covered include community development, culture and social structure, demography and human biology, environmental interactions, family and social welfare, health and medicine and law, religion and science, social psychology and group interactions, welfare services, and women's studies.

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EVALUATING SOURCES

Evaluating the sources you find is a crucial step in the process of library research. The questions you ask about books, periodical articles, or multimedia sources are similar whether you're looking at a citation to the item or have the item in hand.

Critically Analyzing Information Sources lists some of the critical questions you should ask when you consider the appropriateness of a particular book, article, media resource, or Web site for your research.

Distinguishing Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals shows how to evaluate periodicals by looking at their format, intended audience, and appearance.

Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Sites offers a table of suggestions.

For additional suggestions specific to Web sites, see Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools.

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography.

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CITING SOURCES

APA Citation Style
(American Psychological Association)

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.)

Africana, Hotel, Management, Olin, and Uris Libraries
BF 76.7 .P83x 2001x
(located at the Reference Desks)

Also in ILR and Mann Reference at
BF 76.7 .A51 2001

APA Citation Style (CUL Gateway Help pages)

APA Reference Examples for Electronic Source Materials (Excerpted from the 5th edition of the Publication Manual)

APAStyle.org (APA's web site)

MLA Citation Style
(Modern Language Association)

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
(6th ed.)

Olin and Uris Libraries Z253 .M68 2003
(located at the Reference Desks)

MLA Citation Style (CUL Gateway Help pages)

MLA Style (MLA's web site)

 

RefWorks is a web-based program that allows you to easily collect, manage, and organize bibliographic references by interfacing with databases. RefWorks also interfaces directly with Word, making it easy to import references and incorporate them into your writing, properly formatted according to the style of your choice. RefWorks workshops are offered at Uris Library, Mann Library.

EndNote allows you to build your own database of bibliographic references from a variety of resources, including library catalogs and periodical indexes. EndNote interfaces with several standard word processing programs and provides direct connections to resources, making it easy to import references and incorporate them in your writing. EndNote (or RefWorks) is highly recommended for researchers. EndNote workshops are regularly held on campus at Uris Library, Mann Library.

Cornell University Code of Academic Integrity

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RESEARCH AND REFERENCE HELP

  (Online chat/I.M. provided by Cornell staff 10am - 5pm Mon - Fri)

Olin Reference e-mail address: okuref@cornell.edu

Reference Desk Schedules in Olin Library

Olin Library Reference phone number: 255-4144

OKU Research Consultations

OKU Workshop Schedule

Writing Walk-in Service (Knight Institute) -- available in Olin Library

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        Evaluate your learning in this class        

14 September 2009 (rk)
Tony Cosgrave, ajc5@cornell.edu
Reference Librarian
Cornell University Library
URL: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/sts1123.html
Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853
Information and reference: 607-255-4144, okuref@cornell.edu
Circulation: (Olin) 607-255-4245, (Uris) 607-255-3537, okucirc@cornell.edu