SSCI 310 - Bauman
Getting Started With Your Research
- Look over your assignment. Highlight the main point and key words you need for your search strategy.
- Gather basic information about your topic. Reference materials (print and electronic) and books in the general collections (also print and electronic) will help you get started.
- Form your thesis statement: what are you trying to research or describe?
- Break your thesis statement into concepts - what two or three words describe the major points of your project?
- Think about alternate forms and synonyms of the words used.
- Develop "concept blocks"- each concept block made of similar words that describe a topic.
- Search the databases using keywords from your concept blocks.
- Try this power point to give you some further direction: Getting Started With Research
Where to find material at FLITE:
Books in Electronic and Print Format
Books are the best way to gather background, gain a general understanding of your topic, and then explore subjects in-depth.
To find books in FLITE, try either Subject or Keyword searches in the Library Catalog. Remember that circulating FLITE books (in print) will be mailed to you free of charge. Your only cost is the return postage via UPS. See our section on Document Delivery/InterLibrary Loan.
Requests can be made electronically through the InterLibrary Loan (ILL) Request form. You'll need to register as a First Time User when sending your first InterLibrary Loan request.
Electronic Reference Materials (Reference Books in digital format) can be reached at the Electronic Reference Resources link on the Databases page. Select the Sociology subject heading.
Electronic books (Ebooks) can be found by using the Catalog tab and selecting "Advanced Search: Catalog". Start with a Keyword Search. Use the Material Type drop down menu on the page to select "EBOOKS".
You may also search for them from a results page by selecting the "LIMIT THIS SEARCH" tab on the top of the page.
Limit the search again to EBOOKS.
Authoritative Internet resources may also be accessed through our Online Catalog. Search for them using either the Keyword search or the Limit button as described above and restrict your search to "ELECTRONIC" resources.
Once you reach the catalog record, click on either the Internet address provided or the words "Connect to online version" to reach the web site.
Using Electronic Books from FLITE - Ebrary (the largest number of titles in the eBooks collection at FLITE)
- Turn off your pop-up blocker.
- Allow automatic download of the plugin that will become the book "reader".
- Set up a user name and password so you can save searches and take notes.
- Skim the forward, introduction, and table of contents to gain general sense of topic.
- Save your search by either printing your material (printing limits apply), emailing the citation to yourself, or saving the citation to a bibliographic database like RefWorks or Citation Machine.
Using Electronic Books from FLITE - NetLibrary (a smaller collection of Ebooks at FLITE)
- Call the Oval Information Desk (231-591-3602) to set up a NetLibrary account if you wish to read a NetLibrary resource.
- Or, set up an account at your local public library.
Research Guide: Sociology
A Subject Reference Guide for Sociology is available to help you research.
Finding Journal Articles
Journal articles are used to give specific information about specific points in your paper. Use information from them to find the most current data and use examples from them to make your paper stronger and more relevant. To find journal articles on a particular topic, use one or more of the Databases available on the FLITE Web site. These databases cumulatively provide indexing to thousands of journal titles. Many databases provide full-text (content of the articles is found directly within the database), but some provide only citations (descriptions of where the article originally appeared in print) or abstracts (citations with a summary attached.)
General Databases
Academic OneFile
A very large full-text database with millions of articles covering a multitude of subjects, Academic OneFile indexes journals, magazines, and newspapers. A variety of Criminal Justice journals are included in Academic OneFile, in addition to other journals that touch on issues affecting your field. Use this database as you explore different topics and begin to narrow your focus. A general database like this one is also useful if you are unfamiliar with database searching, as you are apt to receive a broader selection of material as you begin to research. You can refine your searches by using more selective databases once you've focused your topic.
Wilson Select Plus
This completely full-text database includes articles from a wide range of subject fields including science, humanities, education and business. Coverage is from 1994 to the present. Again, use this general database as you begin work with your topic
Social Science Databases
PsycINFO and Psyc Articles
PsycINFO is the most comprehensive indexing source for psychology and associated fields; PsycArticles is a full-text add-on to PsycINFO. Over 41,000 articles are available from about 50 core journals, with full-text coverage, in many cases, extending back to 1985.
Combine databases by selecting: "specific databases"
Select: Criminal Justice Abstracts; Criminology: A SAGE Full-Text Collection; Education: A SAGE Full-Text Collection; PsycARTICLES; Psychology: A SAGE Full-Text Collection; PsycINFO; Sociology: A SAGE Full-Text Collection (this selection of databases covers those following with a *)
Social Work Abstracts
The Social Work Abstracts database is produced by the National Association of Social Workers and contains more than 45,000 journal records from social work and other related fields. Coverage is from 1977 to present.
Suggested search: ("age out" or "aging out") and (foster or "foster care")
This search searches the combinations: "age out" and foster; "age out" and "foster care"; "aging out" and foster; "aging out" and "foster care"
Social Science Abstracts
Indexing and abstracting is provided for journal articles, interviews, obituaries, book reviews, and biographies. Coverage is from 1983 to the present.
Education Databases
ERIC
ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) indexes and abstracts 780 journals (EJ Accession Number) and ERIC documents (ED Accession Number) covering education and related fields such as counseling, psychology, and social sciences from 1966-present.
*Education Full Text
Education (Sage Full-Text) is a collection of over 12,700 full-text articles in the education field, gathered from 33 journals. Backfiles go back as far as 41 years. Covers many sociology related topics.
Criminal Justice Databases
*Criminal Justices Abstracts/Criminology Full Text
With citations dating back to 1968, Criminal Justice Abstracts is prepared in cooperation with the Criminal
Justice Collection of Rutgers University Library. Criminology is a full-text add-on database.
Criminal Justice Periodicals Index
This database provides selective full-text coverage to journals in the fields of
law enforcement, corrections administration, social work, drug rehabilitation, criminal and family law,
industrial security, and other criminal justice fields. Citations extend back to 1981.
Off Campus Access
FLITE Distance Education Library Services
One of our missions at FLITE is to offer all off-campus students access to the high-quality research materials available through the library. FLITE's subscription databases are available to all current Ferris students, faculty, and staff, including off-campus students. Our Distance Education web site should help you with any questions you may have about reaching FLITE from wherever you are. Be sure to study it carefully and return to it often. If you experience problems logging on, please call (231) 591-2669 or (800) 4-FERRIS (ext. 2669).
Getting the Article
Once you've found citations relevant to the topic you're working with and you need to get a copy of the articles, you'll need to verify whether FLITE owns the particular journal in which each article was published. Many databases now have a link called "Find It", which gives you the range of options available to find the material. If the full text of the article is available, you will be able to find the article by clicking on the link.
Sometimes the Find It button will provide a link to the Online Catalog. This indicates that the journal is found in FLITE's print collection. If you are off-campus and can't come to FLITE, simply order the article through Interlibrary Loan.
Interlibrary Loan
If the only message you see is "Request document via Interlibrary Loan", you will need to order the article.
Interlibrary Loan is a service provided by FLITE to request articles and books that FLITE does not own. Most often this service is used when searching for articles in FLITE databases, and you are directed through the "Find It" button to request the item. The first time you use this service, you will need to register with ILLiad, our Inter-Library Loan service. Click on the words "First Time Users" to register. You will complete a form, creating a username and password which will be used for future requests. Article requests are emailed to you in 5-10 business days (ferris email preferred), and books will be mailed to you if you are an off-campus student. On-campus students may pick up books at the Checkout Desk. If you are off-campus, you may be able to request interlibrary loan material through your own public library using MeLCat.
To look up whether FLITE owns a particular journal, use the Journals tab or Find-Journals to search for the journal title. Remember to use the journal title not the article title for your search.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of presenting another's work or ideas as your own. Plagiarism is often unintentional, but it occurs whenever you use someone else's ideas or words without giving them credit. It can be obvious - purchasing a term paper or turning in a project done by someone else. It can be putting other's ideas into your own words. It can be cutting and pasting text from a web site. A simple rule: Do not copy text from Web pages or other sources without identifying and giving credit to the original author.
Here are some ways to avoid plagiarism, taken from PILOT, the FLITE Information Literacy Online Tutorial.
To avoid Plagiarism:
- Take clear, accurate notes about where you found specific ideas
- Write down the complete citation information for each item you use
- Use quotation marks when directly stating another person's words
- Always credit original authors for their information and ideas
For more information about Plagiarism, please explore the Plagiarism web page provided by the Ferris State University Writing Center.
Citing Sources
Whenever you are quoting or using information from a source, you must credit or cite that source. Failure to do so is plagiarism which can lead to expulsion from the University.
To learn more about citations, check out this FLITE Citations page.
Print out the FLITE APA Citation Guide and use it to properly format your citations.
Contact: Kristen Motz / Email / Phone: 231-591-3625 / Office: FLITE 140H
Don't forget, you are welcome to come to the Oval Information Desk and ask for help any time. You can also call us 231-591-3602 or chat with us.
Last update: October 1, 2008