| Contact | |
|---|---|
| Stacy Anderson | |
| Phone: 231-591-3635 | |
| Office: FLITE 140c | |
| Kristen Motz | |
| Phone: 231-591-3625 | |
| Office: FLITE 140H | |
CRIM 110 (Justice Learning Community)
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.
Research Guide: Criminal Justice
A web-based Subject Reference Guide for Criminal Justice is available to help you research.
Finding Journal Articles
To find journal articles on a particular topic, use one or more of the Databases available on the FLITE Web site. These databases provide access to millions of journal articles from 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 Database
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.
Newspaper Database
Access World News
Newspapers can add very current information and specific examples to your research. Use Access World News to search major newspapers from around the world, within the U.S., and within a specific state to find the information you need.
Criminal Justice 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 Interlibrary 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. When the book or article arrives, you will be notified by email to check your account. Expect articles in about 5-10 business days (ferris email preferred), and look for a digital copy of your article in your ILLiad account. Books will be mailed to you if you are an off-campus student. On-campus students may pick up books at the Checkout Desk.
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 and Citations guide developed by FLITE.
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.
The following links provide information on how to use APA:
Citation Style Guide: APA (PDF)
An online version of the APA handout given out in class, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
APA List of References
More examples of how cite different types of sources using the APA format.
Most academic libraries maintain a copy of the full-length APA manual (Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th ed.) in their Ready Reference section. If you cannot find a copy and have not found the answer to your question in any of the other APA resources, contact the FLITE Oval Information Desk, 231-591-3602, or chat with a librarian there.
If you are interested in checking your citations, you may want to use the KnightCite tool from Calvin College.
Citation Machine is a fairly simple-to-use citation and bibliography tool that is available for free online.
Contact: Stacy Anderson / Email / Phone: 231-591-3635 / Office: FLITE 140C
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.
Make an appointment for a research consultation with a librarian - one-on-one personal library help for any course.
Last update: April 8, 2010