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Steps for Effective Research |
Defining your purpose
Why are you researching?
What is your question?
Which keywords can be made from your question?
Why are you researching?
What is your question?
Which keywords can be made from your question?
Understanding advanced search techniques
Where is advanced searching found?
What are Boolean operators?
Which Boolean operators fit your needs?
Where is advanced searching found?
What are Boolean operators?
Which Boolean operators fit your needs?
Understanding and results
What information can you see without opening a source?
How can you filter results using shortcuts at the top and side of the screen?
How can you sort results?
What information can you see without opening a source?
How can you filter results using shortcuts at the top and side of the screen?
How can you sort results?
Doing some work now to save time later
How can you copy citation information?
How do you highlight and annotate text as you read and save it for later?
How can you save articles to Google Drive?
How can you copy citation information?
How do you highlight and annotate text as you read and save it for later?
How can you save articles to Google Drive?
Gale and SIRS are always in your portal. If you do not see the tiles immediately, use the search bar to locate them. |
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GALE offers many databases. You can open each database (tile) individually or use the power search to search all at once (power search is indicated by red arrow).
Once inside one of Gale's databases, it is recommended to use the advanced search method. All GALE databases have a general structure and function the same way.
Remember the Boolean Operators for Advanced Searching
Boolean Operators are AND, OR, NOT. Using these operators while searching allows you to combine or exclude keywords in a search, which will help provide more precise results.
Boolean Operators are easily understood through Venn Diagrams.
Boolean Operators are easily understood through Venn Diagrams.
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AND
Using AND will only show sources that include both keywords in the search results. |
OR
Using OR will show sources that talk about either keyword. Sources may include one or both keywords. |
NOT
Using NOT will only show sources that include the first keyword but not the second keyword. |
Advanced Search
The results page in GALE can be filtered at the top (1) (by type of source) or the side (2).
A distinction between source types:
Newspapers and magazines are made for the general public and will have easier vocabulary and more background info.
Academic journals are made for and by professionals in a field. Therefore the vocabulary will be higher and use specific jargon, and the article will be more in depth but may assume background information is known by its reader.
The topic finder (3) is a good way to see how GALE talks about your search term in relations to other search terms. The more you click on a topic, the more specific the results become, and they are directly linked to the right of the topic finder. This is great for browsing what a database has to offer.
A distinction between source types:
Newspapers and magazines are made for the general public and will have easier vocabulary and more background info.
Academic journals are made for and by professionals in a field. Therefore the vocabulary will be higher and use specific jargon, and the article will be more in depth but may assume background information is known by its reader.
The topic finder (3) is a good way to see how GALE talks about your search term in relations to other search terms. The more you click on a topic, the more specific the results become, and they are directly linked to the right of the topic finder. This is great for browsing what a database has to offer.
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You should try to learn as much as you can about a source before you open it. If it does not seem relevant to your informational needs, move on.
From the results page you can learn: the title (topic), author, original place of publication, if an article is peer reviewed, when it was published, how long it is, and a snippet of its subject.
From the results page you can learn: the title (topic), author, original place of publication, if an article is peer reviewed, when it was published, how long it is, and a snippet of its subject.
From within an article, GALE allows you to do many things. Make sure you are logged into your school account at the top. Citation information is always at the TOP and BOTTOM of every article. You can send the article directly to your Google Drive or download it to your computer. Additionally, GALE allows you to translate an article, change the font size, or listen to it read by a robot.
As you read the article the first time, you can highlight (color coded) and annotate notes as you read. Do this now, and then save the article to your Google Drive. Your highlights and notes (and the citation) will also save with the article. If an article is helpful, use the explore box to check out similar articles.
GALE and Google will automatically make a folder with the name of the database inside your Google Drive, and every article you save from that database (with your notes and highlights) will drop into that folder automatically.
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ProQuest SIRS is the best tool for finding both sides of any issue.
From the portal, click on the search icon and type in "sirs." Open the tile that appears.
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You can browse the preloaded categories (right arrow), search your own keyword (left arrow), or use the advanced search feature (up arrow).
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Advanced search uses Boolean operators (see below) and allows you to filter the type of resource displayed in the search results.
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Links to other databases or GALE PowerSearch, which yields slightly different results. Powered by the Palm Beach County Library System.
Other Notable Resources
Stuck during the research process? Need help finding something? Not sure if you are citing correctly? Live chat, text, or e-mail a real Florida librarian who can help you with a variety of needs. Service Hours: E-mail anytime. Chat and text message 10am - midnight Sunday - Thursday, 10am - 5pm Friday - Saturday.
Both of these databases include a lot of resources for projects and presentations. Find charts, pictures, quotes and more with citations included.
A great resource for historical documents from Florida. Includes a lot of primary sources. Access at FloridaMemory.com.
Great for finding reputable websites, but is no longer being updated.
In case you are researching outside of the above tools, EasyBib will generate citations with a little bit of help from you.
