RACC PATHFINDER # 1
How To Research A Topic
Step #1 choose a topic based on your instructor's assignment or your own choice.
If you need an idea, try browsing through the display areas in the library, or consult the reference book, 10,000 Ideas for Term Papers, Reports, and Speeches which is at Ready Reference Station #1.
Step #2 obtain background information and keywords from
- General Encyclopedias which are located in the Reference Collection at AE 5 or, preferably,
- Subject Encyclopedias which are located throughout the Reference Collection. Subject encyclopedias often provide signed, authoritative articles by experts in the field and long bibliographies which will lead you to other sources. Examples include
- Encyclopedia of Philosophy -REF/ B41.E5
- Encyclopedia of Psychology -REF/ BF31.E52
- Dictionary of American History -REF/ E174.D52
- Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture -REF/ F1406.E53
- Encyclopedia of World Cultures -REF/ GN307.E53
- Encyclopedia of Sociology -REF/ HM17.E5
- Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family -REF/ HQ9.E52
- Encyclopedia of American Social History -REF/ HN57.E58
- Encyclopedia of World Art -REF/ N31.E4833
- McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology -REF/ Q121.M3
- Walker's Mammals of the World -REF/ QL703.N69
- Alternative Medicine: the Definitive Guide -REF/ R733.A484
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine -REF/ RC46.H333
- Encyclopedia of Childbearing -REF/ RG525.E52
- Mayo Clinic Family Healthbook -REF/ RC81.M473
Step #3 find books, media, and pamphlets by checking the COMPUTER CATALOG which indexes the collections of The Yocum Library, Reading Public Library, most of the public libraries in Berks County, and Alvernia College. You can search by TITLE, TITLE KEYWORD, SUBJECT, SUBJECT KEYWORD, AUTHOR, or CALL NUMBER. If searching by SUBJECT, use the subject headings from the Library of Congress Subject Headings volumes which are the large red books located near the Computer Catalog. Use subject headings which appear in bold typeface. This source uses codes to show relationships of subject headings:
UF= use for (Don't use subject headings following the code UF)
BT= broader subject heading
NT= more narrow subject heading
RT= related subject heading
SA= see also
Step #4 find magazine, journal, and newspaper ARTICLES using PERIODICAL INDEXES.
Periodical indexes are available on-line and print formats. Currently The Yocum Library subscribes to CINAHL and EBSCohost
- Via the Internet you can find thousands of magazines, journals, and newspapers as well as full text articles for many of the titles. You can e-mail the articles directly to your own account. Check with the Librarians for other features.
Print periodical indexes:
- Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature
- CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
- ERIC (Resources in Education)
Although we do not currently subscribe to the following indexes, we do maintain back issues of Education Index, General Science Index, Business Periodicals Index, Social Sciences index, Humanities Index, & Consumer Health and Nutrition Index.
TO SEE IF THE YOCUM LIBRARY OWNS THE PERIODICALS WHICH YOU HAVE FOUND USING THE PERIODICAL INDEXES, CHECK THE RACC PERIODICAL HOLDINGS LIST WHICH YOU WILL FIND THROUGHOUT THE REFERENCE AREA. WE CAN OBTAIN MOST ARTICLES WHICH RACC DOES NOT OWN THROUGH INTERLIBRARY LOANS.
Step #5 find additional information on the internet.
- Always be careful when using the Internet for information because of the lack of authority of source materials and the increasing commercialization of sources. Ask the Librarians for help in order to learn how to use the Internet efficiently and effectively. Learn to read the URL addresses, so you can learn more about the source, for example:
- .com = a company
.edu = an educational institution
.gov = a government agency
.org = an organization
Make sure that you have all the information which you need to cite an Internet source including the complete address as well as the date of the search.