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Select a Topic
Reference Collection
Government Documents
Statistics Sources
Journal Articles
Databases
Additional Resources
Internet
Conclusion
This guide is designed to assist students in doing basic library research. For a good overview of our layout and resources, take our Virtual Reference Tour. For research assistance, visit us at the library Information Desk, call us at 203-932-7189, or e-mail us. For assistance with writing the research paper, visit the Center for Learning Resources in Maxcy Hall.
This guide takes you through the research process as it acquaints you with the various types of library materials. Use this guide as a tool for selecting a topic for an actual assignment, or just follow along as it pursues a sample research project using the following strategy:
1) Choose a subject area and a topic;
2) Narrow the focus to a particular issue and formulate a topic
question regarding the issue;
3) Find materials which discuss the pros and cons of the question;
4) Come to a conclusion based on an evaluation of the evidence;
5) Write a paper that describes the research and justifies the
conclusion;
6) Properly cite the materials used.
Go to the Peterson Library home page at www.newhaven.edu/library and take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with it. If you start at the UNH website at http://www.newhaven.edu/, click on Library in the top middle. All the links for accessing library materials and services are on the left on the library home page. The most important are the ones for Catalog, Databases, Journals, and library Guides, but a quick look at all the links will be time well spent.
A good way to start selecting a topic is to look at current periodicals. Request daily newspapers at the Circulation Desk on the library's main level. Browse recent issues of magazines, academic journals, and trade publications on the library's lower level. Many periodicals put current editions on their websites. Look for online postings of important news releases at the websites of professional organizations, such as the American Psychological Association. Check news media like National Public Radio (NPR), Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Associated Press (AP), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), CNN, CNBC and C-SPAN, which all have websites, and many are available on radio and television as well. Local cable access and hometown news channels like WTNH or WTIC can also be helpful. An excellent place for access to many news sources, both local and national, is NewsLink.
Choose a subject area that interests you, read some articles, and then select an issue or area of controversy to examine. For example, say you are interested in the environment. You might focus on the topic of recycling, and further focus on the narrower topic of bottle bills, which put deposits on beverage containers at the time of purchase to encourage consumers to return and redeem them for the deposit. Think of the controversy in terms of a question. We have chosen the following sample question to pursue in a hypothetical research assignment:
Are "bottle bills" a good way to promote recycling and clean up the environment?
From what you have already read, briefly list the points and facts that say yes. Then list the ones that say no. Develop a list of keywords and phrases to use as search terms. Be sure to consult research materials that explore both the positive and negative points of view.
Stick to the scope and the requirements of the assignment and broaden or narrow the topic and question as appropriate. Some points to keep in mind: Is this for a five-minute speech or fifteen-page paper? How many sources does your instructor want you to use? Peer-reviewed materials (those approved for publication by a panel of experts)? Primary sources like eyewitness accounts? Particular types of sources, like audiovisuals or empirical studies? Keep the currency of the information in mind. Generally you want the most current information, but historical data may be useful or even essential to prove your point. Read and evaluate sources as you go along and add to your list of pro and con arguments. Check the bibliographies in the materials both for the authoritativeness of their sources and suggestions for additional research. Your goal is to come to a conclusion supported by the best evidence you can find. Think of the exercise as a debate in which the side that wins is the one that presents the most convincing arguments.
Use the library catalog to find circulating and reference materials, including books, audio-visual resources, government documents, and periodical holdings. Our catalog uses the Library of Congress (LC) classification system and subject headings. LC assigns call numbers (letters and numerals) according to the book's primary subject. Some quick catalog search tips:
- Sort results by Publish date descending to get newest items at the top of the list.
- Truncate with ‘?': environ? will get environment, environmental, environmentally, etc.
- Put phrases in " ": "solid waste" or "refuse disposal" or "bottle bill"
- Sort results by Publish date descending to get newest items at the top of the list.
- Click on Bibliographic and use the subject-heading links below to find additional
material.
- Click on Linked Resources or look for the URL box next to an item for electronic
access.
For additional search tips, consult the library guide on Using the UNH Library Catalog (OPAC) or take our interactive Online Library Catalog Tutorial.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
If you need something not in our catalog, please use our ILL service to have materials sent here from other libraries. Forms to request books and articles are available at the Information Desk, and also online. Fill out a separate ILL request form for each item. Incorrect or incomplete information will slow down receipt of material, so please be accurate.
Publications that collect information from other publications are called reference sources. A dictionary can help you define terminology. An encyclopedia will have lengthier articles. An atlas may offer helpful maps. An annual almanac or a yearbook will summarize recent developments relating to your topic. A directory will give you a list of individuals or entities in a particular field. A statistical abstract gathers numerical data from many sources into a single compilation. A bibliography lists research materials on a subject or topic.
Check the library catalog for reference materials specifically dealing with your topic. In our sample assignment, you would do a search with terms like environ? and either dictionary or encyclopedia. If no specialized tools are available, use general ones to look up your topic. Listed below are some standard, general reference tools you can use to get started. Many of these are kept at the Information Desk. Always search for your topic or keywords in the index of any publication you use. Consult our guide on reference resources for additional help. The lower group below includes circulating materials also found via the library catalog.
♦ General Reference
CQ Researcher. Ref. H35 .E35. Now online; see Databases section.
Encyclopedia of Associations. [Info Desk] Ref. AS22 .E5
Visit organization websites to determine their positions on issues.
Europa World Year Book. [Info Desk] Ref. JN1 .E85
Detailed information on countries and international organizations.
Facts on File Yearbook. Ref. D410 .F3
The Statesman's Yearbook. [Info Desk] Ref JA51 .S7. Online access only at workstation #1.
World Almanac and Book of Facts. Ref. AY67.N5 W7
World Book Encyclopedia. Ref. AE5 .W55
♦ Recycling Resources
The Economics of Residential Solid Waste Management. HB1.A2 N3 no. 7326. Also online.
Encyclopedia of Environmental Science. Ref. GE10 .M66 2000
Fat of the Land: Garbage in New York: The Last Two Hundred Years. TD788.4.N72 N454
The McGraw-Hill Recycling Handbook. Ref. TD794.5.L84 1993
Product Take-Back Systems: Mandates Reconsidered. KF1874 .S29 1999
Recycled and Secondary Materials, Soil Remediation, and in situ Testing. TE7 .H5 no.1714
Recycling Sourcebook. Ref. TD794.5.R439
Who Should Take Out the Trash? TD788 .C55 1991
A federal documents depository since 1971, the library currently receive about a third of Government Printing Office (GPO) publications. Ones received since 2000 will show up in catalog searches. Many of these are also available online so be sure to click on Linked Resources for each item. Most documents held in the library can be borrowed. Consult the Government Documents library guide for more information. To request catalog items with the U.S. Govt Docs location or to inquire about older documents, come to the Information Desk. Some documents relevant to our sample question are given as examples:
Interstate Waste and Flow Control: Hearing before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate,... Y 4.P 96/10:S.HRG.107-995
Leisure World, Laguna Hills, California 50% Waste Reduction rate. EP 1.17:530-F-99-022 D
Make a Difference in Your School: A How-To Guide for Engaging Students in Resource Conservation and Waste Reduction. EP 10.2:SCH 6
Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: Facts and Figures. EP 1.17: [computer file]
Recycle on the Go: Recycling Places in Public Spaces. EP 10.2:R 24/2
Reuse + Recycling = Waste Reduction: A Guide for schools & Groups. EP 1.8:W 28/18
Trash and Climate Change: Planet Protectors Discover the Hidden Reasons to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. EP 1.2:T 69/3
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan: 30% Waste Reduction Rate from Residence Halls. EP 1.17:530-F-99-022 I
An old adage says there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics, because the same statistics often seem capable of supporting the exact opposite positions. Hard statistical evidence is, however, still one of the best ways of proving your point and countering the opposition. In our sample argument, you might want to say that bottle bills are good because X-millions of containers will not be going into landfills. The resources below can help you gather and interpret statistics. For more, consult our library guide on statistical information.
♦ Statistics Resources
Census Bureau. Statistics on population, housing, economic activity, and much more.
FedStats. "The gateway to statistics from over 100 Federal agencies." Use Topic Links A to Z .
Statistical Abstract of the United States. [Info Desk] Ref. HA202. Current edition and earlier editions back to 1878 online. Statistical information from many government agencies.
Statistics Sources. [Info Desk] Ref. Z7551 .S84 2002
The World Economy: Historical Statistics. Ref. HF1359 .M333 2003
♦ Using Statistics
Chance Encounters: A First Course in Data Analysis and Inference. QA276.12.W554 2000
Chances Are: The Only Statistics Book You'll Ever Need. QA276.12.S573 1998
Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media... HM535 .B47 2001
Statistics for the Terrified. QA276.12.K73 1999
What the Numbers Say: A Field Guide to Mastering Our Numerical World. QA276 .N455 2003
Periodical articles from magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals are a valuable source of information in all research areas. Our Journals link lists of most of the periodical titles, current and historical, to which you have access through the library, in all formats.
Use the upper search box to enter a journal title to get links to databases containing the journal electronically and a link for any available library holdings as well. You can also use the drop-down box here to search for words like environ* or recycl* [*= truncation here].
Use the lower search box to drop down through topical groupings like:
Earth and Environmental Sciences> Ecology and Environmental Sciences to browse current issues, either online or in the library.
Use the indexes in the next section to find periodical articles. For more help, consult our library guide on Finding Articles.
Searching for articles on a subject is best done using an electronic index that searches the contents of many journals at one time. These databases now often provide the full text of articles as well. For tips on finding articles, take our interactive Database Searching Tutorial.
Access all our Databases via the link on the library home page and enter your 16-digit UNH ID number when requested. Use the Annotated Listing to find out more about the ones below and use the Subject Listing for others. Most databases are available 24/7 on the Internet.
General Databases
Academic OneFile. Indexes the world's leading journals.
CQ Researcher and CQ Global Researcher. Analysis of current social and political issues.
Credo Reference. An interdisciplinary database of online reference books on all topics.
General OneFile. Multidisciplinary periodical index.
ProQuest Newspapers. Full-text indexing of major U.S. newspapers. Earlier coverage in ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
Books and book reviews: Are there any important recent books on your subject? Try the databases above, and for more ideas, consult our library guide on finding book reviews.
Biographical info: Have you looked for articles on people connected with your topic, e.g., Al Gore on the environment? Find more sources in our biographical information library guide.
Conference proceedings: Are there any professional organizations that meet to deal with aspects of your question? Engineering Village 2 indexes covered fields like the environment.
Pending legislation: Use the databases above or the LegalTrac database. You can also go to various state (Connecticut) and federal legislative websites for proposed bills and new laws.
Polls and surveys: Use poll or survey or opinion as search terms in the databases above. Harris, Roper, and Gallup are among the best known pollsters.
Reference books online: How about an article from our online Encyclopedia of Science and Technology for environmental and technology issues regarding the bottle-bill question.
Theses and dissertations: Many databases include these. Come to the Information Desk to access the DAI database. Also try Dissertations and Theses at UNH and our library guide for it.
Videos and video reviews: Movies or documentaries? An Inconvenient Truth and March of the Penguins recently dealt with environmental issues. Find articles in General OneFile.
It is usually recommended to use websites from academic institutions and government agencies, those with .edu and .gov domains. Googling "bottle bill," facts, 2008, support, oppose, etc. brought up the sample sites we show below. Look for additional sites and examine them carefully for their content, currency, and credentials. Carefully scrutinize the About us information. Here's a good website to help you to critically evaluate Internet resources.
Bottle Bill Resource Guide. The Container Recycling Institute is registered as an I.R.S. 501©(3), tax-exempt nonprofit organization. This bona fide .org website shows states with existing and proposed deposit laws and cites actual state statutes (check Connecticut).
Environment DEC. This is a .gov website from the State of New York's Dept. of Environmental Conservation. It celebrates the 25-year success of state's bottle bill and supports it as good public policy.
The Grocery Manufacturers/Food Products Association. This is a trade association with a .com website typical of business organizations. It has opposed bottle bills in several states. Check out what they have written to state legislatures by typing bottle bill in the search box.
International Bottled Water Association. Says that there are better ways of achieving the goals of recycling than with deposit laws. Sketchy documentation but some useful points. The .org for this trade group should make you wary of Internet domain assignments.
The League of Women Voters of Connecticut. This .org website from a respected civic group supports the expansion of the Connecticut deposit law and gives data from other state governmental agencies.
West Virginia University Institute for Public Affairs. This .edu website presents a paper based on solid research and statistical evidence from state and government agencies. The author has solid credentials.
Weighing all the sources you have used, you must now answer your own question:
Are "bottle bills" a good way to promote recycling and clean up the environment?
What does the majority of the evidence say? What does the most current data tell you? What do the most authoritative sources say? When writing your paper, you should structure it as follows:
Many of the database providers like ProQuest and EBSCO now help you formulate your citations in Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) styles. Check the library guides Use the style specified for the course and recheck the accuracy with your professor. Remember that online sources also need to be cited with web address and page, chapter, section, etc. Failing to cite your sources is plagiarism, presenting someone else's work as yours by failing to credit the real author. This dishonesty can result in disciplinary action. Check the Purdue University link here for discussion and advice.
Questions? Come to the Information Desk, call us at 203- 932-7189, or email us.
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