1. The How and Where of Finding Information
CSC104: The Why and How of Computing
Joanna Szurmak,
Liaison Librarian, HMALC
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

2. We will: Talk about the Wikipedia.
Enumerate and discuss the types of sources you will need to complete Assignment 3.
Begin locating sources.
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

3. Two Wikipedia Pages Computer Science Topic Topic of Personal Interest
Scholarly, peer-reviewed sources
Popular, trade, academic sources
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

4. What is Wikipedia? Where to start?
Describe the 5 pillars page where the wiki format is described.
Show the key points: links in text, rules and code of conduct.
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

5. How do Wiki policies affect you?
3 CONTENT POLICIES
No Original Research (NOR)
Verifiability (V)
Neutral Point of View (NPOV)
For the purpose of the assignment, you are bound by the rules of the Wikipedia.
For starters, you must realize this assignment is not an essay or an opinion paper.
Your opinion, your analysis, your original thoughts, do not belong on the wiki. Verifiable, established facts do.
Where do you get those – in SOURCES.
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

6. SOURCES of INFORMATION
Encyclopedias
Books
Newspapers
Magazines
Wikipedia
Where do you get information to fulfill the requirements of wikipedia editorship?
Can you suggest some examples? -- Websites? -- Wikipedia – Newspapers – Journal Articles – Magazines – Books - Encyclopedias
We are going to determine which ones are appropriate for which part of your assignment.
Some sources will be scholarly, some non-scholarly.
Some will be primary; some will be secondary or tertiary.
Journal Articles
Websites
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

7. Sorting the Sources: Purpose
Scholarly
Written by individuals engaged in academic research to inform peers of the work they have accomplished.
Non-scholarly
Written in a variety of styles and for many purposes: to entertain, inform, state one’s opinions, attract attention.
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

8. Sources: Subject and Audience
Scholarly
Written by individuals engaged in academic research to inform peers of the work they have accomplished.
On a specialized subject.
For a narrow audience.
Non-scholarly
Written in a variety of styles and for many purposes: to entertain, inform, state one’s opinions, attract attention.
On any subject.
For a variety of audiences.
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

9. Sorting the Sources Scholarly Non-scholarly
Written by individuals engaged in academic research to inform peers of the work they have accomplished.
On a specialized subject.
For a narrow audience.
Not meant to be profitable.
May be published by a university, or open access.
Reviewed in journals.
Has bibliography and index.
Non-scholarly
Written in a variety of styles and for many purposes: to entertain, inform, state one’s opinions, attract attention.
On any subject.
For a variety of audiences.
Often profitable.
May be published commercially.
Reviewed in mass media.
May have bibliography and index.
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

10. Sources: Primary vs. Secondary
Use the Wikipedia
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

11. Sort Your Sources Newspapers Journal Articles Websites Books
Scholarly
Non-Scholarly
Newspapers
Journal Articles
Primary
Websites
Magazines
Secondary and Tertiary
Books, websites, journal articles, magazines, newspapers. encyclopedia., wiki
Books
Wikipedia
Encyclopedias
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

12. One Last Thing: Peer Review
Experts (referees) determine:
Subject within journal’s scope;
Research originality;
Quality of research (including methods);
Clarity of presentation.
Wikipedia
Most, not all, scholarly journals are peer reviewed.
peer-reviewed
Said of a scholarly journal that requires an article to be subjected to a process of critical evaluation by one or more experts on the subject, known as referees, responsible for determining if the subject of the article falls within the scope of the publication and for evaluating originality, quality of research, clarity of presentation, etc. Changes may be suggested to the author(s) before an article is finally accepted for publication. In evaluation for tenure and promotion, academic librarians may be given publishing credit only for articles accepted by peer-reviewed journals. Some bibliographic databases allow search results to be limited to peer-reviewed journals. Synonymous with juried and refereed.
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

13. Finding Journal Articles
An Article Database is an online Periodical Index
Access: only through the Library.
Content: citations, abstracts or full text of articles on given topics or in broad subject areas.
Database Portals (Scholars’ Portal, ISI Web of Knowledge) make different databases available through one interface.
periodical index
A cumulative list of periodical articles in which the citations are entered by subject (or in classified arrangement) and sometimes under the author's last name, separately or in a single alphabetic sequence. Periodical indexes may be general (example: Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature), devoted to a specific academic discipline (Education Index) or group of disciplines (Humanities Index), or limited to a particular type of publication (Alternative Press Index). In libraries, periodical indexes are available in print and as bibliographic databases, online or on CD-ROM. Compare with abstracting service. See also: H.W. Wilson.
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

14. Useful Databases Scholars’ Portal Applied Science & Technology
ANTE: Abstracts in New Technologies and Engineering
Computer Abstracts International Database 
Computer & Information Systems Abstracts
Expanded Academic ASAP
General Science Abstracts
INSPEC
Proquest Computing
Proquest Research Library
Scopus
Web of Science
Show Scopus
Useful Databases (through Portals)
Stress that one finds out whether the library has a journal title – referring to the entire journal run – through the library catalogue. One can only find out whether a journal contains the desired information by searching the article databases.
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak

15. Have we achieved our objectives?
Are you more comfortable with the Wikipedia?
Do you know more about different types of sources?
Do you know where to find information?
November 13, 2007
Joanna Szurmak