Guides: Cross Walk: Guided Searching by Type: Got Keywords? Thinking. . . now what?

A strategy for searching--by Topic

Have a list of keywords or only a vague idea about a topic? Wondering where / how to even begin/start searching? The library can seem a little overwhelming--try starting your search by the type (kind) of information you need.

Follow the links on the left-hand side

Turn your 'pondering' into information; information into knowledge with these sequenced guides. It is important to understand 2 definitions, 2 library terms---click on the tabs for database and encyclopedia

Start with looking through the page for Facts, Definitions, and Encyclopedias (yes, Google and Wikipedia but there are others)
1. Only need data sets, statistics? Find some resources on the Statistics page
Next, try News
Images,including those that are 'rights free', meaning likely no need to secure copyright permission
Maps? Maps can quickly help you contextualize the importance of geopolitical relationships
What about Video or Audio
Books (sometimes still the best)
1. Milner and/or iShare (from other academic libraries in Illinois)
2. eBooks
3. Worldwide (WorldCat)
Articles from Core Journals--just quickly need an article
Articles--comprehensive (databases by subjects)

What is a database?

A database is a set of data that has a regular structure and that is organized in such a way that a computer can easily find the desired information.

Data is a collection of distinct pieces of information, particularly information that has been formatted (i.e., organized) in some specific way for use in analysis or making decisions.

A database can generally be looked at as being a collection of records, each of which contains one or more fields (i.e., pieces of data) about some entity (i.e., object), such as a person, organization, city, product, work of art, recipe, chemical, or sequence of DNA.

From the Linux Information Project

What is an encyclopedia? Why is it so useful?

By-the-way: this is a great example of using Wikipedia 'appropriately'.

Primary and Secondary Sources (by Discipline)

The idea for this table was motivated by University of Maryland's web site http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/primary-sources.html

Discipline/Subject	Primary Source	Secondary Source
*Art*	A sculpture	Article discussing a sculpture
*Biological Sciences*	Original research article	Review or meta-analysis article
*Film*	Movie filmed in 1948	Movie review
*History*	Presidential speech	Web site comparing speeches
*Social Sciences*	Notes taken by a clinical psychologist	Film about the psychological condition

Need help finding Primary Sources?

Try this list