EGL 102-023 - Tina Fakhrid-Deen - Spring 2024

Welcome to library research!

I'm Marisa Walstrum, a librarian at Oakton, and I am excited to help you get started with your research. But first, a little bit about me, your instructor. Like you, I also attended community college as a student in the Chicagoland area, and later graduated from SIUC with a degree in fine arts. I decided to study librarianship through my interest in preserving art and cultural heritage, and I have come full circle to teach at Oakton College and serve many other community college students. I look forward to getting to know you and what topics interest you as you move through your educational journey at Oakton.

Today in our session we will:

1. Explain the peer review process. 

2. Develop keywords to devise a search strategy for locating peer-reviewed articles.

3. Compare information-sharing access between marginalized and privileged groups.

4. Explore what voices may be absent from available research, or the student's initial investigation on their topic. 

To get help with your research project after this library session, or at any time, make an appointment with a librarian. Let's get started!

Ask a question you're interested in finding the answer to 

Something that has controversy or more than one viewpoint

Something that you feel you could research or write about in detail:

• Not too broad
  • You'll know a topic is too broad when you are overwhelmed with information in your research 
  • Examples: "artificial intelligence" 
• Not too narrow
  • You'll know a topic is too narrow when you don't find enough information in your research
  • Example: "Does the use of artificial intelligence in Skokie, IL limit labor force participation among recent immigrant women ages 19-25?"
• Just right! 
  • You will feel the information is manageable
  • Example: "What is the effect of automation on the labor market"

You will use your research question to formulate keywords 

• Select the main ideas from your research question, for example: "automation" AND "labor market" 
• Keyword terms should be specific, not general. Words like "aspects" or "effects" won't yield relevant results
• Think of synonyms or related terms to broaden your search. Example: "artificial intelligence" OR "automation"

Activity: Roll the dice and brainstorm keywords

Instructions: Click on the die below and use that number as a challenge to brainstorm keywords and synonyms in preparation to create a search strategy. Creating a search strategy with multiple keywords and related terms will help you narrow down, or expand, on your research topics giving you precise results when you search the library's databases.