EN101

EN 101

Stepping into the Scholarly Conversation: Research Foundations

• Questions from the Homework
• Overview of Library website
• Research Process
• Pre-Research Tools
• Lateral Reading
• What is a database?
• SCOUT

• Group Activity: Cadets Teach databases

Agenda

library.westpoint.edu

Library Website

As scholars, it is imporant to recognize that research is an iterative and recursive process. Research is discovery; it’s about being curious and open to new ideas and ways of understanding information about a certain topic.

A word about research...

Pre-Research Tools

Google Google Scholar Wikipedia Generative AI

Lateral Reading: the act of reading across multiple sources to verify information.

LATERAL READING

01

stop and identify the source

Before diving into the content, pause and note the website or source you're examining.

02

Leave the site

Open new browser tabs and search for information about the source itself, rather than continuing to read the original content.

03

Find what others say about the source

Search for reviews, fact-checks, or analyses of the source from reputable organizations or fact-checking websites.

04

Evaluate FOR authority and purpose

Search for reviews, fact-checks, or analyses of the source from reputable organizations or fact-checking websites.

05

Return to the original source

After gathering external information, return to the original source and evaluate its content in light of what you've learned.

06

REFLECT and DECIDE

Explicitly decide on the source's reliability

Scholarly journals: Peer-reviewed articles presenting original research or analysis * Books and book chapters: In-depth explorations of topics, often by experts in the field * Conference proceedings: Presentations and papers from academic conferences * Theses and dissertations: Original research conducted by graduate students *Technical reports: Detailed accounts of research projects or studies * Magazines: Periodicals covering general interest or specific topics * Newspapers: Current events and news articles * Websites: Online resources varying in credibility and purpose * Blogs: Personal or professional online journals * Government documents: Official reports, statistics, and policies * White papers: Authoritative reports on complex issues * Patents: Detailed descriptions of inventions * Encyclopedias: Broad overviews of topics, often considered tertiary sources * Dictionaries: Definitions and explanations of terms * Textbooks: Educational materials summarizing key concepts in a field * Handbooks: Quick reference guides for specific subjects or professions * Primary Sources * Diaries and personal letters: First-hand accounts of events or experiences * Interviews: Direct conversations with individuals * Photographs and films: Visual documentation of events or subjects * Working papers: Preliminary research findings * Policy statements: Official positions on various issues * Fact sheets: Concise summaries of key information * Annual reports: Yearly summaries of an organization's activities * Podcasts: Audio programs on various topics. * Social media posts: User-generated content on platforms like Twitter or Facebook. * Video content: Educational or informational videos on platforms like YouTube.

Go with a database!Types of information you will find in databases

1.Cadets will work in teams to search a specific database 2.Talk with your team about what to teach 3.Peer Teach about your database

Group ActivityLibrary Database Teach In

You are the scholar!

You decide the: the topic, the questions, the keywords, the Boolean Operators, the databases, the journal articles, etc.

• SCOUT is a great place to start when conducting research

• Research is an iterative and recursive process

• Lateral Read to determine credibility
• There is ALWAYS a librarian to help!

Top Takeaways

Domain extension alone is not a definitive indicator of reliability or credibility.

While some .orgs are reliable (pewresearch.org), some are biased or partisan (911truth.org). Remember, anyone can purchase either a .org or .com domain, regardless of their organization type or intent.

Currency can be important for many topics, but NEWEST sources are not always the best source.

Initial reports often contain inaccuracies that are corrected over time as more facts are verified. Sometimes, it takes time to conduct thorough research and draw well-supported conclusions.

A well-crafted "About Us" section can be a deceiving indicator of credibility.

Remember, the company or organization itself usually writes the "About Us" page.The"About Us" page should provide an authentic representation of the company's identity, values, and mission. Be sure to consider it alongside other factors to determine credibility.

Non-credible websites often include citations back to articles on the same site.

This is called self-citation or internal linking and can be problematic. Excessive self-referencing without external sources can be a red flag for credibility. It can create a closed loop of information that isn't independently verified.

Some of the most authoritative news websites are .coms with ads

These include the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Your job is to determine that the primary focus of any website you are using is on providing high-quality, well-researched, and informative content.

How you *should* be evaluting websites

Lateral reading is a skill used by professional fact-checkers to jump outside a source and use new browser tabs to seek additional information about a source's credibility, reputation, funding sources and biases.

When you encounter an unfamiliar website:

• Open a new browser tab
• Go to several credible newsources and other references to better understand if the website is credible.
• Reflect and decide