Research Guide for WR 123 - Professor Ruch

Provided by Bryan Miyagishima, Reference and Instruction Librarian, LBCC Library      email: miyagib@linnbenton.edu  or phone: 541.917.4646


Some tips before you begin

! When you gather information for your report, think like a researcher ...

What type of information do I need?

  • reporting
  • analysis
  • statistics
  • editorial
  • facts/figures
  • Who would be interested in the information?

  • parents?
  • general public?
  • taxpayers?
  • hobbyists?
  • scholars/ researchers of which disciplines?
  • Where will I find this information?

  • newspapers
  • magazines
  • books / reference books
  • academic journals / scholarly journals
  • government agencies
  • Associations/ Non-profit organizations

  • ! As you consider which sources to use for your report, think of your audience and their expectations...

    Is the information source credible?

  • Is the publication or author a recognized credible source? What about bias? Currency?
  • Is the organization publishing the information credible? Who really runs the organization?
  • Is the information retrievable?

  • Sources in print can be easily retrieved from libraries or databases!
  • Is it a web page? Does it have the following:
      - author
      - date written or last updated
      - fixed URL (or does it have a long address that looks like it was created from a database?)
  • Is the source appropriate for the assignment?

  • Depending on your topic, a scientific journal article may or may not be appropriate for your report
  • For the most part, informal sources of information (blogs, random web sites, short newspaper or magazine articles) will not be appropriate


  • General Research

         Online Reference Tools

         LBCC and OSU Libraries

         Recommended Book Series at the LBCC Library



    Magazines, Journals, and Newspapers (Off campus? Ask your instructor for passwords)

         General Topics      Health      Business      Newspapers

    Help with citations