Creating a Structure for Research

Syllabus

Traditional library research should have a relatively predictable process. In general, like a detective, you should gather any "known" evidence first. For secondary source research that means finding what already exists (probably the source of the word re-search). You accomplish this by locating bibliographies or review articles (which often include bibliographies) on your topic.

Paper-Based Searching Overview

Typically, in paper-based searches, finding major bibliographies relies on several major sources:

Theodore Besterman. World Bibliography of Bibliographies.

H. W. Wilson Co. Bibliographic Index.

Gale Directory of Databases.

Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory.

The Index and Abstract Directory: An International Guide to Services and Serials Coverage.

Major Indexes Overview

For paper-based research, indexes are also important finding aids. Here are a couple important examples for the field of tpc:

ATTW Bibliography.

CCCC Bibliography.

You also want to know which databases index publications in your field. For example, in technical communication, the following table (adapted from Smith, Elizabeth O. "Electronic Databases for Technical and Professional Communication Research," TCQ, 1996) summarizes some resources (which may have changed somewhat since Smith's article appeared).

Database	IEEEPC	JBTC	JTWC	TWT	TC
ATTW		x	x	x	x
CCCC		x	x	x	x
LLBA					x
MLA
ABI	x
BI					x
BPI					x
MC
EI	x	x	x	x
ERIC			x	x
CC			x
PSYC
SOC		x	x	x
SSCI			x	x

* IEEE=Journal of the Professional Communications Society of the IEEE
* JBTC=Journal of Business and Technical Communication
* JTWC=Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
* TWC=Technical Writing Teacher
* TC=Technical Communication

Library-Based Electronic Searching Overview

Next, know and use your own library's electronic searching utilities. The ECU Joyner Library, for example, allows access to a number of resources:

ECU Joyner Library
ProQuest™ (find this under P on Joyner's Alphabetic List of Electronic Resources
NCLive™

These and similar resources will help you find virtually anything previously published on your topic. Several of these resources will allow downloads.

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Last Modified: 08/22/06