Research at USC Libraries
Andy Rutkowski
arutkows@usc.edu
outline
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Library search
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Databases
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Advanced search
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Google Scholar
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Research Guides
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Other resources
links only active during teaching
Primary vs Secondary vs Teriatry sources
RESEARCH GUIDE:
(but first)
Primary
direct, first-hand, closeness to an event or thing
Secondary
interpretation or analysis of a primary or secondary source. good way of getting back to a primary source.
Tertiary
overview, summary, encyclopedia, wikipedia, textbooks, etc.
Primary: Census data extracted from cenus website
Secondary: Article or book that discusses and uses that census data
Tertiary: Wikepedia entry for the US Census
The Library Search
Why use the library site or library databases?
Finding relevant and authoritative works
This main search box provides access across USC Library locations, a selection of core databases, digital library holdings, and other collections.
initial results by category - click on individual item or "See all results" to continue exploring
filters
filters
filters
Use advanced search to narrow / broaden your results
Click on full text
and get the article from a database.
sharing options!
Databases
Some of my favorite databases and why
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CQ Researcher Plus Archive
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Provides great reports on relevant topics and issues in the United States. Reports include pro/con section, charts, maps, data, and references to other works.
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Proquest
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Get access to a range of sources, from newspapers to scholarly publications. Multidisciplinary so you will almost always find something relevant to get you started.
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Social Explorer
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Want data for your paper? The United States census is probably one of the best resources out there that can help support almost any research paper. Social Explorer provides an intuitive way to explore the Census and use it.
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Other resources
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LA Counts - https://www.lacounts.org/
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Provides access to data from local, state and federal agencies. Also provides data stories that highlight how the data can be used.
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LA Times Mapping LA - http://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/
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Great place to generally start to learn more about neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
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USC's Neighborhood Data for Social Change -https://data.myneighborhooddata.org/stories/s/xs7g-jqmb
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Drill down and get more data and stories about Los Angeles neighborhoods using this USC built tool.
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Advanced Search
don't get boxed in!
- find the search tips section or something similar.
almost every database will have it! - think about how and why you might use the operators
- explore the filters/facets
This link is only active during teaching sessions.
Google Scholar
change settings in order to link to USC Libraries
- click on library links
- search for university of southern california
- check off University of Southern California - Find it @ USC
- save
if you selected USC you will see the Find it @ USC link for available articles
great way to find resources and librarians
