Research Workshop

SOCI 26 Class Matters

Simon Elichko  (they/them)
Social Sciences & Data Librarian

Intellectual interests

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Topics

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Research question

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Sources

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Argument

what you know already

multiple smaller questions

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what you need to learn more about

Today's agenda:
 

Finding sociology research

 

Searches that work

(getting better results)
 

Staying organized
(helpful practices and tools)

 

 

Finding sociology research

Browzine lets you look at recent issues of Sociology journals

Using Browzine:
1. Go to tripod.swarthmore.edu and search Browzine
2. Click on the title, then follow the link under View Online
3. Click Sociobehavioral Sciences to see Sociology journals

Browse through an issue from one of these journals:
          - American Journal of Sociology
          - American Sociological Review
          - Social Forces

Searches that work: getting better results

Consider using research tools that are designed to help you find scholarly sources

Sociology Research Tools

    • Databases for finding articles from academic journals
         - JSTOR
         - Sociological Abstracts

 

    • Catalogs for finding books in libraries
         - Tripod - books available in the TriCo
         - Worldcat - books available from other libraries

Research Guide for SOCI 026

Accessing pay-walled articles

Scholarly / academic journal articles

  1. Search Tripod for the article title. Look for a matching result and follow links to access. (e.g. Teaching South African History in a Digital Age)
     
  2. Can't find it in Tripod? Apply the search filter Include results without full text to see more results. (see this example)

    Click on your article title if it appears in the results. Follow the prompt to login to Tripod, then click on Request via Interlibrary Loan.
     
  3. Still not seeing your article? Go to Borrow Beyond TriCo, then choose the journal article request link. Fill out the form to request a PDF of the article.

Keeping track of your research

Helpful practices for staying organized


• Search Logs   A basic record of your searches
                           and terms (keywords + subjects)    

                                   --->>  Research Guide > Worksheets & Tools

• Predictability  Store articles + citations consistently:
                           - In one place   (one option: Zotero)
                           - With descriptive filenames

• Annotation    When you find a promising source,

                          quickly write down why it seems useful.

Get help with your research


• Set up an appointment

• Email with your questions (selichk1)

• Use the chat button in Tripod

• Stop by the Research & Info Desk in McCabe.

  -- Simon is usually there Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3-5pm.

  -- RIAs are available Sun.-Thurs. from 5-10pm.