Research Guide: Example Topic: Art

Demo Using CSUF & SJSU Databases

Intended Audience: College Students

Doing research? You've got this. This guide can help. The world of information is vast and deep, but with the proper tools you can navigate the endless waters of information like a pro.

Get started here:

Log In: Go through student portal and find research databases
Choose Database like EBSCO or use OneSearch
Search using key words and use filters to narrow your search
Cite your sources, you can start with the citation generator as a building block
Download articles as PDFS to save for later.

How do I pick a topic?

Pick any of these points above, and you will find yourself browsing through many different areas. Pick something that interests you.
Make a keyword list related to items that match your interest. (You can use Google, Wikipedia text books, and OneSearch to gather a list of keywords)
Start combining keywords for more targeted research using library databases!

Get Started with OneSearch:

Start at the Library Home page (or through your portal)
Log in when prompted
Choose a topic to research
Make a keyword list
Try a basic OneSearch to start broad and get ideas.
Advanced Search: Go directly to Scholarly Databases for your search

What is a Database?

Good news! You use databases all the time!

A database is just a collection of resources.

For example: Netflix and Youtube are databases filled with videos. Amazon is a database filled with items to purchase.

The Library's OneSearch is like a smart TV, searching accross multiple scholarly databases. You can also go into individual databases and do searches.

Basic Keyword Searches & Boolean Operators:

Note Keywords related to your search topic.

Your list of keywords can be gathered from any source (textbook, wikipedia, google, social media but for scholarly materials we must take our keywords to the library! Usually these will be names, places, things, and concepts.)

Start combining keywords for better search results in OneSearch
Add “AND” to make a targeted search that finds (ex: O’Keeffe AND Flowers)
Add OR to broaden a search if keyword isn’t getting results (Ex: Art OR Drawing OR Painting OR graphic)
Use NOT to specify (ex: India Bollywood Dance NOT Native American Dance)
Use the filters on the left hand side of the database to narrow a search from there.

Advanced Art Database Searching

Go to Library home page (Google your school name and library)
Click “Databases” in the upper left hand corner
Click the first drop down menu labeled “All Subjects”
Scroll down and click “Art (6)”
These are your 6 art specific databases, click the blue title to be taken to that database
Sign in when prompted using your CSUF ID

Combine it all together:

1. Put each key word in a separate line with synonyms use OR for MORE

Note: Databases automatically put AND in-between each line to help you.

2. Use “quotes” around words you want to appear together

3. Use the filters to narrow your search to the types of sources, specific subjects

4. Save your different source by: copying permalinks, send to email, download to computer, or sign into database and create an account with database to save on database.

5. Use citation generators to get started on your citations.

What Comes Next?

You've got all your sources! You've read and consumed all the resources and now you get to synthesize and put it all together!

Summary of Process:

Pick a topic
Make a list of keywords (authors, subject, terms)
OneSearch broad search
Subject specific database searching
Collect - create knowledge and make, create or write something!

Wrap up:

This is a life long practice. You build the research muscles with practice and time.
You get to choose how you participate in the global conversation
This is Act 1 in a 3 Act Play.
The library is here to help you. Ask for help. This is YOUR library.

FAQs

"I don't have a specific topic yet, where do I start? "

General OneSearch might help if you need help narrowing your focus
JSTOR Database might help with beignning broad research
Perhaps even a Google Scholar search to look for keywords and terms you can use

"I'm not finding anything on my topic! What's wrong?"

Nothing is wrong! This is totally normal and that's why libraries are here to help!
Look at your keywords. Are there other related terms that you could search for?
Is there a broader umbrella topic we could search within?
Try using these other search terms and key words to broaden your topic!

"I'm finding way too many hits, I am overwhelmed and I don't know how to narrow it down or how to sift through it all!"

This is totally normal and we can help you filter down these results to only what you need.
Look on the left hand side of the database/OneSearch and use the filters to limit what you are looking for.
If you need scholarly peer reviewed sources click that box to limit your search to just that!