Reading:

• Developing a Research Question
• Planning a Search Strategy

Part 1: "Search Preparation": Collecting Background Info, Developing Research Question, Identifying Search Terms

1. Starting with the general topic you chose for your preliminary searches in Assignment #1, try to focus in on a more specific aspect that you might be interested in researching.

Based on your preliminary searches in Assignment #1:

• identify more specific aspects that you could use to narrow your topic; and
• list any useful subject headings or key words that could be used in further searching.

2. Based on your preliminary searches, develop a research question that includes two to four concepts.

3. Identify any potential search terms (subject headings or key words) for each concept.

4. Organize your search terms for each concept of your research question using a search worksheet (as shown in the "Search Strategy" reading).

Part 2: "Search Strategy"

5. Use EbscoHost Academic Search Elite and MasterFILE Premier databases to do a "Boolean Search" ("Guided Search" mode) using "or's" and "and's" for this research question.

6. Select the 2 best articles you find on the research question and e-mail the articles to yourself and the instructor (following the instructions below).

7. Revise your research question if necessary.

E-MAIL THE FULL RECORDS FOR THE ARTICLES YOU'VE CHOSEN BY FOLLOWING THESE DIRECTIONS:

• Click on the "E-mail" button, found at the top and bottom of each full record page.
You will be brought to the "E-mail Manager" screen.
• Click in the "E-mail Address" box and enter your E-mail address, then a comma (,) and then your instructor's e-mail address (e.g. brenner@smccd.net).
• Click in the "Subject" box and enter: "Assignment #2" and your full name.