Library Research Lecture Notes

Dissertation or Extended Written Piece

Library Research - Chris Graham

Books in the library to help with writing a dissertation, research and referencing. 

EStudio -> Student Resources -> Library

Library Catalogues.

SCONUL Access - scheme to allow you to use any university library in the UK.

Harvard Referencing resources. 

Library Portal through LCA Website

Defining a topic 

FOCUS - the more focussed the topic is, the easier it will be to research. This will make the research more RELEVANT. It is important to narrow down the title as soon as possible. 

Beware of using the word ‘and’ in a dissertation question. Be careful not to set yourself two separate questions within the same title. Don’t set yourself a bigger task than is necessary, most students struggle to cut their dissertation down to the word limit rather than trying to reach it. 

Break down each part of the research question into areas to explore. 

Question example - Does illustration have the capacity to generate anti-capitalist social change?

Primary and secondary research.

Gather your own first hand research as well as using other sources. 

Corroboration, disagreement, triangulation, theoretical underpinning, etc…

Research methods - visual practice, experimentation, interest and enquiry, questionnaires (do a pilot run), interviews, case studies, site visits…

Literature - books, journals, websites, blogs, forums, videos, DVDs, CDs, tv, radio, newspapers, maps, reports, printed ephemera, etc

Knowing where to look for the most effective outcome. 

Using related term when searching for sources. 

Use the contents page and index to find out whether the book will be relevant or not. Reading the introduction or abstract will also help you decide whether it is relevant or not.

Use the bibliography to find other useful sources for further reading.

Book Search

The British Library has a copt of every book published. Free to use. Some magazine articles are available online. www.bl.uk

SCONUL Scheme - www.sconus.ac.uk/sconul-access

Use university email and library number to request access. 

JSTOR - enclose search terms in quote marks to search for the phrase rather than individual words. 

Art Full Text - similar to jstor but more specific to art and design subjects.

Open Athens - activate account. 

BoB National - store of all terrestrial radio and television programmes. 

Google Scholar 

Don’t bite off more than you an chew. 

Create a sense of momentum. 

Start bibliography right at the very beginning because it will save backtracking at the end.