Unit #5: Scholarship is a Conversation

After completing this page, you should be able to: Explain the meaning of the phrase, “Scholarship is a conversation” Find books and journals in the library collection—both print and electronic versions Request books or journal articles using inter-library loan Find the source of a citation from a book or journal bibliography  Complete Assignment #5

Research/Writing Class Outline

1. Library Criminal Justice Subject Guide
2. Video Research 101: Scholarship is a Conversation
3. Searching the Online Catalog: eBooks
4. Searching Sage Journals Online Database
5. Interlibrary Loan
6. Finding a Reference to Another Study from a Bibliography
7. In-Class Worksheet: 
8. Review "Writing Assignment #5."

Eisen, A. (2014, June 13). Research 101: Scholarship is a conversation [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/YGia3gNyHDM

Sage Journals Online

Many of the best Criminal Justice journals are published by Sage.  In some cases, this is the only database that will located them.

Try finding articles for your topic here.

The presentation lasts 60 seconds.

Finding a Journal Article from a Bibliographic Citation

The library can get just about any book or article you might want.  Don't ever pay for an article online; we can get it for you.  Watch this 1 minute video to see how.

Using Databases to Find Research Articles

1. Use the Sage Journals Online database to find an article for your final project.
2. Use the library catalog to find a print book relating to your final project.
3. Use the library catalog to find an eBook relating to your final project.
4. Register for an Interlibrary Loan account.

Communicate.  Ask Questions.

Scholarship as Conversation

Communities of scholars, researchers, or professionals engage in sustained discourse with new insights and discoveries occurring over time as a result of varied perspectives and interpretations.

Research in scholarly and professional fields is a discursive practice in which ideas are formulated, debated, and weighed against one another over extended periods of time. Instead of seeking discrete answers to complex problems, experts understand that a given issue may be characterized by several competing perspectives as part of an ongoing conversation in which information users and creators come together and negotiate meaning. Experts understand that, while some topics have established answers through this process, a query may not have a single uncontested answer. Experts are therefore inclined to seek out many perspectives, not merely the ones with which they are familiar.

Association of College and Research Libraries. (2016, January 11). Framework for information literacy for higher education. Retrieved http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/infolit/Framework_ILHE.pdf