COM339JayFall06

Finding Articles using Library Resources

There are several different database sources that will contain the kinds of articles that you need for your assignment.

Your professor wants you to use articles from some specific journals. The links below are to the electronic database sources with the most recent issues of these journals. Older issues of all of these journals are also available in print on the lower level of the library.

Recognizing Empirical Research

You are being asked to locate and use articles that are "empirical research". Empirical research uses data derived from actual observation or experimentation.

To determine if an article is an empirical research article, use these guidelines:

What is the name of the journal? Popular magazines like Newsweek or Time don’t publish empirical research articles; publications like the Journal of Educational Research or the Journal of Educational Psychology do.
How long is the article? An empirical research article is usually substantial, not 1 or 2 pages.
Does the article contain references to other works? Serious researchers always cite their sources.
Does the abstract of the article contain variations of the words study, measure, subjects, data, survey, or statistical to describe the empirical research?
(Finding Empirical Research Articles. University of San Francisco Gleeson Library 11/03 http://www.usfca.edu/library/handouts/researcharticles.pdf Retrieved 8/28/06)

Here are some resources that explain what empirical research is.

Reading Reports of Empirical Studies This site contains a step-by-step look at the parts of an emiprical research article.

Finding Empirical Research Articles This is a handout geared towards USF's resources but has a good definition/checklist of guidelines.

Research Methods: Understanding: Empirical Research This is a tutorial aimed at linguistics majors, but has some useful information on the process of empirical research.

Conquering Empirical Research This is a research guide developed by the University Library at Mississippi State University.

Resources for Writing and Citing

Resources for writing abstracts:

Writing Abstracts From LEO (Literacy Education Online) at St. Cloud State University

Writing Guides: Writing Abstracts From Colorado StateUniversity's Writing Center

The Writing Center Guide to Writing an Abstract From George Mason University's Writing Center

Resources for APA (American Psychological Association) Style:

You are being asked to use American Psychological Association style guidelines for your paper and for your bibliography. Here are some online guides for using this method (note that the APA website has updates only--not the actual style guide:

College Writing and Citing: APA Style This Buehler Library page has many different links that explain and help you use APA style.
Citing Sources: Documentation Guidelines for citing sources and avoiding plagiarism This page, from the Duke University Library, has guides on how to cite sources within your paper as well as creating your list of works cited.
Electronic Reference Formats Recommended by the American Psychological Association This website has additional information on how to cite electronic resources in APA style.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 2001. Elmhurst College Library Reference R 808.06615P976 2001 c.1 . Ask for this at the Reference and Information Services Desk in the library.

For more help with writing your abstract or bibliography contact the Writing Center at Elmhurst College.

Communication 339

Audiology: Principles and Methods

Professor Jay

Fall 2006

Finding Articles using Library Resources

Recognizing Empirical Research

Resources for Writing and Citing

Have questions or need help?