Quest Summary

'The Path' Summary http:// library.geneseo.edu \| Research Help \|Resources by Subject \| Education Research\| Class Guides \| Research Quest: 'The Path' One Page Summary
1. PONDER THE NATURE AND GOALS OF YOUR QUEST
ANALYZE YOUR NEEDS	Identify a tentative topic (scan your course syllabus, readings and class notes for important ideas, themes and terminology). Ask framing questions, especially questions relating your topic to the Key or Enduring Concerns of Education. Hypothesize answers to your own questions. Identify appropriate methods of collecting information to answer your questions, support or refute your hypotheses. Identify characteristics your sources should have to be credible as evidence Sample criteria: type of information(statistics, opinions;) primary or secondary nature of information; author credentials; publication date
2. NAVIGATE KNOWLEDGEABLY THROUGH INFORMATION 'WORLDS, LANDS AND KINGDOMS'
MAP OUT YOUR JOURNEY	One route that works well for many quests is to find the following types of information in the order presented below. The order is flexible and will vary according to your needs and preferences. Introductory explanation of your topic or of terms related to your topic by an authority on the subject Literature review (overview or synthesis of thought and research) related to your topic In-depth reports/discussions/ research studies related to your topic (these may update and/or expand upon a literature review) Recent news reports related to your topic if appropriate Brief facts (such as statistics, dates) as needed Other types of information as needed, for example, text of a specific law or court case
Know which information 'places' you should visit Know the rules of travel in different information 'places'	Get Directions: Go to our library's teacher education portal and choose an information ‘land’ in which to carry out your quest Speak the language: Know, rather than guess, how to enter a query and modify a search, especially in periodical databases A well-designed query contains: Key (major) components of your topic Alternate search terms for each component Connector words to use between components and terms (AND, OR, NOT) Mark your trail so that you may instantly identify and return to where you have been. Create folders in specific databases to store your searches Sign up for automated search updates Copy persistent (permanent) links to your search strategy and results so you can return to them when you want Keep a word processing file open as you search so that you can record where you have been and JOT NOTES on the content of interest to you in specific sources as you fiind them. You can email this file to yourself
Know the rules of documenting where you have been so others may follow.	Document your sources Use the APA citation ‘shaper’ in databases when saving or emailing results More help with APA
3. EVALUATE AND COMMUNICATE YOUR QUEST RESULTS
EVALUATE EACH INFORMATION SOURCE you find in your quest	Evaluate credibility of each source as evidence using criteria such as: Author credentials Is article peer-reviewed? Scholarly or Popular Is publisher of source reputable? Is publication format acceptable? Does author cite appropriate references for ideas/claims/facts presented? Contemporary or historical information pros and cons Determining publication dates Primary or secondary
BE 'TRUE' TO YOUR QUEST	Avoid plagiarism See help.
DISTILL YOUR WISDOM AND COMMUNICATE IT TO OTHERS.	See tips.
Created by Barbara Clarke, Associate Librarian, Head, Teacher Education Resource Center, Milne Library State University of New York at Geneseo Geneseo, New York 14454 clarke@geneseo.edu