Interpreter Education Program/American Sign Language: Additional Help

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refdesk@cscc.edu

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614-287-2460   Columbus
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 Library Help

Reference librarians are committed to assisting you with the following:

Locating appropriate resources

Developing research skills

Providing citation guidance

Assisting with library technology

Columbus Campus: Reference librarians are on duty during all hours the library is open. Reference librarians can be contacted at 614-287-2460 or by email at refdesk@cscc.edu.

Delaware Campus: Reference librarians can be contacted at 740-203-8183 or by email at refdesk@cscc.edu.

Limits of Scope

For librarian William Badke, one of the main frustrations with Google is its limited content. It often doesn't search the most important sources¹. Most experts would agree that a single search engine captures no more than 16% of the entire Internet².

Consequences of Habit

Another tendency of Internet researchers is to use the same search engine for every search³. Applying the information above, it becomes evident that repeatedly relying on a familar search engine severely constricts your awareness of the information available on a topic. This tendency towards the familar goes "hand-in-hand" with not using the advanced features of a particular search engine.

During your search, you may encounter times when the full text (PDF or HTML) of an article is not available in the database.  Follow these steps to see how you may locate an electronic or print version of your article:

1. If PDF and HTML full text are unavailable, click in certain databases to locate print copies in Columbus State's library or electronic copies in another database, such as the Electronic Journal Center.
2. If you know the name of the journal in which the article appears, search the eResource Lookup to see if the journal is available online in one of the research databases.
3. If the article is not available at Columbus State's library or electronically through the research databases, search the OhioLINK catalog for print holdings at nearby college or university libraries. 

Proper spelling is critical when using a library database. A simple spelling error will cause your search terms not to be found.

Here is a list of Common Questions you should ask when analyzing any source for research purposes.

Currency: Information is timely

Can you locate a publication date or posted date? Are there revisions or updates to the information? Is the information current enough for your topic?

Relevance: Information connects to your research needs

How does the information compare to other sources you found? Do I need scholarly communication, facts and figures, or an emotional story? Does the information answer your research question?

Authority: Information comes from a trusted source or expert

Can you determine the author or publisher of the source? Is the author affiliated with a particular institution or organization? Is the author an expert on this topic?

Accuracy: Information is correct, reliable, and factual

Can you identify the original source(s) of information? Is the information supported by evidence? Has the information been peer-reviewed or fact checked?

Purpose: Information has a clear reason or intent

Is there an identifiable bias (political, personal, ideological)? What is the source's agenda (inform, persuade, sell, mislead, provoke)? Is the information factual, opinion, propaganda, or satirical?

*Based on the CRAAP test created by Molly Beestrum, Librarian, while at Dominican University.