How to Find Statistical/Background Information Using Reference and Web Resources

Why Bother?

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Background information is vitally important to find and use because these data will:

o get you up-to-speed quickly and effectively on your topic.
o provide a framework for your issue (good for use in your introduction).
o provide valid and substantive support for your thesis statement.
o lend credibility to your research.

First, a Bit of Preparation ...

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Before you begin searching for statistical information for your paper, you will need to finish a few preliminary steps.

1. Choose your topic. Make sure it is appropriate and manageable for the assignment.
2. What question do you want to answer? (ex: is standardized testing unfair to minority students?) What do you anticipate might be the answer to this question? What are you trying to prove in your paper or what side are you defending? In other words, what is your thesis statement? (ex: I believe that the current system of standardized testing in the public school system is unfair to minorities because of cultural bias.)
3. What are the main concepts of your topic? What keywords might you use when searching?
4. What types of resources do you need? Follow your instructor's syllabus carefully. Will you search for articles from MxCC databases, books, websites?

You're in luck! The MxCC Library has a number of resources to help you with these steps - refer to our homepage (or my.commnet.edu - Library Tab) - left hand column - Help with Your Research..

Some Helpful Terms to Know ...

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Source: Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResearchW/resource.html

Primary source: an original document or account that is not about another document or account but stands on its own. For example, any novel, poem, play, diary, letter, or other creative work is a primary source. The data from a research study also constitutes a primary source because it comes straight from the participants' replies. Interviews, not of experts but of people actually experiencing something "on the scene," are also primary sources.

Secondary source: interprets primary sources or are otherwise a 'step removed'. A journal article or book about a poem, novel, or play or a commentary about what an interview signifies is a secondary source. Your textbook is most likely a secondary source. College students and librarians use secondary sources much of the time and, in turn, their papers are secondary works.

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Qualitative research: In its simplest definition, qualitative research refers to respondents' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. These data are usually collected via open-ended questions (e.g., "how do you feel about your college experience?") and provide a subjective response.

Quantitative research: refers to numeric facts and figures that can be statistically analyzed and is said to be objective. Typically, collected data will be subjected to a number of tests to ensure randomness, statistical significance, and validity. A question such as "what program are you in?" will allow for a summation of responses and calculation of other statistical measurements.

Where Do I Find Statistical/Background Information?

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1. Search the MxCC Library Catalog for print reference books including factbooks, almanacs and encyclopedias.

+ Tip: On the Basic Search screen, select "Book" from the "Limit To" drop-down menu. Sort by date in the results list to see the most recent titles.

2. Search the awesome e-reference databases found under 'Find Articles' - Reference Databases. These include Credo and Gale Virtual Reference.

3. Use our Recommended Websites to find quality information on your topic.

4. If you choose to search the web on your own, remember to evaluate websites for accuracy and currency.

+ Search Tip 1: Consider which organization(s) would be interested in researching your topic. For example, if your topic is 'affordable healthcare', a government agency or insurance association might be interested in tracking the scope of the problem. Limit your google search by site:gov or site:org (ex: healthcare site:gov). Site:edu is another great limiter.

+ Tip 2: If you find a website that is particularly useful and you want to search for web pages with similar content, limit your Google search by related:website address (ex: related:www.census.gov).

+ Tip 3: Try using a web subject directory such as Google Directory or Yahoo Directory where you can drill down your topic to specific websites. (you'll still need to evaluate what you find)

5. Look at the bibliographies (references) included within the text and at the end of the scholarly articles you find during the course of your research. What organizations are mentioned? What additional sources of info can you find?

Citing What You Find

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To create the bibliography, use one of our online citation guides (we also have guides in print at the library, in our Writing & Research Guides section):
APA
KnightCite - "an online citation generator service"