What kinds of resources should I use to research my topic?

• How do I decide what kinds of resources I need?
• What are the different types of resources available?

What are the different types of resources available?

There are different types of resources in the library that can help you with your research topic. Descriptions are provided for each individual resource to help you choose the appropriate one. Every source may contain a particular viewpoint of an author or publisher which may affect the manner in which material is presented to the reader. [tell me more]

• Newspapers

  Examples: New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

  Newspapers are a source of information for current issues of local, national, and international significance. Older newspapers may be a good source of historical information. Articles are written by professional journalists.

• Magazines

  Examples: Newsweek, Time, People, Vogue

  Popular magazines provide information on current issues and popular subjects. The articles are written to appeal to a wide audience.

• Journals

  Examples: The American Historical Review, Church History

  Professional journals provide current information on important topics in a certain field of study. Articles are written by experts in the field. They may contain technical language and statistics.

• Books

  Written to appeal to a general audience or to a scholarly audience. Scholarly works may include bibliographies that will provide additional sources for study.

• World Wide Web Resources

  Written by everyone and intended for a wide audience. Topics covered vary widely.

• Other types of resources available include:
  • Conference Proceedings: Research papers presented at conferences may be published in book form. These may be available in the library or through interlibrary loan.

  • Theses and Dissertations: Published research papers required for many master's degrees as well as Ph.D. programs. They are available in the library or through interlibrary loan.

  • Government Documents: Available on the second floor of Paul Laurence Dunbar Library.

  • Archival sources: These are a good source of primary documents ranging from newspapers to collections of papers from prominent individuals, organizations, and industries. Local government records are also available as well as genealogical resources and aviation history.
        
  
  

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