Introductory Seminar in Labor and Employment Relations: 38:578:500:01: Getting Started

Here are some suggestions to help you start your research:

1.   Think about your topic. 

• What are the keywords or key phrases that describe this topic? 

• Do you need to consult an encyclopedia or handbook to become familiar with this topic?

2.  What type of information are you looking for?

• Current information? 

• Analysis?

• Statistics?

• Historical or survey information?

• Periodical articles are more suitable for current information and very specific topics.  Books are better for a broad survey, historical outlook, and biographical information.  Statistics are often best retrieved from government or organizational web sites.

3.  Utilize different literature search techniques:

• Search scholarly databases for articles, using keywords (most traditional).

• Use Google Scholar for "quick & dirty" searching, or to explore concepts and find keywords.

• Use citation searching (following a key article forward), using World of Science or Google Scholar.

• Used Advanced Google to locate online research and working papers.

4.  Document all sources.

• RefWorks can help you keep track of your citations and then produce a bibliography in the style sheet of your choice.
• Cite all quotations, statistics, ideas.