This is the resource page for CYFS 420, Applied Research Methods and Information Literacy. Here you will find the resources and instruction materials to support the information literacy portion of the curriculum for this course. They are organized into the following resource areas:
| - COURSE TEXTBOOK, DATABASES & EBOOKS | - INFORMATION LITERACY |
| - TOPIC DEVELOPMENT | - RESEARCH PROPOSALS |
| - SCHOLARLY JOURNAL ARTICLES | - APA REFERENCE CITATIONS |
| - ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES | - RESEARCH ETHICS |
| - LITERATURE REVIEWS |
We will continue to add materials throughout the course as we cover the different areas of learning.
There are two copies of each of these books are on Reserve for CYFS 420 in the library:
Applied Social Research
Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-Time Researchers
Empowerment Series: Essential Research Methods for Social Work
Health Services Research Methods
Research Methods in Social WorkUse One Search to find books, articles and films in one search.
NOTE: After entering your search terms, click the "Search" button to generate your results. Do not use the "Enter" key on your keyboard.
Here are two great videos produced by Western Washington University Libraries that explain how to develop a research question and sub-questions to find information on your problem. Once you decide on these questions, you can go and find information on them and bring them together to answer your problem.
This topic development worksheet is designed to help you begin thinking about and focusing your research topic. It is a Google Doc which you will copy and name as your own. You will then give your instructors edit access to it so that we can make comments and suggestions to help you in developing your topic.
The Wiley Handbook of Early Childhood Development Programs, Practices, and PoliciesIf you are someone who thinks in shapes and relationships try using this mind-mapping tool to develop your topic idea.
These two videos provide a thorough explanation of the purpose and process of the annotation bibliography. Used with permission from Alan W. Aldrich & Carol A. Leibiger. University Libraries, University of South Dakota. Contact: alan.aldrich@usd.edu. Copyright 2014
There is also a printed script for each video as well as a copy of the Source Evaluation Matrix used in video 2:
Note: There is no APA style for annotated bibliographies, only for citing the references in APA style.
Information Literacy is a life-long learning skill that we use personally, professionally, academically and socially. This presentation from Seminole State College Library explains the five main components of Information Literacy, as well as the differences in how Information Literacy skills are applied in academic versus personal and real-life research and investigation.
Source: Research Foundation: Information Literacy
Seminal State Library
In order to successfully find and engage with scholarly research materials it is essential to understand (1) what they are and how to find them and (2) how they are used to build new knowledge in research and learning communities and can therefore contribute to your research. These critical thinking skills for finding information and building new knowledge are at the heart of Information Literacy.
The two videos below provide clear explanations of these concepts.
Additional Information Literacy resources include:
- Information Literacy Oregon Open Education Resources
- Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education ACRL
Below are some examples of the format and style for writing a research proposal:
You will be using this Research Proposal Template to write your research proposal for this class. We will go over it in depth in class before you begin using it.
The official American Psychological Association (APA) writing and citation style provides excellent resources to help you learn to incorporate this style into your academic writing for your coursework.
Watch the video below to learn what citations are, and how to use them to document your sources in your paper.
Research Ethics: Key Points
Research Ethics: The History
Presented by the University of Maryland
Presented by North Carolina State University Library
