This chapter will help you discover how both print and electronic resources, as well as field work, can be used effectively as you undertake projects in a research community. Along with explaining search strategies and techniques, this chapter also provides an overview of available resources. Since the Internet has dramatically changed the way many conduct research, attention is devoted here to a basic explanation of what resources are available, tips on how to conduct searches for sources, and information on how to evaluate sources for possible use.

The chapter objectives that follow will help you figure out whether you have really mastered the material presented in this chapter.

After reading this chapter and completing its exercises, you should be able to:

1. explain to another student the difference between field work, print, and electronic resources
2. list examples of resources of both types that could be used for a given research project within an academic, workplace, or public community
3. understand the difference between preliminary, general, and specialized sources
4. ask questions to determine what kinds of research resources are most appropriate for a given project
5. identify general reference resources available in most libraries
6. conduct a basic Internet search using Boolean terms
7. evaluate Websites to determine whether the information they “publish” is appropriate for use in your research project

If, as you read through these objectives, you can already tell you need to review the chapter again or work on the exercises provided in the handbook, please do so. Once you feel confident that you have a solid understanding of the material, proceed to the exercises that accompany this chapter on the Website.

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