Journalism 410: Suggested Information Sources
The following are questions from Prof. Bowen's Thursday 12:30 J410 class, which I grouped under suggested library and internet resources to find the answers as discussed in today's library session. I have also added some of the search tips.
- Brainstorm synonyms for keywords to maximize searching.
- Use OR to search synonyms and broaden results: disabled or handicapped or persons with disabilities
- Truncate terms to automatically search spelling variations: disab* (NOTE: Lexis Nexis uses the exclamation point as a truncation symbol!!)
- Use AND to narrow or combine search terms: and housing and san Fernando valley
- Use parentheses or separate search boxes in databases to enter terms that are searched with or
- (disab* or handicapped) and (housing or apartment* or rent*) and san Fernando valley
Lexis Nexis Academic:
Use the Power search link on left side of page to be able to combine keywords with AND and OR and use truncation (exclamation point ! not the asterisk). Select the source from the menu.
Use the Power search link on left side of page to be able to combine keywords with AND and OR and use truncation (exclamation point ! not the asterisk). Select the source from the menu.
- Use Legal tab and then Law Reviews to find detailed discussions about cases, laws, regulations, constitutional rights, etc. Use the W/P (within same paragraph) instead of AND to combine keywords since law review articles are so lengthy.
- Business tab to search for information on companies and annual reports
- Note: only has latest 6 months of LA Times is in LexisNexis. Use Proquest Newspapers for LA related articles)
How to make the most of a Lexis-Nexis search
State and federal rights against discrimination
Most effective way to search through an annual report; corporate information
Finding corporate information/ better way to navigate
Public safety/traffic safety on San Fernando Valley roads
Statistics on Los Angeles
- Start in the General/Multi-Subject Databases, e.g., General OneFile
- Try also "Search for Articles by Subject" list and select the subject discipline that matches your topic. Usually, the first database listed under a discipline is the best choice.
- For example, Under Business & Economics: use ABI Inform and Mergent for company information.
Where else might you go for academic studies for things like caffeine use or discrimination on surveys
Most effective way to search through an annual report; corporate information:
Finding corporate information/ better way to navigate
Finding corporate information/ better way to navigate
Search geographically: enter most specific geographic areas in case studies done on that area. If not, go broader geographically.
Statistics:
In general, think about which agency or oganization might produce those data. If you are not sure, try looking up news or journal articles in Lexis, Proquest, or as discussed above to find someone else's research or news article on your topic that quotes statistics to figure out who or what agency is responsible for collecting data.
San Fernando Valley Statistics and Facts note explanation about the Valley and the difficulty in finding statistics about it since it is not a city. A great reference on that page is the San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center, which complies all Valley data.
Statistics Search Engines: Note: very useful subject guides on right side of page for searching variety of stats, such as education, social services, and health related.San Fernando Valley Statistics and Facts note explanation about the Valley and the difficulty in finding statistics about it since it is not a city. A great reference on that page is the San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center, which complies all Valley data.
State statistics on prisoner disability
Statistics of health problems regarding caffeine/what the law says about it
How to navigate through different sites obtaining information on cat/dog statistics in LA
Statistics/discrimination of people with disabilities or the focus on right-handedness
Statistics on Los Angeles
San Fernando Valley statistics on disabled housing
Government and Organizational Web Sites:
Google Advanced Search: use the exact wording search to find the most direct link to a government or organization's web site
U.S. Federal Government Web Sites: California and Los Angeles Government Web Sites:
Legal Research Web Sites:
Best place to find educational test scores in the LAUSD: their web site. Look for media links which usually show reports of interest to the media.
Obtaining public school records: by district or County or State Boards of education
Data on child protective services
Finding regulatory agency budgets
Finding corporate information/ better way to navigate
Obtaining budget information/ CSUN’s SPACE program
Major League Baseball policies and procedures
State and federal rights against discrimination
Statistics on Los Angeles
