OUGD501 Context of Practice Lecture Notes 2/3 Library Research Methodologies

This lecture centered around the preparation for the dissertation that we will be proposing this year and researching over the summer to write in the following academic year.
The estudio library page has numerous links for use during academic research. This includes guides to essay referencing that allow you to reference numerous sources in the correct academic manner. Including secondary references which have been a point of trouble for me in the past.
Another useful resource is the SCONUL pass which can be used to access all university and college libraries. This could be particularly relevant to researching from home in Norwich because Norwich University of the Arts would have a particularly useful resource in terms of Art specific literature.

The importance of focus in dissertation subject matter is paramount. The majority of your research may well be of little consequence later on in the writing process. Use the question/ title to limit the focus of your written piece and make the research you do as relevant to you final result as possible. Limit the number of words in you question and constantly return to it for direction in you research. Creating a research diagram that breaks down the different areas of your question and shows the path your research may take is a valuable exercise.

It is important to show a spread in the types of research that is both primary and secondary. Links between the two create greater strength and depth to the points made in your written piece, whether they be supportive or challenging, these are points of valuable further discussion. Do not forget that your practice is primary research and is very valid. However, use further primary research methods to expand on this through the means of case studies and interviews, a depth of understanding is created through numerous ways of researching a single idea. With interviews always tell people the questions that you are going to ask in advance of the interview. This means the answers are often more considered and the results of the interview more fruitful.

It is important not to be limited to the idea of books as the only literature resource for your reputable secondary research. Websites and journals, books and printed ephemera are also resources that are perfectly reputable. Often for weight of argument academic texts need to be referenced regularly.

When using books as reference points read the introduction first and by all means skip to the relevant part of the book to your research. Also if a particular book has proven very useful use the bibliography for other titles that helped the author  on this subject. The british library can be accessed through the college library to ensure access to specific publications that you may not be able to find anywhere else.

Relevant articles can be found using info track which is a database of articles that you can down load the articles. JSTOR is another similar resource which can allow you to research journals books and pamphlets. To search a specific statement put it in inverted commas to limit the search criteria. All of these resources can be found on the college portal and estudio.

One major tip was to create the bibliography from the word go and keep it up to date throughout your research stage.