Introduction - Information and Format
Learning Goals for the Session:
- Distinguish scholarly sources from opinion/grey literature using clear criteria.
- Search for and access peer-reviewed sociology literature using MRU Library tools and Google Scholar.
- Use the idea of sociological imagination as a lens to evaluate why sociologists write the way they do.
- Begin locating potential scholarly sources for their Public Report Analysis assignment.
Download SLGY 1001 Library Worksheet
Why using good sources matter...
When you endeavor to find sources related to a topic of interest for your academic writing, you are demonstrating a number of skills
- You are able to synthesize a variety of information and integrate it into your own work
- You are able to investigate the dialogue that has occurred related to an area of interest and engage in that conversation through your academic writing
- Using good, credible reliable sources will elevate the accuracy and authority of your own work
Authority is Constructed and Contextual
Information, in any format, is produced to convey a message and is shared via a selected delivery method. The iterative processes of researching, creating, revising and disseminating information vary, and the resulting produce reflects these differences (ACRL par. 13).
- Information creations are valued differently depending on the context and purpose for which they are created
- Audience matters. Certain things are created for certain purposes and it doesn't really make one format of information better than another. It is up to us to discern what information process best fits our information need.
- In your own creation process, understand that your choices in what type of information you use, impacts the purpose for which the information product you create will be used and the message it conveys.
Source: Project Cora - https://www.projectcora.org/assignment/information-spectrum
Take 3-5 minutes and sort these sources into the column that you think it would best fit (academic/scholarly or not academic).
Scholarly Sources
- Are written by "experts" or scholars.
- Are reviewed by "experts" or scholars.
- Always consult other research/scholarly sources (include a list of references).
- Will normally be in the form of scholarly books, scholarly journal articles, scholarly book chapters or thesis and dissertations.
THIS is an example of an op-ed!
Kruse, L. (2023, February 7). Displacing homeless encampments is not the answer. Edmonton Journal. Public Interest Alberta. https://www.pialberta.org/edmonton_journal_opinion_displacing_homeless_encampments_is_not_the_answer
THIS is an example of government reasearch/task force report
Government of Alberta, Coordinated Community Response to Homelessness Task Force. (2022). Recovery-oriented housing model: Report of the Coordinated Community Response to Homelessness Task Force. Government of Alberta. https://www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/homelessness-task-force-report.pdf
THIS is an example of a scholarly article that discusses the same topic that you would find in the library/Google Scholar
Lihanceanu, B., Miller, A., Szafran, O., & Rabi, D. M. (2024). A portrait of late life homelessness in Calgary, Alberta. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement, 43(1), 61–75. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0714980819000229
A Reminder....
A scholarly publication contains articles written by experts in a particular field. The primary audience of these articles is other experts. ... Many of these publications are also referred to as "peer-reviewed", academic or "refereed". They all mean essentially the same thing and refer to the editorial and publication process in which scholars in the same field review the research and findings before the article is published.
| Scholarly / Peer-Reviewed | Popular/Not Scholarly | |
| Author | Expert | Journalist / Professional Writer |
| Review | Reviewed by an editorial board or other experts ("peers") | Reviewed by an editor |
| Audience / Language |
Scholars and students / Academic Technical language |
General public Easy to understand |
| Content |
Original Research |
News and practical information Uses a variety of sources for background |
| Sources | Always cited | Sometimes cited |
| Examples |
Peer-reviewed articles Academic encyclopedias |
Magazine articles |
- What are the author’s credentials? Is it written by an expert?
- Published in a journal (is there a DOI?)
- Academic language
- Includes reference list
- Length
- A "Received" and "Accepted" date
- Is it an actual article? Sometimes other types of content are included in scholarly publications, such as editorials/opinion pieces and book reviews. Make sure you are looking at an article.
Finding Sources
LibrarySearch tips: Make sure to do the following
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Sign in to save searches, items, and to request materials.
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Use the pin icon to save books and articles to your Favourites for future reference.
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Use the filters on the right. You will use Availability, Resource Type, and Date filters most often. Filter settings can be "locked in" so that you don't have to reapply them to every search that you make.
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Some items may not be available; however, you can request unavailable items through a service called interlibrary loan.
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When viewing an item record, scroll down to the Get it (for hardcopy/physical items) or Access options (for electronic items) section to get access to the item.
Search Smarter!
You can search in a way to combine or omit different terms by telling the search engine exactly what you want…this can help you save some time (and frustration!)
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Use quotation marks to keep phrases together - "strain theory"
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Use AND to combine search terms - "strain theory" AND "racial profiling"
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Use OR to connect two or more similar terms - "strain theories" OR "anomie theories"
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Use wild cards to substitute a letter or suffix with a symbol - societ* (society, societies, societal etc.)
Thinking about keywords
Figure 2. Copely, R. Huge stand in the market with a large selection of fruits [Photograph]. Pixy.org. https://pixy.org/143529/
What words would you use to describe this image?
Questions to consider
- Are you using the terminology that an expert in the field would use?
- Is there more than one way to spell the word?
- Are there any synonyms or other terms that could apply to your topic?
- Are there sub-topics that can help you specify or narrow down your topic?
- Consider writing out your topic in a sentence and then highlighting the different concepts within.
Google Scholar
Google Scholar is a great tool for finding quality resources. Unlike regular Google Search, Google Scholar finds academic sources - namely, peer-reviewed articles, books, and grey literature (conference presentations, abstracts, theses, dissertations, and other reports).
- To show library access for up to 5 libraries, click the Settings icon, select Library Links, type “Mount Royal,” and save. If you’re logged into the MRU library, these links should appear automatically when searching.
- The Cited by feature helps you find related articles.
Helpful Search Operators to Use in Google Scholar
Advanced Search is in the menu icon (top left)
Google Search Tip - Limiting to Canadian federal government websites
All Canadian governmental websites end with gc.ca. The following Google Search limits your results to web addresses with this ending
social determinants of health site:gc.ca
Other endings that might be useful for a site: search
site:gov will find American governmental pages
site:gc.ca will direct you to Canadian governmental pages
Google Search Tip - Searching within a particular organization's website
You can also use site: to do a deep dive into a particular website. For example, this search is looking for statistics relating to "domestic violence" on any Canadian government website:
statistics "domestic violence" site: gc.ca
You can also try databases that are specific to statistical reporting:
Cite Sources: Learn the correct way to cite sources by using these guides, tutorials, and videos.
Referencing Webinars: APA & MLA. Referencing Webinars are 75 minutes long. Registration is required.
Online Appointments: Personalized online 30-minute appointments with a Learning Strategist
Take an MLA or APA Referencing Tutorial on D2L!
These self-paced 90-minute tutorials covers the same content as live workshops—why citation is important along with the basics of in-text citations and reference entries. Students who complete the tutorial will gain access to a form they can fill out and submit as proof of completion.
Access the tutorial on D2L: Using Google Chrome as your web browser, log in to D2L (learn.mru.ca) with your @mtroyal.ca account. Click the “Discover” tab, then type “APA” or "MLA" in the search bar. Click on the “APA Referencing Tutorial” or "MLA Referencing Tutorial" link and then the “Enroll in Course” button. If you have any questions about the tutorial, contact sls@mtroyal.ca.
