My research topic is about the changes in social life on college campuses since the 1920s. As I was looking for scholarly articles, I realized that my search results could go two ways: it could be extremely interesting, detailing the events and social norms of the times or it could be monotonous. I remembered how to properly search the databases- thank you, Gail- but I had a hard time realizing what I was actually looking for. So, I put in some very general terms.
For all of you groaning out there, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize the error of my ways until I got my search results. My search criteria were way too vague; I got results detailing consumerism, fashion, sexuality, and even one about Brazilian surgery.
The Improvement
I didn’t change the search inputs, but I did start to play around with the search criteria on the bottom of the page, such as the publication type and the document type. Once I refined what I was looking for- an academic journal that detailed the changes in college living since the 1920s- I got some responses that were most in line with my proposed topic. After some more tweaking, I finally got an article that I felt I could use to support my topic. It was a Chronicle of Higher Learning article that showed a timeline of important events in American education history, dating all the way from the early 1960s.
What I Could Do
After watching the tutorials, I think I understand what it is I’m looking for. I want an academic article, for my own preference as well as essay requirements. I also want an essay from the viewpoint of educators who are looking to see what successes and failures of the education system thus far. The Chronicle of Higher Learning is a good start in my research process. It’s not an academic journal, but the information looks well-researched and credible. So while it may not be my final source, it is a good launching pad in finding some sources that will really be able to substantiate my topic.