WRI 1100: Shim

The above is only a select list of SPU databases I thought would be most helpful for this class.  There may be other databases that would be helpful for this assignment - for example if you were looking for information about the legal ramifications of your topic, you might want to search the database 'Legal Collection.'

Not sure which database is best for your topic?  Ask a Librarian!

A-Z List of SPU Databases

Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers by Michael A. Caulfield

• "Check for previous work" - Make use of existing fact checking sources like Snopes, FactCheck.org, etc. for news, or, for scholarly research, check for additional background information in encyclopedias, books, or journal articles.
• "Go upstream" - find the original source by using references (or a google search) to link back to the primary source.
• "Read laterally" - by searching for what other sources have to say about the same topic
•  "Circle back" -  using what you have learned, take a more informed path through the fact checking process

• If multiple sources say the same thing, select the source that seems the most credible or the primary source to cite in your paper.
• Circle back to a previous stage of the fact checking process

The habit is to "check your emotion" - if something it triggering a strong emotional reaction, it is probably a good idea to fact check the information before sharing.

Lets practice these steps on a Google Image Search for "Sex Education in the United States"

Choosing a topic:

1. Choose any topic in the universe  (or as assigned by your professor)

 e.g. Patient Safety

2. Be a little more specific about your topic

e.g. Medication errors

3. Be a lot more specific about your topic,

e.g.  Medication errors and nursing role in preveiontion

4. Repeat these steps a few more times to give yourself a few examples of topics to choose from.

Narrowing your topic:

1. Make one or two words more specific,

e.g. Medication errors  IV drugs dosage errors and bedside nurses role in prevention

2. Turn your topic into a complete sentence that actually makes a statement

e.g. Bedside nurses have a critical role in preventing intravenious drug dosage errors.

3. Make the sentence a precise and arguable as possible

e.g. By following existing care standards and practices in the preparation and diministration of IV medicines,  bedside nurses have a critical role in improving patient safety and preventing medication errors in the pediatric hospital setting. (CINAHL Search)

Adapted from: Choosing and Narrowing a Topic to Write About (for Research Papers)

Some additional ways to broaden or narrow your topic (MIT Libraries: Selecting a Research Topic)