SOC 202: The Sociology of Food

Steps to Find Information

  1. Click on the sub-pages to explore how to find information:

  1. Option: watch videos on this page for further understanding

Video: How to Use the Library One Search to Find Sources

Source: "Primo One Search - Holman Library, Green River College" by Holman Library is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

In this 10-minute video you will learn how to find books, videos and articles through the Primo One Search Discovery Tool.

Why Use Different Source Types

Books

  • can give you an in-depth analysis of your topic      
  • can get you a historical perspecitve on your topic to see how it has evolved over time
  • often are written by authors who are experts or have taken the time to do research on a particular subject
  • help you understand the complexity your topic

When you find a book...
  • you do not have to read the whole book! Instead look at the table of contents in the front to find which chapters will be most helpful to you
  • look in the back of the book.  Often there is a list of sources that the author consulted when he or she wrote the book.  You might want to use these sources for your research, too!

Articles

Different articles give you different flavors of info:
  • Scholarly or Peer-Reviewed or Academic Journal articles are good to find results of scientific or academic research.  They are written for scholars and provide in-depth analysis of a very specific area of your topic 
    * For more in-depth info on scholarly journals click on the link at the bottom of this box. 
  • Trade Journal articles are good for finding articles written for specific professions (police officer, veterinarian...etc.)  They often analyze new trends, research, tools or techniques important to their area of work 
  • Popular Magazine articles are good for summarizing information on a topic for the general public.  They often provide a background, summarize research findings, and provide some analysis of a topic
  • Newspaper articles are good for facts and up-to-date information.  They often provide little analysis of a topic. 
  • Evaluate articles to determine if they are credible sources for your research

Audio, Video and Images

  • audio and video can be valid sources for research!!
  • give you a visual and emotional understanding of your topic
  • allow you to hear important talks or lectures at your own convenience 
  • can provide authentic, first-hand accounts of events from participants or witnesses in the film
  • are great for presentations you must give in front of a class - keep your audience interested and engaged!
  • need to be evaluated to determine if they are credible sources for your research