Assignment 9: Search Strings

The database I chose to use along with the Academic Search Premier was Alt HealthWatch. However, I received the most relevant and best results for my topic from the Academic Search Premier. I was able to narrow down my topic in both databases using a few different tips. I added a row to make my search string longer and more specific. I also used OR, AND, and * to include all words that I was looking for. I could also have chosen to select a field but I chose not to. Lucky for me, my first search sting was successful and received quite a few results that I was able to work with. I received 113 articles on the Academic Search Premier while only 68 for Alt HealthWatch. 35 articles were available in full test for Alt HealthWatch and 28 for Academic Search Premier. 47 were available through FindIt in other databases and 11 were available in print and the Miller Center. However, only 2 were not available at all and required an ILL request. So far my research question hasn't really changed. I have been able to find words that get the best results for my topic that I haven't had to do much with changing my research question. My biggest challenge I have encountered in composing a research question has been getting started. I was unsure of what direction I wanted to go with my research question since it is such a "touchy" and I didn't know much about the population. I think I overcame this challenge by doing a lot of research and finding a topic that I am interested in.

Your Population

I have found a lot of good information on cocaine and the effects it can have on the body. It is because of this information that my assumptions have changed some. I am more aware of how addictive it can become. Having never done drugs or any substance that can lead to addiction myself, I could not put myself in the situation where cocaine could take over my life. But after reading stories about people who have, I have a better understanding for it. A question that I have now about my population is what kind of rehab facilities are available for people who have been addicted for so long. Although this doesn't directed related to my project, I became curious as to the different types of rehabs after doing some much research on cocaine and how it destroys lives.

So far I have mainly come up with a lot of facts that will support my research project. I have found some stories that will also come in handy too. I have even found pictures of people that show the physical effects of cocaine after just a few years of using.

Encyclopedia vs Wikipedia

After learning about encyclopedias in class and doing a little research of my own, I realized there are both pros and cons when it comes to using encyclopedias and Internet sources like Wikipedia. To start off, encyclopedias are very reliable. They have been edited, revised, and edited again. The information is as current as the encyclopedia's publishing date. The information also comes from people who are very educated and knowledgeable on the subject. They know their stuff! However, there are some cons when it come to encyclopedias. Encyclopedias can be very biased. Only information that the publisher and editor want to see are present in the books themselves. As Professor Wexelbaum showed, a whole section or population of information could be missing based off of the companies preference.

Wikipedia is a search engine that I still have mixed feelings about. My high school teachers drilled into my head that Wikipedia is not a reliable source and never to use it when writing papers. I can see positives and negatives on both sides of it. As for the pros, there seems be information on any topic on everything imaginable. Wikipedia has it all! However, the problem with Wikipedia is that anyone could write information about the subject no matter their creditability on it. I can remember my teacher bringing up multiple searches that had misinformation on the subject.

I am actually having problems location print encyclopedias and E-encyclopedias on my subject. I'm not sure if I am looking in the right spot, or using the wrong words, or if there are none available on my topic, but I plan on asking Professor Wexelbaum for help next class period.

Finally, I would have to say that using Wikipedia is more appropriate in my research presentation at this time because I have yet to locate an encyclopedia. Wikipedia had a lot of information on my subject that I thought was very useful. I was definitely able to find information that I can put into my research presentation project.

Locating a Book

For my research project I decided to focus on substance abusers. Since this topic is much too general, I narrowed it down to the question, "What are the long term effects of cocaine users who start at an early age?" I feel that I will be able to find a lot of information on this subject because substance abuse is a hot topic these days. For the project, I am going to be looking for both specific and general information. Although I understand the basics of cocaine and it's effects, it is not enough to write a research paper on. To find books on my topic I decided to start at our library's website. I used the advanced search to focus on key words that I felt would get me the best results. A few of the words I used were, cocaine, teenagers, effects, and long term. With these words I was able to narrow my search down but at the same time still have plenty of books to choose from. Once I found a few books that I thought would work, it was off to the basement! I was actually unable to find one of the books that I was looking for but I found another one that I thought would work just as well. I also tried looking for an EBook. However, I did not find one that I thought would work for my topic. I'm still undecided on the whole EBook subject. I like having an actual book in my hand and sometimes my eyes start to hurt after looking at a computer screen for too long. I also dont have a mobile device that would allow me to read from it. However, if I found an EBook that would work I would maybe try it out. I next went on the Great River Regional Library System website to see what books they had to offer. I feel like their search is very similar to ours, although I do like the Miller Center's better. I used many of the similar words that I had in my previous search but I feel like I got fewer results that would work for my research project.

What Do You Assume to Be True About Substance Abusers?

It took me a long time to come up with a human population to write a research project about. I did not feel comfortable writing about a particular minority, religion, or ethnic group. I decided on a topic that was nonspecific to any of these groups but could include them all. I eventually settled upon substance abusers as a vulnerable human population I would like to research. I chose substance abusers because it is a population that I do not understand. I have never taken any kind of drug in my life nor do I plan on it. I am aware of the reasons why people turn to drugs and become addicted to them. However, I feel that there is no situation in life where drugs can make it any better. They destroy lives of the users and everyone else around them. For the most part, I assume people turn to drugs to get away from or briefly block out something they are dealing with whether they know it or not. I do not believe that there is one person who plans on becoming addicted to drugs. Rather, it happens over a period of time where that blocking out stage becomes less and less and it takes more substances to cover up the pain. I guess this assumption is something that I never really learned, rather just assumed to be true because to me, there is no other explanation to it. I cannot imagine any other reason why people would put themselves in that situation unless that was the case. The most difficult challenge that I think I will face will be trying to put myself in the abusers' shoes. I feel this will be necessary in order to learn more about the situation and see it from an unbiased point of view.

What is Critical Thinking?

To me, critical thinking is the ability to take a deeper look at thoughts, ideas and surroundings by having an open mind to explore all aspects of the subject. This does not mean that one has to be an expert or even have previous knowledge of the matter, but rather be open to all ideas of it. According to Dictionary.com, critical thinking is the disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence. I feel that my definition and that of Dictionary.com are very similar. Both are commonly united by the idea of exploring the subject with an open mind to achieve a deeper thought. Although critical thinking may seem like a complicated idea, according to the definition given by Dictionary.com, there is no particular process that one must engage in to think critically other than clearing the mind and be accepting to new and inovated ideas. I think there is a connection between critical thinking and IM 204 Research Strategies. Both subject matters involving thinking outside of the box to get what you want. With critical thinking, one is forced to think in a different way that may be difficult and uncomfortable from what they are used to. With IM 204, one uses other resources to find information that they normally may not use. Personally, I stick to the basic when it comes to research. My motto has been, "if you can't find it on the internet, you can't find it anywhere." I am excited to learn of other ways to research and to think outside of the box when it comes to applying new information.

Critical thinking link from Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/critical+thinking