Handedness Research InstituteScholarly Search Guide

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© MKH This page is provided by the Handedness Research Institute at Indiana University as an aid for students and professionals. We do not have the personnel available to individually answer questions, so we offer these online resources to help you judge the quality of information, conduct library research, conduct online searches, improve study skills, devise a junior science project, improve writing skills (including guides for writing term papers, theses, posters, dissertations, and funding proposals), find help with statistical analyses, and locate reliable neural science resources.
 INFO WARNING   .  LIBRARY RESEARCH   .   ONLINE RESEARCH   .   NEUROLOGY RESOURCES   .   STUDY SKILLS   .   WRITING WELL  




 
i n f o   w a r n i n g      t h e   q u a l i t y   o f   i n f o r m a t i o n  

All info is not equal !   If you want to make sure that the information you receive is accurate, you have to be able to judge the quality of information.


For instance, statements found in tabloid newspapers are frequently exaggerations, misleading remarks, and rumor (unverified gossip) - this is some of the poorest quality of information, sometimes bordering on, or including, outright lies. The "popular press" includes books, magazines, newspapers, CD-ROMs, radio and tv shows written for non-specialist audiences. The quality of information found in the popular press ranges from poor tabloid stories to very accurate and reliable articles. Better still, working professionals in all fields have professional publications for their fields, written, edited, and often peer-reviewed by experts (e.g., scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc.). Which of these types of sources you go to for information depends on why you need the information (for entertainment, casual reading, or research for school or work.) If it's important that the info you find is accurate, you should use only sources you know are reliable (such as sources with editors and fact-checking systems). Scientific and professional sources written by experts which are edited and peer-reviewed provide the best assurance of quality.

Internet publications (including books and CD-ROMS that mirror web pages) are especially problematic, since it is possible for anyone to publish "information". The quality of information ranges from outright lies and false information to info provided by the world's experts in their field - the trick is learning how to tell the difference! Is that page about left-handedness posted by a left-hander as a hobby, or by a scientist at a research institution? I know one web page devoted to a famous artist that is full of statements that are not true; it was created by a knowledgable fellow who tired of school children sending him rude e-mails demanding help with homework. He thought having a web page full of lies that children would put in their reports and get bad grades was a way to teach rude children a lesson. This is why it is important to know how to judge information!

TIPS for JUDGING THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION
Indicators to help you assess the type of person or organization who publishes info on the Internet:
  1. Is the name of the person who wrote the text listed, along with a way to contact the author/s (e-mail or street address)? The first warning sign is lack of easy accountablity for posted info.
  2. Does the author list her/his qualifications (e.g., M.D. medical doctor, J.D. lawyer, Ph.D. scientist, position in company or institution, years of experience with the topic, etc.)
  3. If no author is listed, is the page part of a well-respected institution with editoral policies, and a contact address for the institutional web site (e.g., National Geographic)?
  4. For web sites originating from the USA, the suffix (end) of the host address provides some information (most advanced search engines allow you to limit your search by these, and other, domain names:
.edu
Educational site. Research universities have many pages written by experts in their field. "K-12" in the address indicates Kindergarten-High School pages. Be aware that student reports are also often published on .edu pages.
.com
Commercial site. Some of these pages may be written by experts, but many are not, and the ultimate aim of these content providers is to make money, which may or may not encourage the offering of accurate info. Be careful.
.gov
United States government sites. Most of these pages include offical statements that have been cleared by several people; often written by experts (e.g., NASA, NOAA, etc.)
.mil
United States military sites.
.org
Non-profit organization sites. Text may or may not be written by experts, but at least profit is not a motive (although fund-raising might be).
.net
Network sites for network provider computers. Wide range of information quality.
.int
International. For organizations established by international treaties, including specialized agencies of the United Nations and organizations that have UN observer status.
MORE ABOUT ASSESSING INFORMATION
The integrety of information
Hoax? Scholarly Research? Personal Opinion? You Decide!
Who Dunnit: What Kind of Web Page is This?
Evaluating Website Content
ICYouSee Guide to Critical Thinking About What You See on the Web
Evaluating Web Sites
Evaluating Internet Information
Evaluating Quality on the Net
Web Evaluation: Criteria
Evaluation of Information Sources




    l i b r a r y   r e s e a r c h   g u i d e        
The most successful students and researchers regularly use the library and professional librarians to find the information they need. If you are not familar with your local public library, school library, or university library, go in and ask for the reference librarian. Ask them to show you how to find info using: the card or online catalog, the library's reference materials, inter-library loans for books not in your library, databases provided by the library (including various indices, CD-ROMs, and online subscription services), and ask if your library has Area Specialist librarians. Don't worry that you will "bother" them -- this is their job, and I think you'll find most are very happy to help.
LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS
U.S. Public Libraries Online
K-12 School Libraries on the Web (worldwide)
Reference Librarian
Area Specialists Librarians
LIBRARY INDICES
Social Sciences Citation Index
Various CD-ROM Databases
Subscription Databases (e.g., IU)
LIBRARY REFERENCE MATERIALS
Various Reference Books (non-circulating)
Libraries also have videos, audio, and other media forms




    o n l i n e   r e s e a r c h   g u i d e        
The Internet is great for finding certain kinds of information quickly, but not as comprehensive or reliable as a library for other types of information. The types of things the Internet does best include quick delivery of: searchable full text of some newspapers, magazines, books, and manuscripts; searchable subscription databases (e.g., Lexis-Nexis, Academic Full-Text, etc.); searchable reference materials (dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.).
SEARCH ENGINES
Google Search
AltaVista
HotBot Advanced Search
Northern Light Power Search
Yahoo! Search Options
Search Engine Colossus (international)
SPECIALIZED SEARCHES
PubMed
Web of Science
Scirus Search
Infotrieve Search
Search the ERIC Database
Searchable Neurology Databases
AskA+Locator
Primate Info Net Search
Ask Primate (from PIN)
REFERENCE MATERIALS
AltaVista Translations (text, web pages)
Online Dictionaries (over 100 languages)
Encyclopedia Britannica Online
Roget's Thesaurus Search
William Strunk's Elements of Style




w r i t i n g   w e l l   &   s t u d y   s k i l l s        
The most successful students and professionals have developed effective study skills and have learned how to write well. You can, too. Check out the step-by-step guides listed below and improve your current skill level. Resources range from grammer school to Ph.D. and post-doctoral level.
WRITING
Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
Advice on Academic Writing
Purdue Writing Lab Topics
A+ Research & Writing for High School & College Students
Basic Prose Style & Mechanics
Writing Papers
Procedure for Writing a Term Paper
Guide for Writing Research Papers
Organizing Term Papers
Writing Essays: The Basics
Writing & Proofing Page
Avoiding Plagiarism
Non-Sexist Language
Common Errors in English
HperGrammer

WRITING SCIENTIFIC PAPERS
Writing Lab Reports & Scientific Papers
Introduction to Scientific Writing
Scientific Writing
The Graduate Student's Guide to Writing Scientific Papers
The Science of Scientific Writing American Scientist Vol. 78
Checklist for Writing Scientific Papers

PREPARING A SCIENTIFIC POSTER PRESENTATION
How to Prepare a Poster (Sven Hammarling & Nicholas Higham)
Poster Presentation of Research Work (M.T. Tham)
Effective Scientific Posters Quick Reference (G. Hess & L.H. Liegel)
Poster Presentation Guidelines, Medical Library Association

SCIENCE PROJECTS
IPL Science Fair Project Resouce Guide
How to Do a Science Fair Project
Science Fair Internet Resources

STUDY GUIDES
Study Guides (available in 9 languages)
Selecting the Right Source
Internet Reference Links
Librarians' Index to the Internet
Study Skills
Study Strategies
Improve Your Studying Skills
Kruschke's Virtual Mentor

WRITING GRANT PROPOSALS
NSF Guide for Proposal Writing
NSF Grant Proposal Guide
Hints for Writing Successful NIH Grants
Funding Your Best Ideas (Joan Straumanis)
Getting Funded: It Takes More Than Just a Good Idea
Proposal Writer's Guide (Don Thackery)
Dos and Don'ts of Grant Writing
Grants-Writing Guide for Non-Profits
A Proposal Writing Short Course
Writing Research Proposal & Reports
Guide to Writing a Funding Proposal (S.J. Levine)

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Statistics for the Social Sciences
A Painless Guide to Statistics (Robert Gerwien)
Statistics & Statistical Graphics Resources
Web Resources on Power Analysis (U.S. Gov't.)
Russ Length's Power & Sample-Size Page (U. of Iowa)

WRITING A DISSERTATION
Dissertation / Thesis Guide (S.J. Levine)
Writing Your Dissertation
Masters Thesis Handbook




   s e l e c t   n e u r a l   s c i e n c e   r e s o u r c e s        
This is not a comprehensive listing of web sites, rather a selected listing of sites that offer basic neuroscience information for those new to the field, online tutorials for students of clinical neurology, general info and resources for brain disorders and injury, and a few searchable databases.

FOR BEGINNERS
Brief Anatomy of the Brain Overview (AANS)
Explore the Nervous System (good simple introduction)

GENERAL REFERENCES
Glossary of Neuroscience Words
Glossary of Neuroanatomical & Neurological Terms
NeuroNames (searchable neuroanatomical terms)
Neurosciences on the Internet (searchable index)
Harvard Undergraduate Society for Neuroscience
The Neurosciences Institute

NEUROIMAGING
Some Brain Imaging Methods (short & simple)
Overview of PET (Positron Emission Tomography)
fMRI Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (T.R. Gregg)
The Whole Brain Atlas (Harvard Medical School)
BRAINMAP: The Manhattan Project of the Mind
Atlas of Brain Perfusion SPECT
McConnell Brain Imaging Centre (McGill U.)
Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (UCLA)
Human Brain Project (THOR Center for Neuroinformatics)

BRAIN INJURY / NEUROPATHOLOGY
The Brain Matters brain disorder resources
Traumatic Brain Injury: Cognitive & Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Traumatic Brain Injury Information (NINDS)
National Stroke Association
Internet Stroke Center
Malignant Brain Tumors & Neuro-Oncology Resources (Mass. Gen. Hospital)
A Primer of Brain Tumors (ABTA)
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS

SCIENTIST BIOGRAPHIES / HISTORY of RESEARCH
Classics in the History of Psychology
Founders of Neurology Biographies (U. of Illinois)
Neuroscience Nobel Prize Laureates
Milestones Neuroscience Research

MISCELLANEOUS
Brain Facts & Figures (E. Chudler)
Taxonomic Hierarchy Used in Zoological Record
Vernacular / Common Names for Animals

MORE NEURAL SCIENCE RESOURCES
List of Neuroscience Links (Keck Foundation)
Neuroanatomy & Neuropathology on the Internet (U. of Debrecen)

CLINICAL TUTORIALS
Neuroscience Tutorial (Washington U. School of Medicine)
Neuroanatomy Lab Assistant (M. Sodicoff, Temple U.)
Neuroembryology of the CNS (M. Sodicoff, Temple U.)
Global Brainstem (J.K. Harting, U. Wisconsin Medical School)
Global Spinal Cord (J.K. Harting, U. Wisconsin Medical School)
Global Cerebellum (J.K. Harting, U. Wisconsin Medical School)
Internet Neurosurgery Grand Rounds (Harvard / Mass. Gen. Hospital)
6 Months of Neurosurgery (slideshow of what neurosurgeons do)




G O   B A C K   T O   >    INFO WARNING   .   LIBRARY RESEARCH   .   ONLINE RESEARCH   .   NEUROLOGY RESOURCES   .   STUDY SKILLS   .   WRITING WELL  

Scholarly Search Guide prepared by  M.K. Holder, Ph.D.      




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