Library Research Skills Quiz

The correct answer is "Shelf address for a book or audiovisual material." This is because a call number is a unique identifier assigned to a book or audiovisual material in a library. It helps in locating and organizing the items on the library shelves. The call number typically includes a combination of letters and numbers that represent the specific location of the item within the library's collection.

Scholarly articles are most often published in journals because journals are specifically designed to publish academic research and provide a platform for scholars to share their findings with the academic community. Journals undergo a rigorous peer-review process, ensuring the quality and validity of the research published. On the other hand, magazines typically focus on popular topics and are not as academically rigorous or peer-reviewed as journals. Therefore, scholarly articles are more commonly found in journals rather than magazines.

A primary source refers to an original document, such as a diary or letter, that provides firsthand information or evidence about a particular topic or event. These sources are created by individuals who directly witnessed or experienced the subject matter, making them valuable for historical research and analysis. Primary sources offer a direct and unfiltered perspective, allowing researchers to gain insights into the thoughts, experiences, and emotions of the people involved. They serve as firsthand accounts and provide a foundation for further interpretation and analysis by historians and scholars.

The search "teaching AND reading" will help narrow the research topic because it combines the keywords "teaching" and "reading" using the Boolean operator "AND". This means that the search results will only include resources that contain both of these keywords, which will help to focus the research on the specific intersection of teaching and reading.

Non-fiction books are typically arranged on library shelves by subject in order to facilitate easy browsing and retrieval for library patrons. Organizing books by subject allows readers to easily locate books on specific topics of interest and helps maintain a logical order within the library's collection. This arrangement system also makes it easier for librarians to classify and catalog books based on their content, ensuring efficient management of the library's resources.

Journals are different from magazines because they serve as important sources of academic research. Unlike magazines, which often focus on entertainment or general interest topics, journals are specifically designed to publish scholarly articles and research findings. They provide in-depth analysis and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in various fields. Journals are highly regarded within academic communities and are often peer-reviewed to ensure the quality and accuracy of the research they publish. Subscriptions to journals are commonly obtained by individuals or institutions seeking access to the latest academic research in their respective disciplines. Additionally, journals typically have volume numbers to organize and categorize their content over time.

Subject searches produce better (more related) records because when conducting a subject search, the focus is on retrieving information specifically related to a particular topic. This allows for more targeted and relevant results compared to other types of searches. By using subject-specific keywords and terms, the search engine or database can better match the user's query with records that are directly related to the subject of interest. This increases the likelihood of finding records that are more closely aligned with the user's information needs.

The search "cars OR automobiles" will get you more articles. This is because the OR operator retrieves articles that contain either the word "cars" or the word "automobiles" or both. On the other hand, the search "cars AND automobiles" will only retrieve articles that contain both the words "cars" and "automobiles". Since the OR operator allows for more flexibility in the search, it will retrieve a larger number of articles.

The correct answer is that Wikipedia is a good place to start when you want to find general information about a topic, and it should not be used without verifying the information in reliable sources such as primary research articles, review articles, field guides, websites, and databanks that are produced by recognized research organizations. This means that while Wikipedia can provide a general overview of a topic, it is important to fact-check and verify the information using more reliable and authoritative sources.

The most effective first step in library research is to begin by searching for relevant keywords in the library’s catalog or online databases (option B). This helps you quickly identify books, articles, and other materials that are directly related to your topic. Starting with a keyword search saves time and allows for more focused research. Skimming random books (option A) or browsing general sections (option C) is not as efficient. Checking out books from the reserve section (option D) may be helpful later, but only after you've identified which resources you need.

A research database is superior to a search engine because it includes sources that have undergone evaluation processes, ensuring their authority. Additionally, the organization of a research database is a combination of human and electronic efforts, making it more reliable. Lastly, a research database includes text from verifiable and reputable sources, further enhancing its credibility. Therefore, all of the above reasons make a research database superior to a search engine.