Business Administration: GMGT 1010

Click the links below to jump to the right section:

• Types of Sources
• How to Find Peer-Reviewed Sources
• Criteria for Evaluating your Sources
• The Research and Writing Process
• Narrowing your Topic
• Library Resources and Search Strategies for your Research
• Writing and Citing (opens to new page)

There are two main types of sources you should consider using for your term paper: academic (e.g. peer-reviewed journals and university press books) and non-academic sources (e.g. news and trade periodicals, reference books, etc.)

For the purpose of your term paper, Academic Sources are:

• Scholarly works that provide original research or studies written by faculty, researchers or experts in a specific field
• Either peer-reviewed journal articles or books published by university presses 
• Works that include a bibliography of sources or reference list at the end of the paper or chapter
• Examples:
  • Business & Society, Journal of Business Ethics, Canadian Public Policy (peer-reviewed journals)
  • Cambridge University Press, Harvard University Press, University of Toronto Press  (university presses)

For the purpose of your term paper, Non-academic Sources are:

• Works that offer credible information on current topics or provide background information on a given topic or subject 
• Typically produced for the general public
• Examples:
  • Harvard Business Review, The Economist, Maclean's (business magazines and trade periodicals)
  • The Globe and Mail, The Washington Post, Winnipeg Free Press (newspapers)
  • Encyclopedias, directories, dictionaries (reference books)
  • Statistics Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (government websites)

There are five standards to consider:

• Currency
• Relevancy
• Authority
• Accuracy                              
• Purpose

      CRAAP test                    

For more information on the CRAAP test, review the following two videos:

• Evaluating Sources from Western Libraries
• Evaluating Websites from Portland State University Library

1. Figure out what the assignment asks of you
2. Choose a topic
3. Find background info
4. Focus & refine your topic
5. Identify research tools
6. Collect academic information
7. Evaluate information for relevance and credibility 
8. Write, keeping track of your sources as you go
9. Edit
10. Cite your sources

Starting with a topic, narrow down to specific questions.

• Focus on one type of distracted driving > texting while driving
• Brainstorm some questions you want to answer 
  • What is/are the provincial law(s) that punishes distracted drivers who text?
  • Why was this new law created/adopted?
  • What are society's views on texting while driving?
  • Why does this matter?
• Search for the answers to each question separately!

Once you have an idea of your research questions then look for information to support your argument.
Use the Advanced Searching Tips to refine your searches and improve your search results, both in the library search and in database searches.

The Library Search 

• The U of M Libraries' Library Advanced Search example for finding articles or books on society's views on texting while driving
  • Example search string: (poll OR survey) AND “distracted driving” AND text*

Database Search 

• ABI/INFORM for finding articles on your topic
  • Example search string: Manitoba AND (law or act) AND "distracted driving" AND text*
  • Other relevant databases.