Collection Spotlight: Research Methods in Primary Sources and SAGE Research Methods: Data Visualization
by Brenna Helmstutler, iSchool Librarian
Research Methods Primary Sources and SAGE Research Methods: Data Visualization are two resources from SU Libraries’ collection that offer cross-disciplinary content on learning how to use two types of applications, which are using primary sources and creating visualizations from data.
For context, primary sources are first-hand sources from a particular event or a specific time in history, such as diaries, newspapers or photographs. Data visualizations provide evidence of data through images such as heatmaps, bibliographic networks or infographics.
Research Methods Primary Sources is designed for new users of primary sources in the humanities and social science disciplines, but it is useful for anyone interested in learning more about primary sources and how to use and evaluate them. The landing page includes a tabbed menu of options for navigating the database features. The About tab provides an overview of the database as well as the selection criteria of the content, which is curated by faculty and researchers before undergoing peer review by the database’s editorial board. The Contents tab is where Research Methods Primary Sources’ two browsing modules are housed: Research Skills Foundations, which provides a background of primary sources and history, in addition to illustrating how primary sources are valuable in conducting research; and Interrogating Colonial Documents and Narratives, which discusses colonial history and how to elicit marginalized voices from the content within a research capacity. The interactive learning tools in both modules are in the form of case studies, video interviews, source sets and practice sources. The User Guide tab has a video tutorial and text overview of how to use the database effectively. In addition to the menu, there are options in the upper right of the database for basic and advanced searching by keyword or phrase with filters (e.g., source types, themes, library/archives). There is also a sharing feature of content to social media and email, and an account can be set up in the database (My Account) to save content that is added from the Add to List link to the right of each item.
SAGE Research Methods: Data Visualization is one of several SAGE databases with specialized research methods content and is relevant across disciplines as more users create visualizations to enhance aspects of their research. This database offers a variety of tools for researchers interested in learning how to visualize data for coursework and research activity. The database has multiple browsing features to find content by type or discipline, and there is also a basic and advanced search to identify specific information by keyword, author, publisher and filtering options by discipline, content type or date range. The landing page displays browsable content types such as videos of experts discussing and showing their visualizations; created datasets that can be used to practice building visualizations; types of charts which can be expanded for added content such as descriptions, visual examples and references; and expert insights with tips on creating visualizations. There are interactive visualization tools such as a methods map showing how research methods are related and providing examples of that term based on the keyword that is searched at the top of the map page, and a set of multiple-choice questions that can be answered to determine the best type of statistical method to apply to your data. The database also includes menu options at the top of the page to go to the other SAGE Research Methods databases for direct access.
For additional information and resources, view the research guides related to research methods and data visualization. To provide feedback or suggest a title to add to the collection, please complete the Resource Feedback Form.