Social Ecology 195                                                                   Julia Gelfand

Field Studies - Skeem                                                               Science Library 228

Spring 2006                                                                             jgelfand@uci.edu

                                                                                                949-824-4971

 

The two writing assignments for this section of Field Studies will encourage you to use a variety of information resources.  This handout will provide some hints about different approaches and some tools, resources and strategies you can employ to make the learning experience more integrated with your social ecology curriculum.

 

  1. Integration Journal - journal writing is a very healthy experience.  It is the purposeful and intentional use of a written record of one's own thoughts or feelings to further psychological healing and personal growth.  Often used as an adjunct to many therapeutic interventions and has many benefits.  They may include an enhancement of creativity, coping with stress and providing a written record of memorable life experiences.     Some resources that capture the successes of it include ways of handling the therapeutic uses of creative writing and output.  Other related methods include expression therapy, art or music or bibliotherapy.  You may want to consider incorporating some or any of the following ideas:
    • What did you learn by reading a primary resource or doing a specific activity that you would not have learned by reading a secondary source - think critically about the issue(s)
    • Integrate with your field study experience - what are the links
    • When responding to a written piece, such as an article or chapter, film, news report, etc, clearly cite the original work so the reader can have the benefit of knowing what influenced you and can visit the original source
    • Consider some issues such as:

                                                               i.      Community-based writing

                                                             ii.      Conceptualizing service-learning

                                                            iii.      Ways to collaborate

                                                           iv.      Ways to make connections through self-assessment

                                                             v.      Ways to document, research, map, organize and draft journal

·        Blogging - personal and professional examples - imaginary professional correspondence; personal journal frequently updated for public consumption or to be widely shared via the Internet

 

  1. Research Paper - requires a literature review - this can be accomplished in several ways, including choosing an appropriate topic and getting it approved for starters.  Use the Library website as a point of departure for:

·        Online Resources - Databases - access to journal literature, conference proceedings, some books and book chapters and dissertations, from the scholarly, trade and a variety of information sources by subject or keyword - appropriate examples include those listed on the Subject Guides prepared for each Department in the School of Social Ecology and found under "How to Find Journal Articles":

o       PsycINFO - can easily find empirical studies by Methodology - a descriptive guide on how to search the database is available

o       Sociological Abstracts

o       Social Services Abstracts

o       Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management

o       Web of Science

o       Business Source Premier

o       Expanded Academic ASAP

o       Lexis Nexis Academic Universe - for News & Legal Resources

o       many others - contact librarians for additional assistance

·        Google Scholar -

·        Other web resources

o       Community Toolkit

·        Citation Sources - Consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed., 2001 found at all UCI Library Reference Desks at BF 76.7 P83 2001 or online citation information

·        Hints for Success

o       Read assignment carefully

o       Write from an outline - then realize information gaps to fill

o       Identify context

o       Find appropriate studies and research - one way is to search PsycINFO and restrict the Methodology to "Empirical Studies" to see studies done on your topic or that match your search query

o       Don't procrastinate

 

Additional Information - consider some of the following resources:

  • Ask a Librarian for eMail, LiveCHAT reference services, or to schedule a Research Consultation, visit Reference Desk