Customer Reviews

Research Strategies: Finding your Way through the Information Fog

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This book serves as a useful introduction to research techniques and options for the late high school or early-to-mid-level college student beginning research. Badke's writing focuses on finding sources and writing research papers. The writing assumes no current knowledge of conducting research of any kind, so parts may be simplistic for many, but there is a wealth of great research strategies within.

He begins with a look at paper design, and the place from which to begin your research. He then moves to database, periodical and internet searches. He then discusses how to formulate your research into a working topic, and organizing your data.

He writes for people who have never really used a library effectively or used a computer for research. Overall, this is a superb introduction to research that should be read by anyone attempting research.

As an academic librarian, I found this book to be incredibly useful. It is well-written, easy to read, and covers a hosts of topics for the average library user. This volume will be extremely useful during library orientation for new students. As libraries are experiencing the information revolution, research strategies and resources are changing drastically. Mr. Badke has done a superb job of guiding patrons through new and uncharted territory.

This update to Badke's previous work on library research is excellent. I teach Language and Research at a Bible college and used to use his first book as required reading for my students. I was so disappointed when it went out of print. Now, this updated version is my new requirement. This book is written with the same humor and simplicity as the first, but with updated information that is a must. Dealing with electronic research is now the norm and Badke explains it very, very well. This is a must have resource for anyone taking on research.

"Research Strategies" is written with humor and in an easy to understand style making this a must have book for anyone wanting to do justice to a research assignment. The author covers the basics of how to develop a good research question; the importance of research strategies - what they are and how to use them; how to take notes and organize a paper. There are numerous examples that illustrate the strategies and most chapters end with study guide questions and ways to practice the concepts as well as assignment suggestions.
As a high school librarian I was excited to find this book and plan to use it a a teaching tool for research.

We live in the "information age". Communication on the information highway is fast pace. However, the problem is most of us don't have the map needed to travel that highway and so we have great challenges finding the destination. The material in Dr. Badke's book is the road map to the information highway. This book is the "GPS" to the information highway.

If readers follow this guide, they should be able to access the information needed much quicker and easier. It will save students valuable time as they learn research skills and strategies needed (needed for college and universities assignments). It will also make the research more accurate, as the student learns how to access information written by the best scholars in the field. A small price to pay for a resource is worth so much.

The author writes in an easy to read style. Hint: to get the most benefit out of this resource, take the time to do the practice exercises before getting involved in your actual research. If you do this, it should take you less time to do the actual research for your assignments. Try it. It works.

This book, now in its third edition, is a great introduction to library research for undergraduates and upper division high school students who are heading off to college soon. I'm planning on using it in for high school advanced library research course.
The author, a college librarian in British Columbia, gives a step-by-step introduction to the "information fog" and deals with such topics as defining the need for research and refining a topic, using keyword searching and metadata and controlled vocabularies, library catalogs and online databases, general internet research and other research sources.
A strength of the book is the humorous approach which tones down what most other authors seem to take too seriously. In his preface, for example, Badke states: "This book is definitely for you if you are: a university student whose term papers have been patented as a cure for insomnia; a Dilbert of industry who's been told to do a feasibility study on the expansion potential of ice cream bar sales in Nome, Alaska; a simple honest citizen trying to find the truth behind the advertising so that the next car you buy won't be like your last disaster-mobile, the car that made you persona non grata at the automobile association."
I had an earlier edition of this title which I liked also and so when I discovered the 3rd edition had been published I immediately ordered it. The way that the world of research changes continually means that what was once cutting edge is no longer so and having the latest is really important. I was impressed that the book mentions the Amazon Kindle which was only made available last (2007) November.
I reviewed several other similar recently published texts on information literacy but this one definitely is heads and shoulder above them all in terms of usefulness, cost and a light touch to a rather dry subject.

William Badke has written an excellent and extremely useful reference book on how to start research projects. As he aptly describes, getting started is probably the most difficult part of a research project; especially for those of us who are new to the art of researching.

The book is well written and referenced, with the author writing with a sense of humour and this also makes the book appealing since it could otherwise be a dry, boring book without the author's humour creeping into the pages.

While the new-to-the-art-of-researching student will find this book very interesting and helpful; many experienced researchers will find the book helpful also. The author describes how to use various resources, such as internet, periodicals and catalogues to assist the researcher realise his/her project goals.

In summary, a very well written and laid out book by a person very experienced in the the field of research. Definitely recommended for the novice researcher, however would also be useful for the advanced researcher. Well done, William Badke!

As an instructor myself, this book was extremely helpful. It neatly explains methods and resources for research. Not only that, it was amusing to read because of the author's humorous comments, a rare feat for such a dry topic.

Book was on time, and delivered much earlier than estimated. Badke is a fun author, who delivers great content in a humorous way.

I'm an academic library paraprofessional who regularly teaches bibliographic instruction sessions to undergraduates, grad students, and even professors. While Badke does an excellent job explaining the tools used in library research, the material really stands out when he explains to readers how to think about research and how to form good questions. His prose is easy to read, and sometimes quite lively (which is exceptional for a volume on research practices), and he continually keeps the focus on how these strategies contribute to answering interesting questions.

This is a great volume for beginning researchers or anyone who wants a "refresher course."