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HSPV Summer Institute

Guide to research at Fisher Fine Arts Library for new HSPV students

Literature Types

Very Basic Breakdown of Different Types:
- Theoretical literature about the topic of study
- Methodological literature about how to do research and how to use the methods chosen
- Empirical literature about previous research in the field of study or similar fields
- Theoretical and empirical literature to help contextualize, compare and generalize findings
- Grey Literature refers to documentary materials which lie somewhere between traditional, academically produced secondary literature and “raw” primary sources. Typically, it is the product of research by an organization, often one within the realm of governance.

Databases for Urban Research Literature Types:
Web of Science
Compendex - Ei Compendex is the broadest and most complete engineering literature database available in the world with over 22 million indexed records from 77 countries across 190 engineering disciplines. 

Qualitative Research

Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. The qualitative method investigates the why and how of decision making, not just what, where, and when.  For more information...

NVivo: NVivo is software that supports qualitative and mixed methods research. It is available from most library computing workstation stations including the Fisher.  

Case Studies

A generic definition of a case study could be an in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, incident, or community. Depending on the discipline, case studies can mean different things and are conducted in different ways. For example, case study research in social/cultural and linguistic anthropology consists of intensive periods of ethnographic field work, which are then written up and analyzed. Such case studies, termed ethnographies, are central to anthropology as a discipline. See Sage Encyclopedia of Case Study Research for more information.  

Urban Research Resources for Case Studies:
Urban Land Institute Case Studies
Brookings Institute reports, Cities & Regions
BuildingGreen.com
Index to Current Urban Documents
Urban Institute reports
Failure case studies in civil engineering : structures, foundations, and the geoenvironment

Ethnography Research

Ethnography is a scientific research strategy often used in the field of social sciences, particularly in anthropology and in some branches of sociology, also known as part of historical science that studies people, ethnic groups and other ethnic formations, their ethnogenesis, composition, resettlement, social welfare characteristics, as well as their material and spiritual culture. Click here for more background.

Resources for Ethnography Studies
Anthropology Plus
eHRAF World Cultures: A systematically organized collection of thousands of books and articles on cultures from all regions of the world; provides information on particular cultures, ethnic groups, or immigrant groups, their beliefs and superstitions, or subjects such as political structure, architecture, kinship units, or settlement patterns.  
Linguistics & language behavior abstracts

Sage Research Methods

Research Methods is a tool created to help researchers with their research projects. Users can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings.  Features 1) Method Maps 2) Project Planner 3) Which Stats Test 4) Reading Lists

SAGE encyclopedia of social science research methods Featuring over 900 entries, this resource covers all disciplines within the social sciences with both concise definitions & in-depth essays

Routledge Resources

Routledge handbook of planning research methods: is an expansive look at the traditions, methods, and challenges of research design and research projects in contemporary urban planning. Through case studies, an international group of researchers, planning practitioners, and planning academics and educators, all recognized authorities in the field, provide accounts of designing and implementing research projects from different approaches and venues.

Interviews

Resources to help structure an interview
Planning An Interview Study
Interviewing II

Open Source Tools
Audacity Free, fully-functional multi-track audio software for recording and editing sounds. all platforms
Transana  Software to analyze digital video or audio data. It supports transcription, assigning of keywords, complex collections of interrelated clips, exploration of relationships between applied keywords, and sharing. PC only
Scribe Note taking program that allows you to manage your research notes, quotes, thoughts, contacts, published and archival sources, digital images, outlines, timelines, and glossary entries. You can create, organize, index, search, link, and cross-reference your note and source cards.  all platforms

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