Books
Introduction
When you start a new research project, there are a lot of different places you might look for information to help you learn about your topic. A good place to start is with a book. In this module, we will explore the different types of books and their uses, from textbooks to scholarly books and reference books. You’ll learn how you might use these different types of books in your research and how to find books on your topic at the university library.
Modes of Learning
In this module, students will use the following modes of learning:
- Videos and short assessments
This module will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, students will be able to…
- Recognize the value of using books in their research
- Identify the characteristics of different types of books and apply this understanding to classify books by type
- Use library resources to find books related to a topic
Key Terms & Concepts
- Scholarly book
- Reference book
- Textbook
Topic 1: Using Books in Your Research
This first video is an introduction to books. You will learn about what kind of information you can find in a book, when to use a book, how to use a book, and some of the differences between types of books.
Watch Using Books in Your Research in full screen.
Quiz
Based on the titles of the books listed below, determine if each is a scholarly book, popular book, or reference book. If you find it difficult to determine which type of book each is based on their title, do a quick search to find out more about the book.
Topic 2: Finding Books
In this video, you will learn about how to search for books through the library as well as about some common engineering e-book collections.
Watch Finding Books in full screen.
Quiz
Summary
In this module, you learned about the different types of books that exist and how you can use them to support your research. You also learned how to find engineering e-books through the university library.
References
[1] McMaster University Library. “Scholarly vs. popular sources.” https://library.mcmaster.ca/research/scholarly-vs-popular-sources#tab-definition (accessed Oct.22, 2021).
