Research
Doing research is a cyclical process. When doing research, one should start by brainstorming keywords. Keywords will help you identify books and articles that are relevant to your research. As you read articles and books, you should keep note of words that are frequently used by other researchers. Pratt Institute Libraries has a growing collection of Design Management research materials (books, e-books, articles, journals).
Research Help
Research Help:
You can reach us via Library chat on the right side of this webpage. Click on the "ask a Librarian" button for help.
Writing Center:
The Writing and Tutorial Center offers free tutoring in writing, speaking, art history, math/science, and graduate theses to all current Pratt students, regardless of program or status. Appointments are strongly recommended and can be scheduled by calling 718.636.3459 during office hours or emailing wtc@pratt.edu.
Watch library page tutorials to make the best use of the library website.
SIFT Method
SIFT is a method you can use to evaluate your sources to help determine whether they are credible and reliable. Simply use the four moves below if you are worried about whether a source is trustworthy:
Stop
If you have a strong reaction to information you come across, this is a good indication to do more research.
Ask yourself whether you know the source of the information, as well as that source's reputation. If you don’t have that information, use the other moves to get a sense of what you’re looking at.
Investigate the Source
Take time to look up the source and the author. Is this source credible? Is the author impartial, or do they have a vested interest in the argument that is being made?
One way to quickly determine an author or organization's agenda is to check their Wikipedia page.
Find Better Coverage
Try checking other sources to see how they are covering the topic you are researching. Scanning multiple sources quickly can help you determine the consensus around an issue or claim.
Trace Claims, Quotes and Media
Track down the original source of claims, quotes and media. Reputable news articles will provide links within the text, and academic articles provide sources in their footnotes and bibliography. Tracking down the original source will provide context and will show if that source was misrepresented in the article you are evaluating.
Caulfield, M. (2019, June 19). SIFT (The Four Moves). Hapgood. https://hapgood.us/2019/06/19/sift-the-four-moves/.