Theory and function of recreation resource planning. Techniques for collection, storage, analysis and display of planning data. Practice in use of recreation planning models.
The Valley Library has several databases which index peer-reviewed journals relevant to topics in natural resource management and the social sciences including Recreation Research. The process of "peer-review" (sometimes called "refereeing") is discipline and journal specific. It assures that the articles which are published in these journals represent good scientific methodology and can be regarded as a contribution to the literature of that field of study. If in doubt about whether a journal contains peer reviewed articles, ask.
Most databases noted here index a high percentage of "refereed" journals and therefore a high percentage of peer reviewed articles. They may also include first hand reporting of research findings or state-of-the-art reviews from other sources such as federal agency reports, dissertations, conference proceedings, professional journals, etc. All of these may prove useful resources for your topic, though because this is a research methods course, you will want to place a high value on finding "peer reviewed" references.
Even though you do not have a specific assignment requiring use of the OSU Libraries' resources, your assignments and future work as a professional will be enhanced by your ability to identify and effectively use information related to recreational resource planning that you find on your own.
You want to make your case with the best evidence. The library purchases access to indexing databases which help you to identify articles on specific topics. Most databases are not freely available to the public and are only licensed to OSU Libraries for the OSU community of users. They are independent of the holdings of any one library.
To begin using these databases and locating articles in "peer reviewed" journals and other reliable resources, start on the OSU Libraries home page: http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu,
When considering a database, it is important to be aware of its content including:
All databases have accessible help pages that provide tips and advice for effective searching. Once you have done a search in one or more databases you should have a list of articles which are potentially relevant to your project topic.
Follow the "Read more" link below for useful databases for locating research findings in the field of Recreation.
Read moreIf you are new to database searching or haven't searched for a year or so, follow the "more" link below for some tips.
Read more