College of DuPage Library - Speech Research Guides

Business Communication

Research Guide

Reference Sources

Before going to books, articles, or web sites it's a good idea to do some background research. By using reference books you are looking for an explanation by an established expert in the field. Some appropriate reference works in the College of Dupage Library include:

AICPA Professional Standards
Reference HF 5667 .A43 vol. 2
Codes of Professional Responsibility
Reference BJ 1725 .C57 1999
Corporate Statements: The Official Missions, Goals, Principles and Philosophies of Over 900 Companies
Reference HD 30.285 .H37
Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics
Reference BJ 546 .E6 1998
Encyclopedia of Business
Reference HF 1001 .E466 2000
Encyclopedia of Business and Finance
Reference HF 1001 .E467 2001
Encyclopedia of Communication and Information
Reference P 87.5 .E53 2001
Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications
Reference P 87.5 .E532 2003
International Directory of Company Histories
Reference HD 2721 .I6x
The Mission Statement Book
Reference HD 30.285 .A27 1999
Professional Ethics and Insignia
Reference HD 6504 .A194 2000
Say It and Live It: The 50 Corporate Mission Ststements That Hit the Mark
Reference HD 30.285 .J66 1995

Finding Books

Books may be an appropriate source to find information on your topic. Books in the COD Library are considered reputable sources, but they may not contain the most up to date information on the topic. Use the Library Catalog to do a subject search on your topic. If you don't locate anything with a subject search, try a keyword search to look for essays or chapters in books. If you still aren't finding anything ask at the Reference Desk in person, by phone at 630-942-3364, or online.

Some subject headings which cover topics you are studying in Business Communications are

Body Language	Interpersonal Communication
Business Communication	Leadership
Business Ethics	Management Information Systems
Business Presentations	Organizational Behavior
Communication and Technology	Personnel Management
Communication Systems	Social Responsibility of Business
Corporate Culture	Telecommunication Systems
Corporations, Corrupt Practices	Teams in the Workplace
Group Problem Solving

Using Online Databases

Articles are best for the most current information. Below you will find C. O. D. 's business databases. You will need to have your library card to access these databases from off campus.

Business & Company ASAP
Directory listings for over 150,000 companies with links to articles on business and management topics.
Business Source Elite
Abstracts from 1650 journals with full text for 960 titles covering all aspects of business.
Chicago Tribune
Excellent business information on local companies.
Communication and Mass Media Complete
Articles and other research materials in areas related to communication and mass media. Indexing and abstracts for more than 600 journals and full text for 301 journals.
Hoover’s Online
Profiles for 13,500 public and private companies worldwide with links to annual reports, stock charts, Web sites, news articles and industry reports.
JSTOR
JSTOR is an archive of digitized journal articles ranging in date from the 1700's to the early 2000's. These collections span a variety of subjects in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Physical Sciences.
Wall Street Journal
The financial newspaper of record offering in-depth coverage of national and international finance as well as first rate coverage of hard news.

You will also find business topics well covered in these general sources.

Academic Search Premier (1984-present)
Indexes over 3,000 journals and magazines.
Christian Science Monitor
Excellent coverage of controversial topics.
CQ Researcher
Pros and cons of current and controversial issues.
Expanded Academic Index (1980-present)
Indexes over 2500 journals and magazines.
Issues and Controversies of File
Topics include current events and hot issues
New York Times
The national newspaper of record.

Locating Audiovisual Aids

Audiovisual aids can be very important visuals that help make your point. You may find illustration, charts, or diagrams in the reference books you used for background research or in books or magazines in the Library. The Library has the necessary equipment for you to make copies or transparencies (black and white or color) or to scan pictures onto a disk.

You may also use the Library catalog to locate videos or other types of media. Just do a subject search on your topic and limit the results to the material type you are looking for.

The web is also a good place to find visual aids and there are now several search engines that make the process easier. A Google Image Search is usually very helpful.

Some other sources on the web include:

Using Web Sites

Students often turn to the web as the first source for information. It may be the most convenient, but it is not always the most reliable source. Anyone can publish a web site. Each web site you find should be evaluated for accuracy, credibility, objectivity, and currency. Be especially careful when looking for information on controversial topics; many sites' sole purpose is to "sell" their position on a topic. The Library has a checklist of tips to help you evaluate sites. These business ethics sites may prove useful.

Citing Sources

The MLA format (Modern Language Association) is commonly used to create bibliographies or works cited pages. The sources below may help you.

Marianne Berger, Reference Librarian
630.942.2338
berger@cdnet.cod.edu

6 October 2003

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