Library Research Basics
Haven't done much searching using library databases?
No problem! Below you'll find videos and other resources to help you find or refine a research topic and then get started searching a library database.
Exploring & Refining Your Topic
If you haven't decided on a research topic or question, or you have some idea but want to know more, these resources will help you do some background research in order to get started.
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
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Full text general subject database of reference titles
- Points of View Reference Source This link opens in a new window
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Essays and supporting articles designed to assist researchers in understanding the full scope of controversial subjects.
- Oxford Very Short Introductions This link opens in a new window
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Concise and original introductions to a diverse range of subjects written by experts in the fields.
Planning Your Search
This is a great overview to get you thinking about the research process in an academic setting:
Keyword Searching
Library databases work best when you break your topic down into basic concepts, called keywords. This video describes the process of generating keywords and using them in a library search:
Searching with Boolean Operators
Boolean operators are commands you can use when searching library databases with your keywords, and are an important part of a successful database searching strategy. This video breaks down the three most commonly used operators, AND, OR, and NOT:
Evaluating Your Sources
Once you've found some resources, how do you decide if they're appropriate for your research? This video gives you a good overview of one strategy to use: