Gingrich Library: Your Success Is Why We're Here!
Remember -- research is not a straightforward process. It takes time to really cultivate a strong idea for a thesis. You may start with an idea, research it, go back and change the idea, research again, maybe even go back another time to fine-tune your ideas, and then continue researching. Don't get frustrated if this happens; it's a part of the process. Ask a librarian if you need help with any step!
Research is a process, so take your time and ask for help! The library offers research consultations if you need it!
The videos below explain basic research skills -- finding quality materials and evaluating the information located.
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Select a Topic |
Scholarly Information |
Library Databases |
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Use this video to help you select a suitable topic and create the topic question. |
Use this video to help you determine how to identify scholarly information and why it is needed for research. |
Use this video to understand what library databases are and how they differ from searching the internet. |
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Basic Research Strategy |
Advanced Research Strategy |
Finding Books and DVDs |
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Use this video to create the research question and find the concepts that describe the topic. Use keywords and Boolean logic to refine the search. |
Use this video to search different versions of a keyword or exact phrases. Try to limit results by using field searching. |
Use this video to search for and check out a book or DVD owned by Albright. It also discusses how to use Interlibrary Loan. |
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Finding Articles |
Evaluating Sources |
Plagiarism |
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Use this video to search for and locate journal articles both owned and not owned by Albright. |
Use this video to determine if research materials meet the criteria of quality material. |
Use this video to determine what is plagiarism and why academic honesty is important in research. You should recognize and avoid the dangers of plagiarism and the importance of citing properly. |
Online documents make it very easy to cut and paste information without thinking and without giving proper credit. Make sure you understand how to cite your sources. The Online Writing Center at Purdue University (Purdue OWL) is an excellent online resource to help you cite your resources properly. It also offers tips on how to construct a quality term paper. The Excelsior Online Writing Lab is another excellent resource.