How to Research
Research Process Steps
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Plan your search using effective research strategies
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Find information in books
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Find information on the Internet or other sources
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Cite your sources correctly
Plan which words to search for your topic (keyword search)
Plan your search for the information needed
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Current information
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Web news sites (CNN, MSNBC.com)
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{Find using search engine}
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Weekly magazines (Time, US news)
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{Find using article database}
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Scholarly research
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Peer-reviewed Journals
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{Find using subject databases}
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In-depth historical information
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Books
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{Find using library catalog}
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Use a Research Guide for your topic to locate books and key databases for finding articles.
Find Information in Books
Use encyclopedias for an overview of your topic -- look for key people, events & terms to search.
Search the online library catalog by:
- keywords or phrase (1-2 words)
- subject (more focused search)
- Author of the book
- Title of the book
Use links in the book's detailed record for more subjects and categories to search.
Note: Links for electronic books lead to Netlibrary.com to view the full-text.
Books are shelved by their call numbers A-Z. A-C=3rd floor, D-HT=2nd floor, HV-Z=1st floor
Children's literature collection and Texas K-12 curriculum books=1st floor
Click here for a video explanation on searching the library catalog.
Find Articles Using Databases to Search for Your Topic
{Databases are paid library resources, not free Internet sites}
LCU Library subscribes to over 50 databases, see the Find Articles page
Off campus? Use Off Campus link & enter your LCUnet login.
Scholarly vs Popular publications? For an explanation, see the video provided by Peabody, Library Vanderbuilt University. Hint: Limit your database searches to peer-reviewed or refereed for scholarly articles.
Search for article citations in online databases
Choose the best database for your topic.
Or use Academic Search for any topic.
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Basic search is 1-2 words or "keyword phrase"
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Advanced search connects multiple search terms &/or author/title of article
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For a Boolean logic search explanation, see Creighton University Library's Research Toolkit
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Subject is the more focused search (use subject links in the item's detailed record)
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Source search looks for a specific journal or book title
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Hint: read search tips for each database
Videos on searching for articles in the databases:
Behavioral Science Bible Business Education Nursing (CINAHL interactive quiz)
Journal Titles at LCU are listed in the online catalog - search for periodical title
Volumes and dates available are listed with locations: current, microfiche, film or 4th floor
Searching the Web
The Internet is a good source for current events, local facts, biographical & government information.
For Internet Search Strategies, click here.
University of California Berkeley's "Find Information on the Internet Tutorial
For more scholarly results, use Google Scholar.
For government information and statistics, use Google Uncle Sam.
Evaluate web information
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Be critical users of the Internet. Internet Detective tutorial
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Compare objectivity, accuracy, & currency to the information you already have.
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Analyze the author, organization & domain: Best=.edu, .gov; Good=.org; Maybe=.com
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Click here for a "Checklist for Evaluating Web Resources"
Cite Correctly
Use the assigned style manual (APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, etc)
Hint: look for how to format your citations inside the databases.
Need Help Preparing an Annotated Bibliography? See Research Skill 28 at Cornell Library
Don't Forget
The LCU Librarians are full-time teaching faculty whose primary job is to teach students the effective use of the library and its resources.
Do not hesitate to ask for assistance from your primary reference source--a librarian - libadmin@lcu.edu
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