Tutorial: How to Begin Research
A tutorial to guide you through the basics of research and how to approach writing a research paper.
Do you have an assignment that asks you to write a research paper, but you are not sure where to begin? Our Beginning Research Tutorial will guide you through the basics. This tutorial is also often used in Freshman Orientation as an introduction to college-level research and the resources the library has to offer. Currently, no graded quizzes are offered in the tutorial.
Tutorial Modules and Sections
The tutorial is split into 5 general modules. Each module addresses a part of the research process and provides practical examples to guide you along.
Getting Started
In this section, you will learn about:
– Understanding your assignment and choosing a topic
– Identifying synonyms and keywords
– The timeline for producing scholarly information
– The resources available throughout the information cycle
– The types of information used and produced in different disciplines
Finding Sources
In this section, you will learn to:
– Find a book in OneSearch
– Find and choose a database
– Find an article in a database
– Understand what a scholarly/peer-reviewed article is
– Request a book or full-text article if it’s not available in Adelphi University Libraries
Searching Better
In this section, you will learn about:
– Using Boolean logic and truncation for advanced searching.
– Understanding the role of limiters in searching.
– How to sort your results
Evaluating Information
In this section, you will:
– Understand what constitutes a credible source
– Identify questions to guide your thinking about what makes a good source
Citing Sources
In this section, you will learn:
– The basic bibliographic information required for any citation, regardless of style
– How important it is to provide accurate bibliographic information about your sources in bibliographies and works cited lists