Research is a process of locating, evaluating, and synthesizing multiple pieces of information. There are many types of resources, including books, articles, websites, videos, and more, that contain useful information for academic research. Resources can be located through multiple methods, including:
Because each of these sources has access to different resources and uses a different search algorithm, they will produce different results. Therefore, it is important to determine which method(s) you should use before you begin searching.
If you have not been able to come up with a research question for your assignment or need help refining it, check out this video from American River College librarian David McCusker.
In order to find the best resources, it is important to search strategically. This tutorial from the University of Minnesota Libraries covers the basics of conducting an effective search.
OneSearch & Library Databases
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Web Search Engines
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Types of Information Retrieved
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When to Use
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Authorship
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Credibility
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Accessibility
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Usability
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Adapted from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Paul V. Galvin Library.