So you’ve started your research in the library catalog or your choice article database. You have a great list of results but now what? How
do you navigate through your results list to find the best resources for your project? This tutorial will walk you through the types of resources you
might find in your results list and will help you identify when these resources would be the most useful.
The first thing to remember is that the library catalog and article databases are not like Google. The first item that shows up in your
results list may not always be the most relevant to your topic. You may need to scroll through your results list to find the best resource for your
project. Once you find a great resource, remember to use subject headings to find more items like this.
When starting your research, ask yourself: 1. “When was the source published and how does this affect its usefulness for your
purpose?” 2. “What type of audience is the author addressing, specialized or general and
how does this impact your use of the source?” 3. “How extensively does the source cover the topic? Is the information appropriate
for your project? Is it either too simple or too complex? Too broad or too specific?” Let’s take a closer look at each type of resource to
see where it falls.
Sometimes a source will indicate that it is a “review.” Other times you’ll need to dig a little deeper to determine the item is a review.
Reviews of books and media can be helpful to give you an overview of what the item is about, give background on the author, and will
sometimes identify strengths and weaknesses of the work. These can be helpful in determining if the item will be a useful source for your paper.
If it looks good, search for the item by title in the library catalog to find out if it is available in the library. Unless your assignment specifically
calls for book reviews, it is best to locate the item itself to use in your project.
Journal and magazine articles have a specific focus and present the most current information. There are three categories of article
publications: scholarly or peer-reviewed journals, popular magazines, and trade publications.
Scholarly or peer-reviewed articles are often indicated as such in the library catalog and article databases. These articles are written for
scholars with terminology related to the field. They are reviewed by a panel of scholars in the field for accuracy. Scholarly articles general
come with footnotes and or references at the end of the article. For more information on scholarly or peer-reviewed articles, please see
our tutorial on “what is a scholarly journal article?”
Popular magazine articles are written with a more general audience in mind. These articles are reviewed by a single editor. References may
or may not be included at the close of the article.
Trade publications contain industry specific information, written by people who work in that particular industry for others who work in the
industry. Articles from trade publications are also vetted by a single editor.
Books are great sources for a broader look at an issue. Chapters of books or book indexes can also be used to find information on a specific
topic as well so if you’re having trouble finding information on your topic, sometimes broadening your search terms and looking at
books can help. Books generally have a longer publication cycle than articles and thus may not be as current as articles.
Reference sources such as encyclopedias are a great source of information to get you started on your research. Reference sources are written
by subject experts and are helpful to consult before starting your research to get background information on your topic and keywords for your
searches. Remember, as you go through your results list
consider: 1. When was the source published? 2. What type of audience is the author
addressing, specialized or general? 3. How extensively does the source cover the topic?
These questions will help you determine how useful the resources is for your project.
If you still have questions, click on the “ask us” link to email, chat with, or text a librarian.