Reviewing Research StrategiesHow to Zero in on Sources for Your Research Paper

Cite only scholarly sources.

Wikipedia is a great place to start…

…but you can’t cite it!

Be certain your sources are scholarly, not popular.

Academic (peer-reviewed) journalsTitle often contains the word “Journal”

Found through libraries and databases

Authors are identified with academic credentials

Abstracts often found at beginning of article

Contain citations and have a Works Cited page

PopularMagazine

Scholarly Journal

Other scholarly sources:Scholarly reference works: Great for getting started!

Textbooks

Specialized encyclopedias

Scholarly booksOften published by university/academic presses

Authors have academic credentials

Include notes and extensive bibliography

Found in university library catalogs

Authoritative sources online: Exercise caution!

Domain clues.gov sites: provide reliable statistics on many subjects

.edu sites generally have authoritative information, but remember, not all educational institutions are created equal!

Screenshot of Johns Hopkins SPS open courseware site

RESEARCH STRATEGIESPRELIMINARY RESEARCH: For background, surf the web and go to reference books.

Use these sources to help guide you to scholarly articles and books you can then cite in your paper.

You can also talk to professors and others in your major!

Screenshot of Wikepedia article on Roundup, a controversial weed killer.

Hit the Purdue Libraries website.

CATALOG TABSearch the Purdue Catalog for books and articles. Use narrowing options to zero in on your particular topic.

Screenshot from Purdue Libraries website showing “Similar Items” bar.

Get busy with the library databases.

Hit the Purdue library databases. Use Megasearch (Articles Tab) and narrow by subject to search several databases independently. Or, if you know the article you’re searching for, type that in.

Use Database Tab and narrow search to a promising database in your field.

USE BOOLEAN OPERATORS, PHRASES, ETC. TO REFINE YOUR SEARCH. (The better the search terms, the better your results!)

Screenshot of Articles Tab search from Purdue Libraries website using nesting, phrases, and Boolean operators.

Give Google Scholar a try.

Regular Google searches are a mixed bag…

!

…witness, Frankengrass!

Yet another weapon in your research arsenal…

Adjust settings Google Scholar to improve results.

Your secret weapon…CONSULT A REFERENCE LIBRARIAN.

You can email a question to a

Purdue librarian, talk to one in

person, or chat online.

You can also set up a one-on-one

appointment to receive advice and

help.

All images from Purdue Libraries website

Summary of StrategiesStart with general background, then focus in on scholarly sources.

Refine keyword searches to get the best results. (Do multiple searches, tweaking keywords and using nesting, phrases, Boolean operators, etc.)

Use one source to get to another.Look at the references and Works Cited page to find other, possibly more relevant sources.

Look at the “Similar Items” bar when you find a book in the Purdue Libraries catalog.

Chat or make an appointment with a Reference Librarian.

Use all the weapons in your research arsenal!

Ready, set, research!

Image from Purdue Libraries website