COMM 101 Research Guide Goals
1. Identify keywords from a research topic; use keywords to search a COMM database.
2. Gain familiarity with advanced search techniques such as limiters.
3. Evaluate database article results based on assignment requirements.
4. Gain familiarity with Interlibrary Loan to obtain articles not available in Full Text.
Finding Communication Research
Many research assignments require you to very specific kinds of articles that contain each of the sections:
- Research question and/or hypotheses
- Methods section
- Results section
- Discussion Section
This library workshop intends to help you to effectively and efficiently find sources by covering the following:
- Understanding the value of information provided by an academic library
- Search library tools for your article using keywords from the topic you have identified.
- Evaluate the articles from your search results.
- Cite sources and double-check citations
Google Scholar: A note
Research is often done about new college students. Fun well-known topics about students that have actually been studied.
Among these studies: New college students used Google Scholar to complete research tasks in high school, and they hesitate to use other tools in the completion of college-level research tasks.
Change your research habit when searching for academic sources:
1. Search library resources first. If we don't have it...
2. Use Google Scholar and other open-web access tools second. If that doesn't work (you hit a paywall)...
3. Use SU Libraries' Interlibrary Loan service when all else fails.