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Research 101

This course contains self-paced lessons that progress through the stages of the library research process.

Overview

All links on this page open in a new window.

 

Image of a man writing in a notebook and using a laptop

Lesson 3: Conduct Ongoing Research

In this chapter, you'll learn to:

  • Recognize that first attempts at searching do not always produce adequate results.
  • Design and refine needs and search strategies as necessary, based on search results.
  • Use research tools and indicators of authority to determine credibility of sources, understanding the elements that might impact this credibility.

Activities

 

Click on the numbered tabs to complete each activity.

Activities include videos, tutorials, and interactive tasks.

Questions about this lesson will be included on the Research 101 Quiz.

 

*It is recommended that you take notes while you complete each activity to prepare for the Research 101 quiz.

*If you have to take a break, make a note of your last activity so that you can pick up where you left off later.

 

"One Perfect Source?" Video by NC State University Libraries

This video discusses how to go about looking for quality sources for your research topic and strategies to use when finding the right source seems challenging. 

 

 

"Evaluating Sources for Credibility" Video by NC State University Libraries

This video explains how to determine the credibility of sources, how to use them, and why assessing credibility is important. 

 

 

"Question Authority" Tutorial by New Literacies Alliance

"In this lesson, students will learn to identify authoritative voices and discover that authority is both constructed and contextual."

-NewLiteraciesAlliance.org

Image of a person thinking about a question

 

"Question Authority" Tutorial

1. Click on the tutorial link above.

2. Click the green "Sign In" button to login to your New Literacies Alliance account before beginning the tutorial.

*Go to the "Before You Begin" page of Research 101 if you have not yet registered for an account. 

3. Click the green "View Course" button.

4. Click the plus sign beside "Lesson".

5. Click the link that appears below to begin the tutorial.

"Who Do You Trust and Why?" Video by Oklahoma State Library

"We all do research, but how do you decide who to trust or what information to accept or leave behind? Context, authorship, and evidence help you determine authority, trust, and reliability. Here are some ways to ensure that you are getting the best information possible when researching."  - Oklahoma State Library

 

 

"How to Fact-Check Online Sources" Video by MediaSmarts

This video walks you through the steps of fact-checking online sources, providing valuable tips and examples.

 

 

"Scholarly vs Popular Sources" Video by McMaster University Libraries

This video explains how to tell the difference between scholarly sources and popular sources by identifying the distinguishing characteristics of the two types. 

 

 

"How to Analyze Scholarly Articles" Video by Colorado State University Pueblo Library

This video gives an overview of how to identify a scholarly article based on its content, as well as what types of information you can gather for your research assignment by looking at different sections of a scholarly article.