University Libraries has resources, tips, and tutorials for every step of the research process, including:
- Starting your research assignment,
- Searching databases,
- Finding and using sources, and
- Writing your research paper.
This page highlights a few. However, be sure to check out our Research DIY portal for a more complete listing.
Google Vs. University Libraries
Google contains a wide variety of source types including some scholarly and professional sources as well as websites, blogs, social media, and more. The University Libraries are focused on academic & professional sources like books, scholarly journal articles, newspapers, & archival materials.Google and the University Libraries have different review processes. Google has no formalized review process. Sources available through the University Libraries are reviewed by subject area experts.Google and the University Libraries have different costs for you. Google is free to search, but scholarly information is often locked behind a paywall. The University Libraries make scholarly information free to you as a student who pays tuition to UofL.Google and the University Libraries have different search functionalities. Google gives you a huge number of results but has few options to narrow or refine your search. The University Libraries has tools for narrowing and refining your search so you can find what you need.
Recommended Databases on Education
- Education Full TextFeatures content on a wide array of subject areas including adult education, comparative education, government funding, higher education, school administration, teacher evaluation, and more. Some full text back to 1996. 1983 - present.
- APA PsycInfoFull-text articles, book chapters, books, dissertations, and abstracts of peer-reviewed literature in behavioral science and mental health. 1800s - present.
- ERIC (EBSCO)
Education Resource Information Center provides access to educational literature and resources. 1966 - present.
- Sociological CollectionCovers topics such as social behavior, human tendencies, interaction, relationships, community development, culture, social structure, and more. 1947 - present. (Mobile version of Sociological Collection)
Most Frequently Viewed Tutorials
Here is a list of the five most frequently viewed Research DIY tutorials.
- 1. Citing SourcesThese videos provide overviews on APA Style (often used in the College of Ed) and MLA Style guides. It also features links to more information on two recommended citation management software - Zotero and EndNote.
- 2. Finding Secondary and Scholarly SourcesThis guide includes step-by-step instructions and video for finding secondary and scholarly sources.
- 3. Finding Primary SourcesThis guide provides step-by-step instructions for finding primary sources using the library catalog, our databases, and our special collections.
- 4. Generating KeywordsYour research is only as good as your keywords. This guide explains how to identify major concepts in your research question, how to develop synonyms or related terms, and explains why you may want to narrow or broaden your terms.
- 5. Finding Statistics & DataSome research topics need statistics and data. This guide includes three recommended databases and provides step-by-step instructions for accessing them.
Guides to Specific Resources
The following is a short list of additional guides that may be helpful.