Skip to Main Content

Introduction to Research: Getting started

This is a good place to start when you are beginning a research project of any kind.

The Research Process and Types of Sources

The one with the books...

Here you can search for books we have in the library or you can search for books that are available in a digital format. 

LA Academic Honesty Policy

Glossary of Research Terms

Abstract: A brief summary of a research article or study, highlighting the main points and conclusions.

Annotate: To add notes or comments to a text, often to explain, summarize, or clarify information.

Article: A written piece of work, typically published in a journal or magazine, that explores a specific topic or research finding.

Bibliography: A list of sources (books, articles, etc.) used or referenced in a research paper.

Boolean Operators: Words like "AND," "OR," and "NOT" used to narrow or expand search results in databases.

Citation: A reference to the source of information used in your research, usually in a specific format (like APA or MLA).

Citation Style: The format or set of rules used for writing citations, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style.

Copyright: The legal right that creators have over their original work, protecting it from being used without permission.

Database: An online collection of academic resources like journal articles, books, and research papers.

Full Text: The complete content of an article or document, not just an abstract or summary.

Journal: A periodical that publishes research articles on specific topics, often peer-reviewed.

Keywords: Important words or phrases that summarize the main topics of a research project, used to search databases.

Peer-Reviewed: Research that has been evaluated and critiqued by other experts in the field before being published.

Periodical: A publication (such as a journal or magazine) that is issued regularly (e.g., weekly, monthly).

Primary Source: Original materials or firsthand accounts (like interviews, original documents, or experiments) used in research.

Reference Source (Tertiary Source): Summaries or compilations of information from primary and secondary sources (e.g., encyclopedias, almanacs).

Secondary Source: Sources that interpret, analyze, or summarize primary sources (e.g., biographies, reviews).

Thesis Statement: A clear, concise statement that presents the main argument or point of a research paper.

The one with the journal articles (mostly)....

This is where you'll search for journal, newspaper, and magazine articles. 

Even more databases...

The one for citing sources...

The one with the primary sources....

Sora

Citing your Sources