Using Academic Resources

Begin with a plan or a working outline. Assess the questions you have been tasked to answer, or the proposal you have put forth, and brainstorm ideas about how to approach the topic or data. Consider what surveys, panels or research sources will be required to provide the most comprehensive information.

Once the big picture has been considered you are ready to begin – armed with your well conceived and prepared plan. The next step is to determine where to source the information required. This may include establishing the demographic groups appropriate for panels or surveys or the historical data available about a topic or issue. Most university courses will require the reference material to be from credible sources such as peer reviewed journals. Once the background and prep work is done you are ready for compilation and analysis.

Related Links and Resources

• Questia – The Online Library of Books and Journals
• Google Scholar – Provides a search of scholarly literature across many disciplines and sources, including theses, books, abstracts and articles.
• NetLibrary – Public (free) and private (for paying members) collection of eBooks for reading online.
• JSTOR – Scans of print journals, with 10 major math journals
• Bartleby.com publishes thousands of free online classics of reference, literature and nonfiction.
• Citing Electronic Sources – University of Wisconsin-Madison
• AccessMyLibrary.com – promotes library advocacy with FREE research, information, and news that libraries trust
• Using Academic Sources Effectively (and Avoiding Plagiarism!) – Department of Higher and Community Education, University of Edinburgh
• Directory of open access journals