Students often make the mistake of researching for class papers the same way they look for life hacks and find the closest place for good a meal: Google.
But typing a few search terms into Google isn’t an effective way to get academic and peer-reviewed research for your class assignment. In fact, it’s a quick way to a low grade and negative feedback about poor quality sources. Even worse, you could end up with wrong information and a skewed understanding of your research topic.
Academic research online is a skill you need to master to write quality research papers in any discipline. Follow these simple principles to find reliable, academic sources for your research paper:
1. Determine if the author or creator is a credible and objective source of information on the subject.
For example: A paper published by a veterinarian would be credible source of information if I’m researching adolescent canine behavior.
2. Look for information in the right places.
For example: Searching the website of the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico could be a good place to find information on Frida Kahlo’s art.
3. Identify keywords and phrases associated with the topic.
For example: If I’m doing research on Critical Race Theory some associated terms and phrases I should also search for could include ‘Structural Racism’, ‘Power Structure’, and ‘Racism.’
4. Adjust search parameters (keywords, related topics, post or publication dates, using ‘and’, ‘or’, ‘not’ in search fields).
For example: I should adjust my search to only find information created within the past 5 years if I’m researching the current political parties in India; finding information relevant 40 years ago wouldn’t be helpful for my topic.
Future articles will go into more depth on each of these principles. Stay tuned!
