Library 101 - Part 2: Research Methods and Strategies

• Many of the library databases include built in tools to help you store articles and books that you locate in that database. However, it is important to note that these tools are usually limited to the platform that you are currently working in and are not available universally.
  • For example, articles that you save to a My Research Folder in ProQuest will not be visible in your Folder in an EBSCOhost database.
     
• Permalinks are a great resource available in most databases. These are stable web addresses that you can use to return to an article or even a whole set of search results. These are different from just copying the url from the address bar and are usually found by using the "Share", "Save for later", or "permalink" option. 
  • Example: a quick technique for storing many articles that you would like to review later across without stopping to download full text or generate full citations is to email yourself a series of permalinks so that you can note your interest in the resource and come back to it later.
     
• In addition to saving items for you, most databases will also help you format citations for your materials using a variety of styles, such as MLA, APA, Chicago, and more.
  • These citations specify the exact article/book/item that you consulted and they are required in academic research writing.
  • These tools are not perfect! Always read the citation that you are given thoroughly and make sure to fix any errors.
    • If you need help with checking citations, ask an expert consultant at the Writing Center to review your work.
  • A citation can also be used to help you locate the item again if you lose your original copy. Ask a Librarian if you need help interpreting the information in the citation to retrace your steps!
     
• For small scale collections of resources, you can do something as simple as making a folder on your computer or in a cloud service (such as Google Drive or OneDrive) to store PDFs of your articles and a Word document to store permalinks and citations.
   
• For medium to large scale projects, you may want to use a Reference Manager, such as Zotero or Mendeley to store your resources. These programs allow you to store full text of your resources, citations, and permalinks as well as help you keep track of physical books and other items that you may have used in your research.

Citing your sources and appropriately attributing the resources that you consulted in your research is critical in order to avoid plagiarism, acknowledge the contributions of other authors, and demonstrate your own familiarization with the subject matter.

The citation format for your assignment will be established by your professor and it is your responsibility to properly format your citations and works cited pages in the assigned format. Carefully review all of your citations for accuracy, especially if you are using an automated citation generator. Citation generators can be very helpful, but they frequently make small errors (such as missing volume numbers, URLs, etc.) that need to be corrected before you submit your assignment.

Fortunately, there are many tools available to assist you:

• Research Guides
  • How to Cite Sources in Your Research Paper
    • Find resources to assist you in using multiple formats including APA, ASA, Chicago, and more!
       
• NSU Writing Center:
  • The NSU Writing Center can assist you with all aspects of academic writing including reviewing your citations and helping you work with your assigned format.
  • Book an appointment now using WCONLINE.
  • Visit the Writing Resources page to locate presentations and/or Tip Sheets covering a variety of styles including APA, ASA, MLA, Chicago, and more!