Research Checklist

STEP 1: Choose a Topic
STEP 2: Find Resources
STEP 3: Evaluate Information
STEP 4: Compose an Assignment
Need Assistance?

Find Library Materials.

The next step in the research process is to find resources. The FAU Libraries owns many types of materials, such as:

• Books
• Videos
• Special Collections & Rare Documents
• Government Documents
• Maps
• Periodicals

Go to the Library Catalog to find these resources, then use keywords from your topic to find library materials. For a quick introduction to using the Library Catalog, see our videocast.

Browse Periodicals.

Periodicals such as journals, magazines, and newspapers contain articles. These usually fall under the following categories:

• Scholarly, Peer Reviewed Journals. These type of periodicals report the results of scholarly research and are written by subject experts.
• Trade or Industry Journals. These publications focus on particular industries or trade organizations, and generally do not report on research or new knowledge in a field.
• Newspapers. Newspapers such as Miami Herald and Sentinel-Sun feature local, national, and international news written by reporters.
• Popular Magazines. The focus is on current events, entertainment, or hobbies. These articles are written by journalists, and include extensive color photography and advertisements.

FAU Libraries owns many journals in a print/paper format and also in an electronic, online format. Use the Library Catalog to find journals, or go to the E-Journals page to find electronic journals.

Locate Articles: Databases.

Databases are online collections of periodicals and other materials. They provide access to articles and journals from various types of publications, as well as statistics, dissertations, or reports.

To use a database, go to the Indexes/Databases page. Use the A-Z list to select a particular database or the Databases by Subject link for certain subject areas.

Full-Text. Some databases include full text journal articles. If the citation of an article you want does not link to the full-text of the article, select the icon Find It @ FAU to find full text in other databases.

If an article is not available online, the next step is to check the Library Catalog to see if the library has it in a print format. Interlibrary Loan service is available if an article is not available through a database, or if its journal is not in the FAU Libraries.

A Note on Web Sites.

Some professors may not allow the use of web sites in assignments, and most forbid the use of sites such as Wikipedia or About.com. On the other hand, many organizations provide quality information through their web sites.

Web sites by educational, research, or government entities often provide reliable information; otherwise, use other sites with caution. A professor or librarian can assist in selecting or recommending good sites.

STEP 1: Choose a Topic

STEP 3: Evaluate Information