1. RESEARCH 101
This is a self-paced tutorial to provide you with the necessary
skills to find and use information and to evaluate and use it
wisely for writing research papers and essays.
You will learn how to answer this question:
1. Do I have enough good resources?

2. Working with your results
Now that you know how to use the search tools, you should examine the
quantity and quality of your results.
• You may feel overwhelmed by the thousands of items, or
frustrated by the lack of results.
• Here you will learn how to:
• Determine if you have enough information to complete your
assignment
• Review your research strategy to locate more or fewer items
• Evaluate the quality of your results

3. Quantity
I have too many results I have too few results
• Try one of these strategies: • Try one of these strategies:
• Add more search terms • Use truncation when searching
• If searching for exact phrase use • Replace phrases with keywords
quotation marks (“ “) • Avoid using non-specific words:
• Specify time limits or a time period issues, effects, results, etc.
• Limit keywords to title, subject or • Consider using a different database
abstract when searching a database • Add synonyms using the Or
• Consider using a different database connector
• Check for spelling mistakes and
typos
• Reconsider or broaden your topic

4. Quality
No matter the item, it is important to critically evaluate the information you
locate
• When evaluating quality you will want to look at these
areas:
• Currency
• Authority
• Purpose
• Point of View

5. Currency
• If you want either current or historical information, you will
want to ask yourself:
• What is the copyright date?
• If the item is a website, has it been revised?
• What is the timespan covered in the document?

6. Authority
• Refers to the knowledge or experience of the author or
producer of the document. When checking authority, ask
yourself:
• What are the author’s credentials? Can I find them easily?
• Are the sources cited appropriately (bibliography, works cited,
notes)?
• If the source is a website, is it commercial, government, non-profit,
etc.? Can you locate the author’s contact information? Has the site
been reviewed?

7. Purpose
• All authors publish for a particular audience and for a
specific purpose. When evaluating a document, ask
yourself:
• Who is the intended audience? (Researchers, professionals,
students, general population, etc.)
• Is the information appropriate for your assignment? Is it too
technical or too general?
• Is the author trying to sell you a product or service?
• What type of information is being conveyed? (Opinion, research,
review, general summary)

8. Point of View
• Determine is the source reflects a point of view or bias.
When evaluating, ask yourself:
• Is the item factual or is it an interpretation of facts?
• Can the information be verified?
• Does the author or publisher represent a religious, political, or other
group?
• Are there any assumptions, stereotypes, opinions?
• On websites, do advertisements influence the content?
• Are various points of view treated equally?

9. Summary
• When working with your results it is important to assess
the quality and quantity of the information.
Remember to:
Use appropriate strategies
Always evaluate the item for currency,
authority, purpose, and point of view
Think critically about the information you find
Up Next: Writing and Citing.
You are ready to start writing your
paper!