Please reach out if you have any questions about your research. If you'd like to schedule a research appointment you can see my availability and schedule one here.
STEM Librarian: Alicia Ikerd
Email: aliciaikerd@depauw.edu
Research Tips from Alicia:
1. Paper and pencil. Write things down. Look for common keywords, authors, phrases. Use these to search for articles in library subscription databases.
2. Keep track of useful sources as you find them. Download, print, or email articles/citations to yourself as you find them. If you copy/paste a citation ALWAYS compare it to the appropriate style guide for accuracy. Citations from databases are still prone to human and computational error.
3. Read. You may need to read over ten articles to find three good sources. Typically you can find source by clicking in-text citation links, scrolling to the bottom of the article and reading the reference list, or by clicking "Cited By" in applicable databases. Not sure what "Cited By" is, does, or where to find it? Contact your STEM librarian.
4. Interlibrary Loan: this is an option for articles and books we don't own or have access to through a subscription.
5. Set up DePauw access to your instance of Google Scholar.
6. Consider using Zotero to organize your citations. See the companion LibGuide for this tool to explore and create an account.
7. Cite your sources. Accurately documenting your sources used for research is an important part of the research and writing process. Documentation gives credit to information originally written elsewhere and enables others to find the information source again.
8. Email Alicia to set up a research consultation. Don’t struggle – ask for help. (Also available: stop by TheDesk at the ROW Library to see a Library Research Consultant).