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Research Skills »

Show allReading ArticlesFinding ResourcesCiting SourcesUnderstanding DataConducting ResearchIdentifying Source Types

Library Learning Outcomes »

Show all Outcome 1
Students will be able to articulate their information need Outcome 2
Students will be able to implement a focused search strategy Outcome 3
Students will be able to evaluate information, where it comes from, and how it’s used Outcome 4
Students will be able to investigate how information sources work together around a topic Outcome 5
Students will be able to critically engage with their own identities, biases, and ideas in order to contribute to the scholarly conversation Outcome 6
Students will be able to critique the ways authority is constructed

Student Success

Foundational Research Skills

Concept Map: Plan Your Research

Video: 01:30

How to...organize & generate search terms

Developing Research Topics and Questions

Video: 10:07

How to..create research topics and questions

Intro to Research Methods

Interactive Guide

How to...define and choose research methods

Managing Citations: Zotero

Videos: Est. 20 Mins.

How to...manage your citations using Zotero

Peer Review Process

Instructional Guide: est. 10 min

How to... describe and locate peer reviewed articles

Primary & Secondary Sources

Instructional Guide

How to...identify primary & secondary sources

Types of Sources

Instructional Guide

How to...identify popular, scholarly, or trade sources

Resource Evaluation

Evaluating Sources: The CRAAP Test

Video: 04:59

How to...use guidelines to analyze sources

Information Lifecycle

Instructional Guide: est. 10 min

How to...understand the way information is published & analyzed over time

Search Strategies

Accessing Full Text With Mason Search

Video: 02:24

How to...access the full text of online resources @Mason

Beginning the Research Process

Video: 04:26

How to...brainstorm research topics & select source types

Doing a Simple Mason Search

Video: 02:34

How to...find sources @Mason

Doing an Advanced Mason Search

Video: 02:52

How to...find & filter sources @Mason & beyond

Finding Accessible Media @Mason

Step-by-Step Guide

How to...find accessible media using Mason Search

Finding Videos

Video: 01:34

How to...find physical media @Mason

Finding Full Text from Citations

Step-by-Step Guide

How to...read citations & get full text @Mason

Finding Rare Books in Special Collections

Video: 01:43

How to...find sources in Special Collections @Mason

Finding Sources FAST!

Instructional Guide

How to...use citation mining to optimize your research

Interpreting Citations

Step-by-Step Guide

How to...read MLA & APA citations to identify sources

Library Database Search Strategies

Video: 05:01

How to...pick keywords & use Boolean Operators

Managing Mason Search Results

Video: 02:33

How to...save, export & access sources @Mason

Writing & Presenting

Creating a Research Poster With SP@RC

Video: 04:09

How to...format & create a research poster using a template

Instructor Services

Library Resources

Finding Items @Fenwick

Instructional Guide

How to...locate an item @Fenwick using a call number

Fix It!

Step-by-Step Guide

How to...troubleshoot online library resources

Reading a Mason Libraries Call Number

Instructional Guide

How to...read a Library of Congress call number

My Mason Library Account

Video: 02:55

How to...access account, manage items & check fines

Requesting Interlibrary Loan @Mason

Video: 02:47

How to...request items not owned by Mason

Using Google Scholar @Mason

Step-by-Step Guide

How to...link Google Scholar to Mason resources

Teaching Resources

Course Reserves (Leganto)

Infoguide

How to...use the course reserve system

Finding Content on Canvas Commons

Instructional Guide

How to...import library content from Canvas Commons

State Records Retention

Video: 04:03

How to...search for state record retention laws

Additional Questions and Help

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