Intro to Research (1.0)

Who is this guide for? 

YOU! This guide is designed to support researchers at every step of the research process, from developing a research topic to finalizing your citations. We hope that this guide will save you time and help you to become a more efficient researcher! 

If you're looking for information on using the Relay Library (including general FAQs, highlighted resources, certification materials, how to check out books, and how to use the Relay proxy) check out our Intro to the Relay Library guide. 

If you're looking for information on information literacy, or if you're looking for an opportunity to practice any of the skills mentioned in this LibGuide, look for our LIB-101 course on Canvas! There, you'll find additional information as well as quizzes and tutorials for using Relay library resources.

What will I find in this guide? 

Use the links below or the tabs on the left-hand sidebar to navigate through the following topics:

Starting Your Search

• Coming up with search terms
• How to find books and articles in the Relay library
• What if I can't access a resource that I need?

Choosing Your Sources

• How do I know what type of source I need?
• How do I know if a source is scholarly/peer-reviewed?
• Types of Scholarly Sources

Advanced Searching

• Using literature reviews and bibliographies to find additional sources
• Modifying your search

Evaluating Sources

• Evaluating Resources (The 5 W's)
• Tips for Reading Scholarly Sources

Citing Your Sources

• Why cite?
• Relay APA Guide
• Citation Practice
• Citation Formatting Tools

Research Tools

• Relay LibGuides 
• Interlibrary Loan
• Zotero 
• Google Scholar

Data Narrative

• Identifying Your Research Question
• Using Information from Sources: "They Say, I Say"
• Using Research/Theory to Justify Instructional Practices
• Relay Writing Center

If you need help or have questions about:

• Finding research or relevant articles,
• Developing your research question,
• Determining relevant keywords or search terms,
• Accessing a particular article or journal, 
• Formatting APA citations,
• Using Zotero or other citation management tools,
• Or anything else!

Let us know! In particular, if you've been searching for 10 minutes and still haven't found any relevant resources at all, contact us and we'd be happy to help out. You can email us at library@relay.edu or use the 24/7 Ask A Librarian service using the chatbox below.