• Research Help: 6. Research

    Use this guide to help you learn about research and perform research yourself for both academic and leisurely activities.

    Start Researching

    Before you begin searching, make sure you have:

    1. A specific topic
    2. A list of keywords, phrases, synonyms to use
    3. A list of questions you want to answer or know more about
    4. An understanding of your assignment and how you need to present your research
    5. A list of places to search

    Try some of these strategies to narrow your search.

    • Use quotation marks to search exact phrases
      • "mental health"
      • "college students"
    • Search keywords in specific fields, like the following:
      • Title
      • Subject
      • Abstract
      • Author
    • Use Filters, like the following:
      • Publication date
      • Format
      • Peer-reviewed articles (not including books)
      • Geography
      • Subject
    • Use more specific keywords. For example:
      • social media > Twitter
      • therapy > aromatherapy
      • elementary school > kindergarten
    • Try one of these Boolean Operators (AND, NOT)
      • children AND cancer
      • "elementary school student" NOT kindergarten

    Try some of these strategies to expand your search. (This helps if you are narrowing down too much and can't find what you need).

    • Try this Boolean Operator (OR) - helps combine synonyms or related words
      • preschool OR kindergarten
    • Use asterisks * to help search similar words
      • wom*n = women, woman
      • Americ* = America, American, Americans, Americana
    • Use broader keywords
      • computers < electronics < technology
      • rivers < hydrology < earth science
    call number exampleCall Numbers

    Every library book has one!  It is a alphanumeric combination uniquely representing a book and its location within the library.  Books with similar topics will be grouped together.

    For example:

    -- Zoology is in QL.

    -- Pets are in SF 421-459.

    Don't forget to look on the shelves around it. You may just find something else that could be useful!

    Photo by Ashley Orehek.

    Access the library catalog here!

    Don't forget to watch the video below for how to access and use the library catalog.

    Databases provide a breadth and depth of knowledge. Use it wisely!

    To access our journals, eBooks, and databases, you will need to log in with your myLWC account.

    Students:

    Username: FirstName.LastName@lindsey.edu

    Password: myLWC password

    Faculty/Staff:

    Username: LastNameFirstInitial@lindsey.edu

    Password: myLWC password

    Can't find something in Lindsey's resources? Request to bring it to Lindsey *free of charge*!

    Plan ahead because it can take up to 2 business weeks for an item to arrive on campus.

    Visit this interlibrary loan information page!

    Search Tips

    Use quotation marks "" to search something specific or exact.

    "elementary school students"

    "department of justice"

    Use asterisks * to help search multiple possibilities.

    therap* = therapy, therapies, therapist, therapists, therapeutic

    *information = information, misinformation, disinformation

    You can use both together.

    "mental health therap*"