Browse by Research Skill

Getting Started with Research

The videos and tutorials in this list cover why information literacy skills matter and how to get started with a research project, including understanding the process, choosing a topic, and beginning research.

Video & Guide: Introduction to the PG Library
Introduction to the PG Library
This guide includes a video introducing you to the library and what services and resources the PG Library offers you during your studies.
Video Tutorial: The Research Process
The Research Process
In this two-video series, learn about the value of pre-research and the process of in-depth research, outlining, and writing.
Video: Creating a Research Plan
Creating a Research Plan
Creating a research plan will help prepare you to tackle any type of research project you take on.
Video: Framing a Problem Video
Framing a Problem
Learn how to formulate your question so you can establish the purpose of your research and know exactly what you are looking for.
Tutorial: Developing a Research Focus.
Developing a Research Focus
This tutorial introduces how to use pre-research techniques to determine the scope and depth of your research focus.
Video: How to Narrow Your Topic
How to Narrow Your Topic
This video outlines how to hone in on a compelling research topic with appropriate scope using strategies like strategic searching.
Video: Beginning Research with Google and Wikipedia
Beginning Research with Google & Wikipedia
Understand the process of background research using Google and Wikipedia.
Tutorial: Background Research Tips
Background Research Tips
See strategies for aligning a research focus with assignment guidelines and research tools such as concept maps.
Video: Thesis Statements
Thesis Statements
Review how to identify the purpose of your research efforts in order to construct evidence-based statements and a compelling argument.
Video: Life in the Information Age
Life in the Information Age
Learn about the evolving information landscape and your roles as a responsible information consumer and creator.
Tutorial: Why Information Literacy Matters
Why Information Literacy Matters
See how information literacy is relevant to your day-to-day life.
Tutorial: Why Visual Literacy Matters
Why Visual Literacy Matters
Find out why it's more important than ever to understand visual images and think critically about how and why they are being used in different contexts.
Tutorial: Scholarship as Conversation
Scholarship as Conversation
Learn how your projects help build the body of work in a given field, as well as the process of attribution and critical evaluation.
Tutorial: Research for Persuasive Writing
Research for Persuasive Writing
This tutorial will walk you through the process of conducting research for persuasive writing.

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Sources of information

The videos and tutorials in this list cover how information is created and the many different types of sources that students encounter while doing research.

Video: Types of Sources
Types of Sources
This video defines and describes source types and addresses how to select the appropriate source for your information need.
Video: Peer Review
Peer Review
This video will provide you with an understanding of what peer review means, how the process works, why it is an indicator of quality, and how to locate peer-reviewed sources.
Video: How To Read Scholarly Materials
How To Read Scholarly Materials (Video)
Feel intimidated by scholarly materials? Use this video to help get familiar with these valuable resources and learn tips for approaching, analyzing, and integrating them into your projects.
Video: Primary Sources
Primary Sources
This video will introduce you to the characteristics of primary sources in order to help you identify the most appropriate type of source for your research needs.
Video: Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources
This video will introduce you to the features of secondary sources in order to help you identify the most appropriate type of source for your research needs.
Video: Tertiary Sources
Tertiary Sources
This video will introduce you to the characteristics of tertiary sources in order to help you identify the most appropriate type of source for your research needs.
Video: Primary & Secondary Research
Primary & Secondary Research
This video illustrates the differences between primary (original) research and secondary research, and the ethical considerations associated with each.
Tutorial: Selecting Appropriate Digital Sources
Selecting Appropriate Digital Sources
This tutorial will help you identify your information need, get familiar with the types of digital sources available, and select the most relevant sources to fulfill that particular need.
Tutorial: Information Has Value
Information Has Value
This tutorial will help you become aware of your role as an information creator and consumer.
Video: Data, Information, and Knowledge
Data, Information, and Knowledge
This video defines and explains the differences and relationships between data, information, and knowledge, and how each might be used or encountered in research.

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Searching for Information

The videos and tutorials in this list cover the basics of searching for information, including choosing the right source, identifying keywords, and employing search techniques.

Video Tutorial: Searching as Exploration
Searching as Exploration
This tutorial contains two videos. The first video digs deeper into exploratory search strategies and in the second you will learn how to craft a search statement and the importance of neutral language.
Tutorial: Choosing & Using Keywords
Choosing & Using Keywords
This tutorial will walk you through the process of selecting, refining, and expanding your collection of search keywords in order to locate the most relevant information to your research topic.
Tutorial: Search Techniques, Part 1
Search Techniques, Part 1
This tutorial aims to familiarize viewers with strategic searching. Learn the purpose and uses of natural language and Boolean operators to broaden and narrow the scope of your search.
Tutorial: Search Techniques, Part 2
Search Techniques, Part 2
View this tutorial to see advanced search techniques for broadening and narrowing the scope of a search.
Video: Refining Search Results
Refining Search Results
Use this video to learn how to navigate the search process, including techniques to conduct effective background research using multiple keywords in order to narrow in on a research focus.
Video: How to Find Peer Reviewed Articles
How to Find Peer Reviewed Articles in the PG Library
This video from the PG Library discusses why and how to find peer reviewed articles using our website and databases.
Tutorial: How to Find Reliable Sources
How to Find Reliable Sources
Learn how to search for sources, evaluate sources, and organize sources with a reference management system.
Video: Choosing a Database
Choosing a Database
Watch this video to receive guidance on how to select the best database(s) for your information need and assignment requirements.
Video: Inquiry
Inquiry
Watch this video to learn how an inquiry-based mindset can help you evaluate and solve problems in your academic work and career.
Video: Evidence-Based Reasoning
Evidence-Based Reasoning
When you have a research question in mind and you want to find evidence that would answer it, you need to take some time to figure out what kinds of evidence best answer your question.

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Evaluating Information

The videos and tutorials in this list cover how to critically review the information you've found for accuracy and authority. 

Video: What is Authority?
What is Authority?
This video introduces the concept of authority, how it relates to research, source selection, evaluation, and attribution.
Video: Introduction to Bias
Introduction to Bias
This video introduces the idea of bias and prejudice and the importance of awareness of one’s own bias and the bias of others when evaluating sources and situations, and responding to arguments.
Video: Types of Bias
Types of Bias
This video builds on the introduction to bias video by discussing specific types of bias such as social bias, confirmation bias, and communal reinforcement.
Video: Evaluating Sources
Evaluating Sources
This video shows how to think critically about the information you encounter in print and online.
Video: Evaluating Statistics
Evaluating Statistics
As statistics are widely used to support arguments and positions, it is helpful to be able to think critically about how they were created and how they are being used.
Tutorial: Evaluating Information
Evaluating Information
Learn how to evaluate a range of resources in order to select the most authoritative sources on your research topic.
Tutorial: News Reporting vs. Opinion Pieces in Journalism
News Reporting vs. Opinion Pieces in Journalism
This tutorial will focus on two types of journalism to help you distinguish between the different types of news available: news reporting and opinion.
Video Tutorial: Understanding Misinformation
Understanding Misinformation
This two-part video tutorial will help students identify the characteristics and purpose of misinformation as well as its effect on their personal and academic lives.
Video: Interpreting Images
Interpreting Images
This video reveals the many components to be aware of when analyzing a visual image, whether it be a photograph, painting, advertisement, or other type of media.

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Using Research & Data

The videos and tutorials in this list review using the information you've found effectively in writing and presentations. 

Video Tutorial: Synthesis
Synthesis
This video focuses on strategies for writing a strong paper that brings together ideas from multiple sources, including identifying main ideas, and paraphrasing and summarizing techniques.
Tutorial: Synthesizing Information for Academic Writing
Synthesizing Information
This tutorial defines and explores information synthesis, including strategies for bringing together ideas and facts from multiple different sources at various stages in the research process.
Tutorial: Annotated Bibliography
Annotated Bibliography
View this tutorial to become familiar with annotated bibliographies and the role annotations play in research and scholarship.
Video: Anatomy of a Research Paper
Anatomy of a Research Paper
This video provides viewers with an overview of the basic structure of a research paper.
Video: Academic Writing
Academic Writing
Any academic experience is an opportunity for you to participate in the broad scholarly conversation. Watch this video to learn more about how your work contributes to this wider discussion.
Tutorial: Digital Privacy
Digital Privacy
This video tutorial will help you identify where and how your information may be vulnerable, and provide you with strategies to protect your digital privacy.
Tutorial: Paraphrasing, Quoting, and Summarizing
Paraphrasing, Quoting, and Summarizing
This tutorial will define these three methods of discussing evidence and information, tips and examples for using each method, and guidance for deciding which method is best for a given situation.
Video: Understanding the Communication Need
Understanding the Communication Need
This video will focus on how considering your communications’ purpose, audience, and content or topic will help you determine what type of written communication to use.
Video: Preparing for a Presentation
Preparing for a Presentation
In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to identify presentation skills in everyday experiences, examine questions you need to ask before preparing presentation content, and review strategies for structuring the presentation.
Video: Using Quantitative Data
Using Quantitative Data
Figuring out how to use quantitative data to form conclusions can be challenging. Watch this video to learn how quantitative data can be evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted to draw conclusions.
Tutorial: Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions
Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions
From Academic Writer: Learn how to conduct the final phase of the research process, including how to analyze, interpret, and present data; discuss the findings; and draw conclusions.
Video Tutorial: Analyzing Information
Analyzing Information
View this video tutorial to see how to identify an informational source's themes, evaluate its message, and ask open-ended questions in order to pursue a deeper understanding.
Video: Logical Reasoning
Logical Reasoning
As a student, you can use logical reasoning to solve problems and develop ideas in your academic and personal life. This tutorial includes the video "Inductive and Deductive Reasoning."
Video: Why Thinking Matters
Why Thinking Matters
Watch this video to learn about critical thinking and its role in your daily life.

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Citations & Academic Integrity

The videos and tutorials in this list cover how to use the information you've gathered ethically in your paper, project, or assignment.  

Video Tutorial: APA Citation Style
APA Citation Style
Watch this video for an overview of APA citation style including common source types such as books, journals, and websites.
Tutorial: Getting Started with APA Citation Style
Getting Started with APA Citation Style
Created by the APA itself, open this tutorial to learn the basics of APA Style, including how to format a manuscript, understand the form and function of common manuscript parts, and construct a comprehensive and reliable reference list.
Video: Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity
This video introduces the concept that information has value, and that acting with academic integrity and ethical behavior is essential to success as a student and as a participant in the scholarly conversation.
Tutorial: Why Citations Matter
Why Citations Matter
This tutorial provides an overview of why it is important to cite sources, and an explanation for why different citation formats and citation styles exist.
Video: Plagiarism
Plagiarism
This video provides examples and explanations of specific types of plagiarism, such as cloning, aggregation, and self-plagiarism, as well as strategies to prevent plagiarizing.
Tutorial: How to Avoid Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism
How to Avoid Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism
From the APA, learn how to avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism, including how to identify plagiarism, understand its risks and consequences, cite sources properly, and develop sound writing practices.
Video: Copyright
Copyright
Learn about intellectual property and copyright, including exceptions to copyright restrictions such as fair use, and guidance on the ethical use of others’ intellectual property.

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Videos & Guides for Databases

Many of our databases and other resources have user guides, often with video walkthroughs. Next to any database link, look for an "i" icon next to the database name. Click the "i" icon to open the guide.

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Many of the tutorials available here are from Credo InfoLit Modules and Academic Writer.  Use the links below to access these resources directly.

Note About Videos

Note: Videos and tutorials created by third-party vendors like Credo InfoLit or Academic Writer may occasionally show resources to which we don't directly have a subscription.  These are meant only as examples and you can apply any skills shown in these examples to any other resources.

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