Arts 130: The Importance of Fantasy: University-level research

Conducting academic research is significantly different from everyday searching. It requires us to pay attention to the research process as we have not before.

Consider this video from the McMaster Libraries, which highlights the difference between your everyday "searching" and the experience of academic "research":

Other ways that academic research is different, include:

Did you know? Most catalogues and scholarly databases don’t use the same search language as search engines like Google. In fact, many require specifically crafted search questions. 

So what? The skills that you have developed previously will have limited application in the academic sphere. You will need to spend more time preparing to search than you have had to before. 

Did you know? Scholars talk to each other and build on each other’s work. This an important part of the reason why referencing is so important.  It can be hard to tell when you need to cite a source and even more so when you need to go outside course material to support your argument.

So what? When and how you use the work of other academics is going to be much more important than ever before.  You will have to put much more scrutiny and thought into your sources. 

Did you know? As a university student you are a participant in scholarly communication. Maybe so far you have just been the recipient of knowledge creation and communication, but as you progress through this class and this degree you will be asked not only to receive information but to seek it out, to respond to it, to judge it and, inevitably CREATE it. 

SO? We better get good at navigating our way through academic information.  The Library is here to help.

Below you will find links to access some of the core Library services.