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Peer Research Consultants: Reference Interview

Getting Started

Resources from other libraries.

Steps

Research Process:

  • Help students with topic development if needed, suggest search terms and keywords.
  • Identify appropriate sources that are most likely to contain information relevant to the students information need.
    • Use Research Guides (lib guides) and search Databases by subject
    • Work with the patron to narrow or broaden their search when searches bring back too little or too much information
    • Use Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT, and "quotations"
  • Explain what you are doing each step of the way, and why you are recommending each step, in order to enable students to improve their research skills.  You should not do the research for the students, but guide and help them to find the right resources, allowing them to answer similar questions on their own.

Research Tips

  • Skim first, read later: When beginning to find sources to learn about your topic, you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration by skimming an article first. If an article has an abstract, start by reading that -- it typically contains an overview of the content and a preview of the main argument. Then, if it looks relevant, you can spend some time reading it fully once you've selected a few sources to provide context for the topic or issue you've chosen to address.

  • Check out the bibliography: Especially once you've located a solid source or two, take note of who they cite in their essays. Are there any names that come up again and again? Do any of the sources they cite sound like they'd help you learn more about your topic? When you find a potential source in a bibliography, make note of it and search for it in the UND databases -- we may just have it!

  • Use varied search terms: Even if you strike gold with your first search, don't underestimate the value of using different or more specific search terms. Look for common terms and phrases that appear frequently in the sources that seem most relevant to your topic, and then use that vocabulary to make the search feature work more efficiently for you. Using this feedback loop will yield even better results. The broader your base of knowledge on a topic, the better prepared you'll be when you start using the information you've learned. While you do want to know when it's time to stop researching and begin writing, it can't hurt to have a little more information at your disposal!

  • Ask questions: Even if your research is going well, be sure to ask a librarian or your instructor when any questions pop up. As experts in their fields, they will be able to quickly offer suggestions and solutions to most of the hurdles you may encounter. And ask your peers -- remember, they are researching too! Collaboration is a key component in learning, so don't hesitate to ask around if you encounter an obstacle during the research process.