Research Tutorials

Here are a collection of guides and tutorials that can help you with specific research skills topics. If you need additional assistance, contact a member of the Schaffner Reference Staff.

Audiocasts

• Searching NUcat [1]
  This audiocast provides tips for searching NUcat, the library's online catalog.
• Creating Search Terms [2]
  Students can learn ways to take their research idea and turn it into the most useful search terms.
• Evaluating Resources [3]
  Here we talk about ways to determine if a resource is appropriate for your research.
• Primary versus Secondary Sources/Periodical Types [4]
  This audiocast goes through the differences between primary and secondary sources and the major periodical types.

Videos

• Obtaining and Using Information [5]
  Learn about different sources for information and when to use them.
• Evaluating Information [6]
  This video covers how to evaluate the usefulness and authority of an information source.
• Using and Evaluating Information Quiz [7]
  Use this quiz to test yourself on when you need information and how to evaluate that information.
• Research Vocabulary: Library Speak [8]
  This video provides a refresher on important words you may come across while conducting research.
• Research Vocabulary Quiz [9]
  Test your knowledge of library lingo.
• Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources [10]
  This video will guide you through the different source types and when to use them.
• Popular versus Peer-Reviewed Journals [11]
  This video will explain the differences between journal types and show you how to find out if a journal is peer reviewed.
• Narrowing Down Your Search with Boolean Operators [12]
  This video will show you how to broaden and narrow your search using the Boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT.
• Reading Citations [13]
  This video will guide you through identifying the most common types of citations you will come across in databases, bibliographies, and other sources.
• Searching Google Scholar [14]
  This video guides you to searching Google Scholar and accessing Northwestern University Library resources.