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African American Studies: Doing Research

This libguide is designed to help you find materials to aid in research. Choose one of the tabs above to get to information about that resource.

Steps in Research

Steps in Research

Follow these steps and the tips to the right to create your research project. If you need help Ask the Librarian!

Using Library Databases

Searching Tips

Keywords are...

  • A good way to start a search.
  • The important concepts in your own words.
  • Found anywhere in the article (title, author, subject terms, etc.).
  • Very flexible. Very Powerful!

Connecting concepts...

  • Link different parts of your topic with "AND."
  • Join similar ideas or alternate term with "OR."
  • Exclude concepts with "NOT."

Limit to Peer-Reviewed or Scholarly articles...

  • This is part of the publication & editorial process for academic and research journals.  
  • Being peer-reviewed is a sign that a paper's author(s) have done a certain level of due diligence in their work and their research is complete, manages conflicts-of-interest, and is fair and objective.

Narrow the Date Range...

  • When looking for Current Research or Evidence-Based Practices limit your date range to the last 3-5 years.

Still not finding anything? Ask the Librarians!