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Research

Start your research at the CSUDH Library and find out more about the library's resources, how to guides and tutorials, and research guides for different subjects
How-to guides

New to college-level research or CSUDH? Use the how-to videos, tutorials, and handouts on this page to start and finish your research project! If you need help at any part of the research process, ask a librarian!

Resource Icons

= Video
= Interactive tutorial
= Handout or guide

Choose a Topic

First, choose and develop a topic you're interested in!

Preview of concept map.
Mapping Your Research Ideas

 A visual tool for narrowing a research topic, generating ideas, and asking questions.

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Web browser with search bar and text cursor.
Turn Questions into Keywords

A brief video from UCLA on brainstorming keywords for your search strategy.

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Person next to chalk board with choose your own research topic written on the board.
Choosing a Topic

A brief video about the research process with tips on choosing a research topic.

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Preview of Choosing a Topic handout.
Choosing a Topic

Suggestions and questions to ask for formulating a research topic for your assignment.

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Use Search Tools

Use online and library search tools to explore your topic and find sources.

Web browser with text on the left and OneSearch on the right.
OneSearch

A short video on using OneSearch to find books and articles available through the library.

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Web browser with text on the left and OneSearch on the right.
OneSearch

A quick tutorial on using OneSearch to find library materials with hands-on practice.

Start
Screenshot of article in OneSearch with full text available links highlighted.
Finding the Full Text

How to find the full text of an article in CSUDH Library's OneSearch.

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OneSearch results for climate change with my favorites pins highlighted.
Saving Your Results in OneSearch

How to save searches and items in CSUDH Library's OneSearch.

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Preview of Choosing a Library Database video.
Choosing a Library Database

Find a list of library databases and filter by subject to find database for your topic or major.

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Preview of Searching in a Library Database video.
Searching in a Library Database

How to use keywords and connectors to search in a library database.

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Preview of OneSearch v. a subject database infographic.
OneSearch v. a Subject Database

A flow chart of when to use OneSearch or a specialized library database.

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Preview of Advanced database searching infographic.
Advanced Database Searching

An infographic for using AND, OR, NOT keyword connectors in a library database.

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Preview of Connecting to Google Scholar video.
Google Scholar

 Use the cite, cited by, and CSUDH Library link features in Google Scholar.

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Preview of Citation Tracking video.
Citation Tracking in Google Scholar

Find relevant studies in references and using "Cited by" in Google Scholar.

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Preview of PubMed video.
PubMed

How to find research articles in PubMed through the CSUDH Library.

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preview of queering classification video
Queering Classification

How information is organized in library catalogs with an emphasis on issues with identity classification and neutrality.

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How Do I Find...

Looking for a specific kind of source? 

OneSearch with filters on the left side highlighted.
Peer-reviewed Articles

A quick guide to finding scholarly, peer-reviewed journals in library databases using filters.

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Preview of Looking for a Book? infographic
Books & eBooks

A quick guide to finding books in the library, including online textbooks and course reserves.

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Preview of Searching for .gov Sources video.
Statistics and .Gov Sources

Searching in Google using site:.gov to find government web pages and statistics.

Frequently used government sources have been removed due to the 2025 Presidential Transition. Access archived data and read more here.

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Preview of Legal Sources video with scale surrounded by document, book, folder, clip board, and paper icons.
Legal Research

Find primary and secondary legal sources in WestLaw and Google Scholar.

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Screenshot of reactions of water in SciFinder
Chemical Information

Find chemical information and secondary sources in SciFinder.

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Preview of Finding Tests and Measures video.
Tests and Measures

Find tests and measures to use for a research project in PsycTESTS.

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Preview of Search Strategies for Job Seekers infographic.
Search Strategies for Job Seekers

 Tips on how to research jobs using keywords, filters, and algorithms.

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Preview of Company Research video.
Company Research

Find company information through Google and SWOT analyses in a library database.

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Preview of Gerth Archives Primary Source Research and Discovery Guide
Primary Sources

An introduction to identifying, finding, and analyzing primary sources at CSUDH and online.

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Educational Materials

How to find lesson plans through repositories, member organizations, and books.

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Read & Evaluate Sources

What makes the information you find credible? What about scholarly?

Preview of All About Peer Review guide.
All About Peer Review

+ + A mix of resources about peer review and reading research articles.

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Cover of Anatomy of a Research Article.
Anatomy of a Research Article

A brief guide to the parts of a research article. Focus on the abstract and the discussion.

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Paper with magnifying glass.
Evaluating Information

A tutorial on evaluating information, including popular and scholarly, peer-review sources.

Start
Preview of Cognitive Bias infographic.
Avoiding Cognitive Bias

Examples of cognitive bias and information practices.

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Preview of Evaluating Web Sources infographic.
Evaluating Web Sources

Questions to evaluate web sources based on audience, purpose, and evidence.

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Preview of 4 Moves & a Habit infographic.
Fact Checking

A method for fact-checking specific claims for accuracy called "4 Moves & a Habit."

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Preview of Anatomy of a News Article infographic.
Anatomy of a News Article

Look for context in a news article, such as the author, byline, and dateline.

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Preview of Evaluating Sources Using BEAM infographic.
Ways to Use Sources

Ways to use sources in a research project for background, evidence, argument, or method.

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Web browser with Wikipedia home page.
Wikipedia

A brief overview of the guiding principles of Wikipedia and how to evaluate the quality of an article. 

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Cite & Write About Your Research

Use and cite sources in your paper! 

Preview of CSUDH Library Citation Guide
Citation

Guides for using citation styles such as APA and MLA.

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Preview of Why Do We Cite infographic.
Why Do We Cite

 How, when, and why should you include citations in a research paper.

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Sticky notes with A, B, C, and D surrounded by papers and arrows pointing to various letters.
Literature Reviews

 Tips for writing a literature review that is more than just a summary.

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Preview of Literature Review infographic.
Literature Reviews

Tips for finding and using sources in a literature review.

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Preview of What is an annotated bibliography infographic handout.
Annotated Bibliographies

Introduction to the purpose and conventions of annotated bibliographies.

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Advanced Research

Preview of citation management guide.
Citation Management

Guides for using database account and citation management software.

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Cover of research methods infographic.
Research Methods

 Differences between quantitative versus qualitative research with examples.

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Preview of journal metrics infographic.
Journal Metrics

 An overview of various metrics to determine the impact of a particular journal.

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Preview of measurement infographic.
Test Measurement

 Steps in the develop process to determine the validity and reliability of a test instrument.

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Preview of web browser and Zotero library.
Systematic Reviews

Introduction to finding and conducting systematic or integrative reviews.

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