Information Research (LIBR 100)

Information Research (LIBR 100) is a one-credit course for students who are interested in improving their research skills. Researchers have vastly more information at their disposal than they can use. The challenge is to identify information that is both credible and relevant to your assignment, topic, or question. Information Research will give you the tools to manage any level of research, graduate or undergraduate. While working remotely, we offer both synchronous and asynchronous sections of the course. Please see the schedule at the bottom of the page and select the section that best meets your needs.

Topics covered:

1. Selecting a manageable, researchable topic
2. Finding background information
3. Choosing relevant databases
4. Search strategies in databases
5. Evaluating information sources for point of view, bias, and conflict of interest
6. Scholarly sources and peer review
7. Books and e-books

Expected course outcomes:
By the end of the course you should be able to:

1. Identify researchable topics or questions
2. Find background information on a topic
3. Use databases to find articles and books relevant to your topic
4. Distinguish between scholarly and non-scholarly sources
5. Analyze and evaluate sources, published and unpublished, as to purpose, authority, reliability, point of view or bias, and possible conflict of interest
6. Correctly cite sources

Course offerings for spring 2023.