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What is Academic Research?
What is Academic Research?
Academic research is a careful and organized method of finding new information or understanding a topic better. People conduct academic research to answer questions, solve problems, or learn about something in detail. Researchers—usually students, teachers, or scientists—collect facts, read books and articles, perform experiments, or gather data to discover new knowledge.
The goal is to learn about a topic and share facts that others can trust. Academic research follows specific steps to make sure the information is accurate and reliable. Important research steps often include:
Choosing a question or topic to study.
Looking for information from books, articles, or experiments.
Collecting and analyzing data or evidence.
Formulating conclusions or arguments based on the evidence.
Collecting source titles and authors for a works cited or bibliography page to avoid plagiarism.
Sharing research results through essays, reports, or presentations.
What are valid academic research sources?
What are valid academic research sources?
Academic Research Databases: Collections of articles and sources that have been reviewed by experts. These are typically free or paid websites that provide content that is considered trustworthy, accurate, and sometimes "peer-reviewed." Types of sources available can be Scholarly Journals, News Articles, Magazines, and eBooks.
Books: Many books found in the school library, public library, or online libraries (eBooks) can be considered useful for academic research. Typically books found in libraries for academic research are found within the non-fiction sections.
Interviews and Surveys: Interviews are a practical tool for research, especially if a person being interviewed has experienced or lived through something that is related to the research topic. Interviews can typically be considered primary sources, but sometimes secondary source. Surveys are also a highly used tool in academic research and may include survey questions, demographic information, medical trials, and more. Surveys typically focus on specific questions, methods for research, and analysis of results.
All sources must be properly cited in your assignment or project to support your writing and to avoid plagiarism.
Takeaway: Google, Gemini, ChatGPT, Wikipedia, etc. are not considered valid or trustworthy sources for research. Read why below:
How do I search an academic database?
How do I search an academic database?
What are keywords?
What are keywords?
Academic Databases rely on you knowing what you need to find. You must plan or prepare before you search. Search results are presented based on the keywords you use when searching. Information is often peer-reviewed and from verified sources. Finding information can be difficult. Many sources are written for college-level readers. Here are some steps to get you started:
Step 1: Prepare Keywords
Prepare keywords to find what you are looking for before you search an academic database. The best keywords are the essential terms (or short phrases) that represent the main concepts, ideas, or themes of your research topic. Extract keywords from your hypothesis or research question. Click on the image to view an example.
Step 2: Prepare Search Phrase variations based on combinations of your Keywords
Changing the order of the words does not matter as much as coming up with alternative versions of the terms, or synonyms:
Example:
teenagers caffeine health
adolescent caffeine drinks mental health
young adults caffeinated drinks physical health
Academic Research Databases
Academic Research Databases
ProQuest Central Student is a comprehensive research database for students, offering access to thousands of academic journals, magazines, news reports, and more. Central Student is also used in some Colleges and Universities.
ProQuest eLibrary is a user-friendly general reference tool that provides sources to students as they research a topic. This tool is simpler and designed for students who are in the beginning stages of learning how to do academic research.
Britannica School is for K-12 students and educators. It offers a safe, subscription-based resource with age-appropriate encyclopedia articles, multimedia content, and learning tools.
Britannica Escolar está dirigida a estudiantes y educadores desde jardín de infantes hasta el nivel secundario y ofrece un recurso seguro basado en suscripción con artículos de enciclopedia apropiados para cada edad, contenido multimedia y herramientas de aprendizaje.
ProQuest SIRS Issues Researcher is a database designed to provide multiple perspectives on complex social issues. Including relevant, credible information and tools that equip students to think critically about global controversies.
ProQuest Black Freedom: Challenges and Triumphs in the Pursuit of Equality. Provides primary sources related to the black experience in the United States. Includes learning tools to help read and understand various formats of primary sources. Source years range from the 1790s until today.
At LAUSD, we have access to GALE Environmental Studies database. This database includes articles as well as magazines and multimedia. Gale Interactive Science provides visual 3D interactive models and information for specific topics and lessons within academic sciences.
With your Student Success Card, you can log into the LAPL Research Databases to find a large variety of information on various topics. Follow this guide to find your Card Number on Schoology. If you have any problems with the account number or pin, please ask your school librarian for help, or use this form.
Additional Sources & Resources
Additional Sources & Resources
Google Scholar - This resource includes free access to some database material for research, however some search results require logins that are not provided by LAUSD. As a general tip for high school: don't pay for anything to help you study. If you find something on Google Scholar that is asking for a subscription or payment, talk to your librarian as they may be able to find the resource for free.
COMPASS - all students in California have free access to the above databases through COMPASS, which also includes some additional resources not mentioned on our website.
ProQuest Research Companion - this resource provdies self-guided lessons deisng to help students master the skills needed for research and writing. Think of it as a "personal coach" for research. It breaks down complex academic projects into manageable steps. Also features tools such as the Citation Builder.
LAUSD Digital Library - LAUSD has provided a list of additional free resources on a wide variety of topics. Please consider exploring these additional resources depending on the type of research you are completing.
Advanced Search Keyword Worksheet - Locate your research topic (usually one full sentence, question or thesis statement). Then use this worksheet to help identify the key concepts of your research topic. This will help you plan advanced search functions for databases like ProQuest.
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