Academic research is a careful, organized method for discovering new information or better understanding a topic. People conduct academic research to answer questions, solve problems, or learn about a topic in depth. 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.

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 available in school, public, or online libraries (eBooks) can be considered useful for academic research. Typically, books in libraries for academic research are in the non-fiction sections.

Interviews and Surveys: Interviews are a practical tool for research, especially when the interviewee has experienced or lived through something related to the research topic. Interviews can typically be considered primary sources, but sometimes secondary sources. Surveys are also widely used tools in academic research and may include survey questions, demographic information, medical trials, and more. Surveys typically focus on specific questions, research methods, and the analysis of results. 

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 

Additional Resources - https://www.digitallearn.org/ 

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• 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.