Research Resources and Tools

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to research resources, tools, and concepts for academic study.

Open Resource

A resource that is free to access for anyone.

Paywalled Resource

A resource that requires you to log in or pay a subscription fee.

Boolean Operators

Commands that connect two or more keywords in a search; the primary ones are AND, OR, and NOT.

Quick Search

Covers physical and electronic items at ISU with call numbers or direct links.

Generative AI

AI that can create original content based on data sets used for training.

Phrase Searching

A technique to keep specific words in a certain order by placing quotation marks around them.

Search Engine Strengths

Simple to search with, mobile-friendly, available to anyone with internet access.

Search Engine Weaknesses

Difficult to focus on scholarly materials; overwhelming number of results.

Google Scholar

A tool great for finding research articles and often has field-specific ways to search.

Subject-Specific Database Advantage

Search features customized to a specific subject area.

Call Number

A unique alphanumeric code for individual items in the library, functioning like an item's physical address.

Filtering

The process of narrowing search results by various characteristics such as format or date.

Academic Search Ultimate

A database that provides numerous search options on its front page.

Peer-Reviewed Items

Articles that have been reviewed by experts in the field before publication.

Open Access Materials

Materials available for free on the internet, such as scholarly journals and books.

Citation Chaining

A method used in research to find related scholarly articles by following the citations of known sources.

Weaknesses of Google Scholar

Includes non-journal articles, may list older articles first and lacks discipline-specific searching.

Database Strengths

Best tool for finding scholarly articles, connects to full-text articles, and covers specific subjects.

Database Weaknesses

May be too specialized for general information and have clunky interfaces.

Easier to find videos and images

A strength of using web search engines compared to other search tools.

Accessing Paywalled Articles at ISU

ISU students can access paywalled articles owned by the library through Google Scholar.