Unsure where to begin with research? Here are a few tips:

• On the Library homepage, you can use Peirce Library Search to search most of our databases all at once.
  • Use the Full Text filter to ensure all of your results are immediately accessible.
  • Click on All Filters to filter your results further – by source type, publication date, and more.
• You can also choose to search specific databases one at a time. Read the descriptions of the databases on the Library homepage to find the ones that will be most relevant to your topic.
  • Databases also have filters you can use to narrow your results.
• Use keywords instead of sentences to find sources. For example, don’t ask “How do school lunches contribute to childhood obesity?” Instead, enter the keywords childhood obesity and school lunches.
• Use quotation marks to search for an exact phrase within sources. For example, “childhood obesity”.
• Try other phrases if your initial keywords don’t return enough information. For example, overweight children and cafeteria food.
• Consider what kind of information you need for your assignment. For example, if you only need background information, use the Credo Reference database. If you need more in-depth information, use Peirce Library Search, or one of the following (depending on your topic):
  • Academic Search Premier
  • Business Source Complete
  • Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text
  • ERIC
  • Health Business Elite
  • Health Source
  • Nexis Uni
• If your search results include eBooks, once you “open” the eBook, there will be a search bar to search within it. Enter keywords you want to find in the eBook. (This way you won’t have to read the whole eBook!)
• Click on Library Resources when you’re in your course on Canvas. Your course will have a Course Guide that will recommend specific databases, with videos on how to search them. The course guide will have other useful information as well, such as suggested websites and links to APA formatting examples.

If you need further research assistance, please connect with a librarian through Library Chat; phone: 215.670.9269;  or email: peircelibrary@lackawanna.edu. You also have the option of leaving a ticket through the Library ChatBot if a librarian is unavailable. Tickets are responded to within 12 hours, less during weekdays.