Research Project
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Search Strategies
Focus Your Topic: not too broad - not too specific. Develop a clear research question. For example, a research question might be: What correlation is there between social media use and academic performance? OR Would beginning the school day at a later time boost academic achievement among teens? OR How do memory exercises, such as "mind palaces," affect Alzheimer's patients? Divide your research topic or question into basic key ideas. Example:
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Use Boolean searching techniques to narrow or broaden your search:
OR - Tells the database that you want all articles that have similar words (synonyms) AND - Tells the database that you want articles that include all of your key words. NOT - excludes words from your search. 
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Google Tips
Google Scholar
Google Scholar searches specifically for scholarly literature - peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, etc. Some of the search results are available in full-text but many display only an abstract with links to pay-for-document services.
- Use quote marks (“ ”) around search phrases, e.g., “fast food”
- Use OR between words for the same concept, e.g., children OR teens OR "young people" OR adolescents
- Limit searches to sites from a specific web domain (e.g., .edu, .gov )
- Limit searches to a specific website, e.g., site:nytimes.com will limit a search to the NY Times website
- Limit by time period by clicking on 'Search Tools' at the top of the results page and the 'Any Time' pull-down menu
Google Scholar
Google Scholar searches specifically for scholarly literature - peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, etc. Some of the search results are available in full-text but many display only an abstract with links to pay-for-document services.
Locating Sources
Research Databases
Please use your public library card number/PIN or Last Name to login. If you don't have it, please see library staff or email to ask at: botero@smuhsd.org
Please use your public library card number/PIN or Last Name to login. If you don't have it, please see library staff or email to ask at: botero@smuhsd.org
- Points of View Reference Center - Resources that present multiple sides of an issue. Provides content to help assess/develop persuasive arguments and better understand controversial issues.
- Explora General Search - Both teen and adult content on Academics, History & Biography, Legal & Government, Magazines & Newspapers, Science & Technology, Statistics & Demographics.
- Science Reference Center - Full text for hundreds of science magazines, journals, encyclopedias, reference books and more.
- Burlingame Public Library Databases - Full list of research databases provided by the public libraries.
Navigating Through Databases
The image below highlights some areas to focus on to best navigate through databases.
The image below highlights some areas to focus on to best navigate through databases.
Evaluating Sources
Use the following infographic to confirm that you are using the best possible sources in your research:
Use the following infographic to confirm that you are using the best possible sources in your research:
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Citing Sources
- Videos (APA): Last Name, F.M. [Username]. (Year, Month Date). Title of video [Video File]. Retrieved from URL
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OWL Purdue is a reliable source for confirming all citiation guidelines in both MLA and APA formats. Select the image for a link to the site.
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