The MC Library has access to different kinds of search tools:
Use the tabs in the Search Tools box on this page to find suggested search tools to use for a variety of types of sources.
MC students, faculty, and staff can access all of our search tools and online resources from on- or off-campus.
Research Skills & Tips:
Unlike Google, library databases can't understand an entire sentence. You'll need to break your topic down into the most important ideas: the keywords. Keywords are individual words or short phrases that represent the main ideas in your topic, thesis, or research question.
Example Question: Should the federal government be able to regulate content on the internet?
Keywords: federal government, regulate, content, Internet
After you've identified your main ideas and some keywords to start with, think of additional search terms for each concept. These can be synonyms, related ideas, broader terms, or narrower terms. Since a database will match only what you type, using different terms for similar ideas can help you find more articles.
Example Search Terms:
Click on the research issue you're having below to see tips for addressing it:
I'm Not Finding Enough Sources
I'm Finding Irrelevant Sources
None of These Tips Solved My Research Issue
Not Finding Enough Sources
Finding Too Many Sources
Finding Irrelevant Sources
If the options above did not help you find useful results, you may want to:
Research Skills & Tips:
After you've selected your search tool, identified keywords, and fixed research issues, it's time to choose your sources. It is common to get more search results than you will use, so you must evaluate the sources you find to choose the best ones for your research.
Start by scanning the search results to locate sources that fit your research question or need. The search results page will include information about each source, such as the title, year, and abstract, to help you determine its relevance.
Once you've found a source you'd like to use, evaluate its credibility by considering the evidence, source, context, audience, purpose, and execution of the source. Learn more on the Evaluate Information and Fake News guide linked below.
Research Skills & Tips:
Academic articles, sometimes also called journal articles or scholarly articles, are relatively short publications that academic researchers use to communicate new findings and ideas to other scholars. Articles are compiled in scholarly journals, which are essentially academic magazines that come out on a schedule. Many journal articles are peer-reviewed, which means they've gone through a formal review process before being published.
When & Why to Use Articles:
Search for Articles on Current Issues:
Also known as scholarly articles, or academic articles. Some journal articles are "peer reviewed," which means they've gone through an extra review process before being published.
When & Why to Use Journal Articles:
If you are not sure of your research questions yet, return to the "Develop a Topic" tab on this guide and explore issues in the databases linked there.
Search for Journal Articles on Current Issues:
Research Skills & Tips:
Magazine and newspaper articles can be a valuable source of information in research. Use magazines or newspapers when:
Search for Newspaper Articles on Current Issues:
Search for Magazine Articles on Current Issues:
Scholarly books are nonfiction books usually based on academic research done by the author or authors. They can contain multiple chapters on different aspects of a particular topic, or they can focus entirely on one concept or idea.
When & Why to Use Scholarly Books:
Search for Books and E-Books on Current Issues:
Many current topics in the Opposing Viewpoints series are also available as print books that may be checked out. Search in RaptorSearch on your topic, and include the phrase "opposing viewpoints" (include the quotation marks) in your search.
Research Skills & Tips:
MC Library has access to streaming videos and audio, as well as DVDs and CDs. Different types of video and audio include documentaries, educational videos, mainstream movies, radio interviews, and podcasts. Additionally, users have access to a variety of images that can be used in their research.
When & Why to Use Videos or Media:
Search for Videos and Media on Current Issues:
This page will help you choose where and how to search for your sources. As you search, use the tips on this page to help you evaluate each source you find.
If you want to locate a particular journal, magazine, or newspaper, instead of an individual article, use the Journals by Title feature in RaptorSearch. Search by publication title, such as Newsweek or Psychological Bulletin, or get a list of all journals on your topic by browsing through the journal categories.