The Research Process: Strategies for Undergraduate Students is an open access textbook written by library, archives, and Learning Commons professionals at Western Libraries, and is intended for undergraduate students. In Getting Started, you will discover the stages inherent in the research process, and be introduced to the available resources at Western Libraries. In Explore, you will explore different information sources, and will learn how to develop robust search strategies for each information source. In Focus & Finalize, you will learn about copyright practices and Fair Use, and how to synthesize your research materials.
Licensing: This project is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 license. (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Feedback: Have feedback? Please share your thoughts with the editors.
Cover art: Book jacket and cover art by Simon Bakke.
Accessibility: Contact the editors if you are a student and need this text or any chapters in an alternative electronic format.
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Chapter 01 - The Research Process & Scholarly Communication
Jenny K. Oleen
Learn about scholarly communication, the four stages of the research process, and how to plan for a successful research project.
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Chapter 02 - The Learning Commons
Shevell Thibou
Learn about the Learning Commons partners at Western Washington University Libraries, and discover how they can contribute to your academic success.
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Chapter 03 - Find & Evaluate Information Sources at Western Libraries
Peter A. Smith and Rebecca M. Marrall
Learn to identify and evaluate information sources that can support your research.
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Chapter 04 - OneSearch
Rebecca M. Marrall
Learn how to search, retrieve results, and navigate throughout the user interface of Western Washington University Libraries’ shared catalog.
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Chapter 05 - Article Databases
Elizabeth Stephan
Learn about article databases, and how to maximize the search features within.
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Chapter 06 - Web Literacy
Rebecca M. Marrall and Jenny K. Oleen
Identify the concepts of web literacy; learn about Google and Wikipedia as research tools; and explore the Digital Divide phenomenon.
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Chapter 07 - Government Sources
Robert Lopresti
Learn about government documents, and how they contribute to the research process.
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Chapter 08 - Heritage Resources
Paul S. Piper and Rozlind Koester
Learn about using materials from Western Washington University Libraries’ Heritage Resources units as a part of the research process.
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Chapter 09 - Children & Teen Literatures
Sylvia Tag
Learn how to use materials from Western Washington University Libraries' Children's and Teens Literature collections as a part of the research process.
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Chapter 10 - Writing As Inquiry, Writing As Thinking
Carmen Werder
Discover how writing enhances the inquiry process, and how to synthesize your research materials into a first draft.
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Chapter 11 - Copyright & Fair Use
Jenny K. Oleen
Learn how copyright and Fair Use affects your research.
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How to Use The Research Process
Rebecca M. Marrall and Jenny K. Oleen
Learn how use this textbook in multiple instructional settings. Intended for faculty, subject librarians, and students.
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The Research Process: Instructor Workbook
Rebecca M. Marrall and Jenny K. Oleen
Sample assignments for The Research Process: Strategies for Undergraduate Students provided by the chapter authors.
