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Getting Started with Research at Shapiro Library

This guide discusses understanding information sources, formulating a topic and search phrase, where and how to search the library for information, how to evaluate sources, how to cite sources, and more.

Welcome

two people sitting, the person on the left in a blue striped shirt holds an electronic tablet. the person on the right with long, dark, braided hair, uses a laptop on their lap.

Beginning in the fall of 2019, Shapiro library offered hour-long virtual research workshops available to all SNHU learners. These workshops are on hiatus as of Summer 2022. Some of the workshops have been recorded or converted into guides and are available below.

Expert Evaluator Module

Welcome to the Expert Evaluator Module! In order to be awarded this badge, you will complete a simulation in which you are given a scenario that requires you to use various information literacy evaluation methods and critical thinking skills. You will be awarded the Expert Evaluator Badge when you successfully navigate to the end of the scenario. 

In order to move to different sections of the experience, you will need to correctly answer a series of assessment questions. You will not be able to move on until you have answered all questions correctly; however, you may re-answer a question as many times as needed to continue.

The simulation will take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

If you have any questions as you are navigating the experience, please email infolit@snhu.edu.

Ready to take on the challenge? Click on the button below to begin!

 

Want more information? Head to the Expert Evaluator page, linked below!

Navigating Your Library: A Road Map to Available Resources

Not sure where to start your research? Learn about the different types of resources and services available to you through the Shapiro library. You’ll also learn how to identify the kinds of sources appropriate for your project.

Explore the Navigating Your Library Guide

Navigating Your Library: Additional Resources

Are you an Informed Searcher?

Do you know all about primary, secondary and tertiary sources? Know the difference between background, in-depth and original research? Know your way around scholarly and popular sources? A pro with the information timeline and peer review? Prove it today to earn the Informed Searcher badge!

Learners who complete the Informed Searcher Quiz with a score of 85% or more earn the Informed Searcher badge. You'll know right away if you passed the quiz, but it may take a few days for badges to be awarded. You can take the quiz as many times as you like. If you miss a question, consult the linked resources below.

Browse selected informed searcher resources to review covered concepts, or click the button below to begin the quiz.

Take the Informed Searcher Quiz

Search & Research: Mastering the Library Databases

Search results irrelevant or alarmingly small? Choose the best Shapiro library resources for your project and learn search strategies to get the most out of them! You’ll learn about constructing effective searches and how to modify them when the results you want aren’t returned right away.

Explore the Search & Research Guide

Search & Research: Additional Materials

Are you a Strategic Searcher?

 Do you know all about keyword and Boolean searching? Are you an old pro at truncation and phrase searching? Know your way around Shapiro library's A-Z Database list? Prove it today to earn the Strategic Searcher badge!

Learners who complete the Strategic Searcher Quiz with a score of 80% or more earn the Strategic Searcher badge. You'll know right away if you passed the quiz, but it may take a few days for badges to be awarded. You can take the quiz as many times as you like. If you miss a question, consult the linked resources below.

Browse selected strategic searcher resources to review covered concepts, or click the button below to begin the quiz.

Take the Strategic Searcher Quiz

Be a Research Skeptic: A Crash Course in Source Evaluation

Unsure if the resources you’ve found are high quality? Discuss source evaluation, credibility and bias. Evaluating sources can be daunting, but Shapiro librarians can help! We’ll cover indicators of suitability for resources in Shapiro library databases and on the web.

Explore the Be a Research Skeptic Guide

Be a Research Skeptic: Additional Materials

Are you a Skeptical Searcher?

Do you know about source evaluation? Can you spot bias? Do you know how to investigate sources? Are you a pro at finding other evidence and tracing claims? Prove it today to earn the Skeptical Searcher badge!

Learners who complete the Skeptical Searcher Quiz with a score of 85% or more earn the Skeptical Searcher badge. You'll know right away if you passed the quiz, but it may take a few days for badges to be awarded. You can take the quiz as many times as you like. If you miss a question, consult the linked resources below.

Browse selected resources to review covered concepts, or click the button below to begin the quiz.

Take the Skeptical Searcher Quiz

Pursuing Primary Sources: Historical and Data Research

Not sure where to start your search for primary sources? Learn about different resources for finding primary sources, both within the library's collections and beyond. We'll also discuss contextualizing historical sources.

Explore the Pursuing Primary Sources Guide

Pursuing Primary Sources: Additional Materials

Are you a Primary Source Prospector ?

Do you know all about where to search for Primary Sources? Know your Primary from Secondary and Tertiary sources? Know where to start contextualizing sources? Can you tell when a primary source is being mediated? Prove it today to earn the Primary Source Prospector badge!

Learners who complete the Primary Source Prospector Quiz with a score of 80% or more earn the Primary Source Prospector badge. You'll know right away if you passed the quiz, but it may take a few days for badges to be awarded. You can take the quiz as many times as you like. If you miss a question, consult the linked resources below.

 

TruthQuester! Badge

We live in a complicated world, swirling with information from all angles. How do you navigate this world? From memes to social media, news websites to library databases, the TruthQuester! badge will give you the skills you need to parse through different viewpoints, narratives, and articles in a complex information landscape. 

Learners who complete the TruthQuester! Quiz with a score of 80% or more and create and submit an infographic poster earn the TruthQuester! badge. You'll know right away if you passed the quiz, but it may take up to 30 days for badges to be awarded. You can take the quiz as many times as you like. If you miss a question, review TruthQuester! and try again.

Start TruthQuester! Here

Access and Accommodations

Your experience here at Southern New Hampshire University is important to us. It is our policy and practice to create an inclusive and accessible learning environment. If there are aspects of these workshops that present barriers to accessibility, please email your accessibility partner as soon as possible.

Online Students

If you would like to connect with the Online Accessibility Center (OAC) to discuss academic accommodations, please use the following contact information:

Phone: 866-305-9430
Email: oac@snhu.edu
Website: Online Accessibility Center This link opens in a new window

Campus Students

If you would like to connect with the Campus Accessibility Center (CAC) to discuss academic accommodations, please use the following contact information:

Phone: 603-644-3118
Email: cac@snhu.edu
Website: Campus Accessibility Center This link opens in a new window