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Introduction to Research

Need research assistance? Ask a Librarian or schedule an individual research consultation by using our Automated Booking System or email learn.library@louisiana.edu.

Choose a Topic

CQ Researcher and Library Search (EBSCO Discovery Service) provide an overview of topics of high interest.

You can narrow your topic by focusing on a specific geographic region, period, person or population, cause, correlation, or effect.

Finding Books & Articles

In either the catalog or databases, you can refine your search using Boolean operators.

Within the databases, you can limit the results by date, full-text availability, and other limiters specific to an individual database.

Criteria for Evaluating Resources

  • Internet Evaluation Criteria (PDF)
  • Evaluating Sources for Credibility (NC State)
  • How to Evaluate Sources (Stanford)
  • Crap Detection 101 Video
  • Crap Detection 101 Article
  • You can evaluate resources using the following test:
    • C – How Current is the work? Many academic disciplines concentrate on work done in the last 10 years. Those in technology and science may limit articles to the last 5 years.
    • R – Is the information Reliable? Does the information mesh with what you already know? Do at least two other sources corroborate the information? Is the argument presented logically and supported by evidence? Is the coverage of the topic complete?
    • A – Who is the Author? What credentials does he or she have? Is his work referenced by others in the field? Does she reference others in the field?
    • P – What is the purpose of the work? Is it meant to inform or to entertain? Is it scholarly or popular? What is the philosophy or bias of the author or publisher? (Consult the “About Us” section of websites for information.) Is the tone satirical? Who is the intended audience?

Plagiarism

Citation Tools

Citation Tools include both print and online style guides for MLA, APA, Chicago, and others, and citation managers recommendations.

Research Guides

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Oxford Reference | Note: Only one (1) user is allowed to use the Oxford Reference resource at a time due to the licensing agreement with the database provider. Try again later if you experience access issues.

Database Use:

Dupré Library's online databases are available only to current UL Lafayette students, faculty, and staff. Users must log in with their ULID and password. Non-affiliated individuals can access databases on-site or through Library Search Guest Access, but this access is limited to specific materials.

All users must comply with the campus Information Technology Policy regarding security, acceptable use, and U.S. Copyright Law's "Fair Use" guidelines. Materials obtained from online databases are strictly for personal, non-commercial purposes.

Acceptable use involves:

  • Accessing resources from off-campus with authentication
  • Utilizing Accessing resources via Moodle and ULink
  • Sharing articles among authorized users
  • Saving articles for personal use only

Examples of improper use include, but are not limited to:

  • Excessive usage
  • Bot use
  • Downloading entire journals
  • Printing multiple copies
  • Publishing database articles

For security reasons, accessing multiple databases or downloading large amounts of data in a short time may trigger a two-hour suspension of access. Unauthorized and improper use of the library's online resources may result in denial of access and/or disciplinary action. The library and its electronic resource vendors reserve the right to monitor suspicious activity through usage statistics.

For questions about use, Ask a Librarian.

Database Accessibility:

EBSCO, one of the library's major database providers, is dedicated to ensuring a positive experience for all users. They offer an EBSCO Accessibility – Navigation Guide and an EBSCO eBook Accessibility User Guide and FAQs to help users navigate their databases, demonstrating their commitment to user satisfaction.