WRTG 105 What is Human Nature? (Stauffer)

Articles, Books & More searches many of the library's resources at once. This is a powerful, fast research tool!

Enter your keywords in the search box.

Search Faster

• Search phrases using quotation marks
  • example:  "counselling center" will keep those two words next to each other. 
• Combine words with AND, OR, and NOT in capital letters
  • example:  microcircuits OR nanocircuits will give you results that have either of those two words in it. 
• Substitute * for several possible letters
  • example:  child*     ...will find child, childhood, children, etc.
• Complex searches may combine elements
  • example:  homeless AND (healthcare OR "health care") AND (adolescents OR teen*)

Tip:  When off-campus , you may be asked to log in with your NetID & password to access resources

Boolean Operators are short words used to combine search terms in logical operations. Most databases, discovery layers and search engines recognize them and use them to to bring search results that fulfill the requested operations.The most common are AND, OR and NOT. They are written in capitals to differentiate them from regular keywords. 

Check the image below to understand how each of them affects the results of your searches. Parenthesis are used to combine different sets of instructions and to signal the order in which they should happen. 

DO

• Look up any unknown words in the article! Academic jargon can be difficult to understand. A keyword or a key point to the article may be a work you haven't seen before! 
• Engage with the article/book. React! Make connections! Ask questions! Doubt! The more of this mental processing you are able to do, the further along in the research process you get :) 
• Use these reactions to inform your next search. What was surprising or interesting? What connections do you want to flesh out? What questions needed answers? What doubts needed clarity? 

DON'T

• Read the entire article until you know it's useful! You can skim and scan the abstract and other key sections of the paper to gauge how useful it will be. Further instructions for this are below. Save yourself time by using this method!

 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Justina Elmore, University of Rochester.  Adapted from Kristin M. Woodward & Kate Ganski's "What Could A Writer Do With This Source?" {{cc-by-4.0}}

Applying the CRAAP Test
Currency: The timeliness of the information.

• When was the information published or posted?
• Has the information been revised or updated?
• Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work as well?
• Are the links functional?

Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.

• Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
• Who is the intended audience?
• Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
• Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
• Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?

Authority: The source of the information.

• Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
• What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
• Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
• Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
• Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?*  

Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.

• Where does the information come from?
• Is the information supported by evidence?
• Have you found other sources that corroborate the information?
• Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
• Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
• Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
• Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
• Purpose: The reason the information exists.
• What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
• Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
• Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?

Purpose: The reason the information exists.

• What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
• Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
• Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
• Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
• Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?

Adapted from the original CRAAP Test created by Meriam Library at CSU- Chico.