Beyond Wikipedia: Here’s How SHU’s Library Can Help with Your Research Project

This online encyclopedia’s birthday inspires a look at resources closer to home

On January 15, 2001, the Wikimedia Foundation launched Wikipedia. As it has done every year since then, the foundation marks the day to celebrate the platform’s success as a global hub of human knowledge. Billions of people turn to this oft-cited online encyclopedia for information about historic inventions, scientific principles, economic sectors, constellations, kitchen appliances—you name it, Wikipedia probably has it.

In a nod to knowledge, and to honor Wikipedia’s birthday, we turned our attention closer to home to celebrate Sacred Heart University’s library services. Expert staff and a comprehensive collection of materials—online and on shelves—provide SHU students with resources and tools to help with their fact-finding missions.

We asked the library staff at the Ryan Matura Library on the Park Avenue Campus, as well as those at library facilities at the Center for Healthcare Education, for strategies and tips on how best to prepare for a research project, how to search for sources and how to use digital tools to make collecting and organizing data easier.

Preparing for a Research Project

Research projects can be time-consuming, so it’s important to stay organized—and that starts with a clear objective. Before you dive headlong into reviewing literature and amassing sources, narrow down your focus so that you have a clear idea about what you are investigating or exploring. What is the question you seek to answer? Does it have a specific focus? Is your quest for knowledge manageable? Is it a significant topic that is relevant to your field of study? Are there knowledge gaps that you want to explore? Do you seek to solve a problem or advance understanding in a particular area?

Still stumped? Among the many skills SHU’s librarians possess is their ability to help students refine their topics and approaches.

“Being creative with a potential topic is always a smart way to begin a research project,” said Emily Komornik, who is the discovery and metadata services librarian, as well as librarian for history, political science & global affairs and athletics. “I encourage students to look first at the information they have, either from in-class notes or personal areas of interest. Once you have a topic that you're excited about, it makes doing the work that much more motivating.”

At SHU, students can use the “Ask a Librarian” feature to call, email, text or use live chat to ask a question or seek advice. They also can schedule an appointment virtually or in person with a librarian to cover general information or more specialized guidance. Librarians are available who are subject-matter experts in areas such as health, business, education and other disciplines.

“At the start of a research project, QuickSearch can be a great tool to help you get your bearings and learn more about what’s out there,” said Erin Thompson, head of reference and librarian for social & health sciences. “Don’t be afraid to spend some time exploring different subtopics and questions related to our topic before finalizing what your focus will be.”

Identifying and reviewing sources of information

Are you facing your first big research project? Do you know all the resources available to you? Do you know the best way to use them?

Don’t skip this step or cut it short. A literature review can show you what others have studied, identify sources for your research and reveal areas where further investigation is needed. You can avoid replicating work that’s already been done and refine your focus.

“When starting a research project, it’s best to spend time narrowing down on a specific argument and identifying good keywords from the resulting argument,” said Kristina D’Agostino, research librarian for STEM and education. “Searching is very much a trial-and-error process. You won’t get the perfect research articles on the first go! If you are having trouble, we have some great tools to help you with your search.”

SHU librarians and staff are excellent navigators who can point you toward online research tools that will help you to find the books, databases, journals, newspapers, magazines, websites and other materials you’ll need to complete your research. If you set out on your own, the library has tutorials and research guides with tips and strategies on how to find the best sources.

Collecting and organizing your data

Even the best researchers need help. Setting a realistic timeline of manageable tasks is a great place to start. Students at SHU also have access to a collection of library resources, including reference guides on scholarly citation, as well as citation management tools, such as Zotero, that do the heavy lifting when it comes to organizing material and creating citations for footnotes and bibliographies.

How can SHU’s resources help students succeed?

SHU library resources are a helpful resource for all students, but can be particularly helpful to graduate students, who may be balancing coursework with professional and personal commitments. Thompson noted that librarians also can help guide graduate students to become reacquainted with library research skills—if they have been out of school for some time— and develop advanced discipline-specific strategies.

“The research questions from graduate students are a delightful challenge for us,” said D’Agostino, who added that SHU resources are available for all undergraduate and graduate students, whether on campus or online.

“Grad students have virtual options for one-on-one research meetings, full access to our resources, virtual or phone access to a librarian at the reference desk … and full phone and email support by the library staff,” she added. “No question is too big, too small or too silly. We understand the professional and personal commitments of our graduate students. We accommodate graduate students’ busy schedules the best we can and fully support them in their academic journey.”

Interested in adding to the world’s collective knowledge?

With more than 40 graduate degree and certificate programs (and more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in total), SHU offers an opportunity for you to contribute to your field or discipline in ways that could advance new knowledge, generate new insights or challenge the status quo.

You can receive more information by visiting admissions. Whether you are an aspiring graduate, undergraduate or international student, you can learn more about SHU’s academic programs or how to contact an admissions counselor.