Graduate Studies

Graduate research requires a higher level of expertise and more specialized skills than undergraduate research. Graduate work assumes a greater level of knowledge in your field than an undergraduate would typically have. You will be contributing new knowledge to your field by researching complex problems with a higher level of independence. As a graduate student, you will be spending extended periods researching in your field and are expected to use specialized resources and be more discerning about the evidence you use in your reports, theses, and dissertations. Ultimately, by working carefully with your academic advisors and librarians, your work may be publishable.

This guide will address research skills typically needed by graduate students.

If you need to refresh your library skills, you may find it helpful to first review the following guides before proceeding:

• Getting Started with Your Research - this page will help you learn how library databases work and how to use them efficiently.
• Advanced Search - this page will help you learn how to choose resources and structure searches to make them as specific as possible.

In addition, you may find it helpful to review the following

• Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Avoidance - learn how and when to cite, and how to work ethically.
• Artificial Intelligence Guide for Students - how artificial intelligence works, and what uses are acceptable and not acceptable with university work.