FYSM-161 Star Trek and the 1960s (Greenberg)

What is academic research?

Academic research is a dynamic process in which the researcher discovers, analyzes, and evaluates information. Throughout this process, the researcher is also reading, writing and developing and refining arguments and analysis. The researcher engages with a diversity of information from a wide range of sources. 

At the Trinity Library you have access to a diversity of sources to help you in your own research process. There are books, journal articles, images and much more.

You also have search tools and people to assist you in finding this information. 

Steps to take if you have questions or need assistance 

• Ask for help if you get stuck at any place in the research process
• Talk with Professor Greenberg, Frank, your mentor, or make an appointment with me if you have any questions

Frequently in classes you are asked to find scholarly books and journal articles. What exactly does that mean?

Characteristics of a scholarly book

• Author is typically an expert or scholar in a particular discipline 
• Discusses original research done by the author and uses primary sources as evidence to support that research
• Contains extensive footnotes and/or bibliography
• Advances research in the discipline
• Published by university presses 

Characteristics of a scholarly journal article (sometimes referred to as a peer-reviewed article)

• Author is typically an expert or scholar in a particular discipline affiliated with a university or other research institution
• Language of the article is that of the discipline which it falls under. Reader should have some knowledge of the technical terms of the discipline
• Articles are often fairly long, 15 pages or more
• Articles present original research with footnotes and bibliographies. Most have an abstract in the beginning, which is a descriptive summary
• They may contain graphs and charts, and some images but typically it is all text