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Research Tutorials

All of these tutorials contain sections that teach useful research skills. Parts of some of the tutorials, usually the modules on finding books and finding articles, relate to resources or products available only at the library that created the tutorial.

General Tutorials

  • SearchPath (W. Michigan U.)
    Includes modules on starting smart, choosing a topic, finding articles, using the web, and citing sources. Each module includes a quiz.
  • Research 101 (U. of Washington)
    "An interactive online tutorial for students wanting an introduction to research skills. The tutorial covers the basics, including how to select a topic and develop research questions, as well as how to select, search for, find, and evaluate information sources." Includes exercises and worksheets.
  • Information Competence Tutorials (California State U.)
  • Information Literacy Tutorial (New Jersey City U.)
    Includes modules on defining an information need, knowing information sources, implementing effective search strategies, evaluating information, and understanding guidelines for information access and copyright. Quizzes provide immediate feedback.
  • UMass Research Tutorial
    Includes modules on defining your research topic, the world of information, finding books, finding articles, using the Web, and evaluating information.
  • Information Literacy Game
    Test your research skills by playing the game.
  • Information Exploration: Becoming a Savvy Scholar (MIT)
    "This freshman course explores the scientific publication cycle, primary vs. secondary sources, and online and in-print bibliographic databases; how to search, find, evaluate, and cite information; indexing and abstracting; using special resources (e.g. patents) and "grey literature" (e.g. technical reports and conference proceedings); conducting Web searches; and constructing literature reviews."

Specific Tutorials

  • Dewey Decimal System Tour (from OCLC)
    This online tour explains how the Dewey Decimal System organizes information and offers a quiz to text your knowledge.
  • Evaluation of Information Sources (Louisiana State U.)
    "This tutorial is intended to give you a foundation in the evaluation of information sources. Once you find information, you need to evaluate it to determine its value with respect to your information needs."
  • Let's Do Dewey
    Learn how the Dewey Decimal System works. Includes exercises.
  • Plagiarism Tutorial (San Jose State U.)
  • Popular vs. Scholarly Articles (U. of Arizona)
    Includes a brief quiz.
  • A Primer on Databases & Catalogs
    Provides a definition and describes how databases organize information and how they work.
  • What's a Journal (Penn State)
    Explains the fundamental differences between journals, magazine, and newspapers.
  • Citing Your Sources (Eastern Washington U.)
    Learn how to cite sources in MLA style. Drag and drop the components of a citation into the correct position and then check your knowledge.

Internet Tutorials