The Research Process

Research Consultations

If you would like to meet with a member of the PCHS Library Staff to receive assistance on any part of the research process, please fill out the PCHS Research Consultation Request Form to schedule a time (Monday through Friday) to come in -- we would be happy to assist you!

Please bring the following information with you to the meeting: 

1. Your research topic

2. What you've worked on so far

3. What, specifically, you'd like help with

Research Guides

• Finding Primary Sources

• Finding Reference Sources
  

Library Handbook/Database Access 

Login to the Pine Creek Library Learning Commons Handbook using your studentID#@msa.asd20.org account in order to find guides for using the library, accessing digital books, logging into the databases, and other helpful tools. 

Useful Links

• Pine Creek Library Learning Commons Handbook

• Blogs vs. Wikis

• Citations: How to Create Them

• What is Common Knowledge?

• Databases vs. Search Engines

• OWL Purdue

Evaluating Sources

Using Wikipedia 

Watch a short video (2:36) from WriteCheck (i.e. Turnitin.com) on the strengths and limitations of Wikipedia and why we expect more from you when doing research as a student at Pine Creek.

Google vs. Google Scholar

Watch a short video (1:45) from WriteCheck (i.e. Turnitin.com) on the differences between Google and Google Scholar.  Keep in mind that using Google Scholar is not a replacement for finding quality sources in databases.

Guides for Evaluating Information You Find Online

• Explanation of the CRAAP Test from UC San Diego

 What is the CRAAP Test?

Watch a short video on the CRAAP Test.