Some common research problems
+ how you can solve them
10.23.2019 | Simon Elichko
Social Sciences & Data Librarian
Paywalls
Info Overload
Broken Links
Confirmation Bias
You can get articles from thousands of newspapers, magazines, and journals through Swarthmore's Libraries.
Paywalls
Info Overload
Broken Links
Confirmation Bias
Where you search (which website(s))
How you search (keywords and filters)
Choose Academic Research Tools:
These websites mostly limit your results to academic research.
e.g. Search JSTOR, Tripod, or Google Scholar instead of Google.
Research by Subject
Find the right kind of research by searching a subject-specific database.
e.g. Sociology: Sociolgical Abstracts
Where you search (which website)
How you search (keywords and filters)
Use filters to focus
your search results
Web Archives
If you come across a broken link, copy the URL + search for it using Wayback Machine.
Paywalls
Info Overload
Broken Links
Confirmation Bias
Paywalls
Info Overload
Broken Links
Confirmation Bias
Underwood, Ted. “Theorizing Research Practices We Forgot to Theorize Twenty Years Ago.” Representations 127, no. 1 (August 2014): 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1525/rep.2014.127.1.64.
To build your research skills, get help from Swarthmore's librarians and RIAs.
RIAs are students who can help you find sources, clarify questions, and learn about relevant resources.
Drop-in hours, chat, appointments:
swarthmore.edu/libraries/get-help
Librarians also have expertise in particular subjects.