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How do I find the right literature? Where is the best place to start? What criteria are important? Many questions may arise at the beginning, and this is exactly where we come in! With our practical tips for writing a paper, you can get started on successful research.

Research course

In this course, we provide an overview of the library system and introduce useful tools for literature research. We will show you how to search the library catalog and which platforms are helpful for your paper. We also explain how artificial intelligence can be used in the creation of papers and how to critically scrutinize the sources found and correctly assess the quality of the information.

Duration: 120 - 150 minutes

Contact for appointment requests

Tips for literature research

  • Dealing with the topic
    A successful search depends crucially on precise search terms! Use dictionaries, encyclopaedias and manuals to find suitable keywords. Bibliographical references will help you to maintain an overview. Click here for catalogs, databases and reference works.
  • Search matrix / mind map
    A mind map or search matrix is advisable as a basis for research in catalogs and databases - it is also helpful for documentation.
Search matrix including various terms.
  • Search operators enable a faster and more efficient search, they connect individual search terms and can also be combined. Common search operators are, for example
    • AND/OR/NOT (Boolean operators) - narrows down and/or expands topics
    • "" (quotation marks) - searches for an exact phrase
    • * (asterisk) - placeholder for any character or letter
  • Traditional research vs. new research options (AI)
    Traditional research involves the systematic search for information in printed and digital sources such as books, journals, encyclopaedias and databases. Specific search strategies and operators are used to find and evaluate relevant literature.
    The new search with artificial intelligence and natural language enables an intuitive and dialogical search in catalogs and databases. It is ideal for an initial introduction to topics, but the underlying language models and algorithms are often incomprehensible.
  • Searching the catalog
    Catalog plus works like a search engine and sorts the results according to an algorithm/ranking. It lists the entire holdings of the University Library in both printed and digital form. It also contains countless essays and articles from journals, conferences and books as well as numerous other references. There are also other catalogs and databases.
  • Research on the Internet
    Internet research will certainly be an important part of your research. Whether Wikipedia, Google or ChatGPT - all of these tools are helpful for brainstorming and getting started with a topic. However, it is essential to check all information after the internet research. These services offer a lot of non-scientific content and can therefore also become a real time waster.
    Tip: Some scientific search engines, such as Google Scholar, are free. They offer the possibility to search for scientific literature. There are also freely accessible databases, such as the Fachportal Pädagogik - FIS Bildung, which contains literature references on all areas of education.
  • Quality criteria for evaluating
    The evaluation of the literature found is another crucial aspect. There are various characteristics such as topicality, quality and relevance that are helpful when evaluating internet sources. It is important to critically scrutinize sources and assess the quality of the information and literature - this is essential for a well-founded paper!
  • Fake news
    False or misleading information is often spread intentionally or unintentionally. This is a significant issue when researching information and literature as well as on social media. It is crucial to remain critical and obtain information from reliable sources in order to be able to distinguish between real science and fake science! More information on fake news.
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