Getting Started Getting Started with College Research Learn about the key characteristics of college research, scholarly sources, and how to search for peer-reviewed sources in a library database. Watch the entire lesson or navigate to a specific topic. Watch Video: Getting Started with College Research The Research Process The research process in college usually starts with a professor giving you a research assignment. But where do you go from there? Learn about the most common steps for the research process, including selecting a topic, developing a thesis statement, and more. View Guide: The Research Process Choosing a Manageable Research Topic When you have the freedom to choose your own research topic, it can be tough to know where to start. This video from Pfau Library (California State University) gives you some useful tips for defeating the “Topic Monster.” Watch Video: Choosing a Manageable Research Topic Want to Learn More? Check out the following playlist Developing Research Strategies Searching for Information Searching for Library Materials Learn how to find books, articles, videos, and more using the library's search tool. Watch Video: Searching for Library Materials Keyword Searching This tutorial will guide you through the process of choosing (and revising) your keywords when searching for information in the library catalog or a library database. View Tutorial: Keyword Searching Searching Effectively with Keywords Use Boolean Operators, parentheses, quotation marks, and truncation to craft an effective keyword search in a database or Google Scholar. Watch Video: Searching Effectively with Keywords Selecting a Database Use the University at Albany Libraries website to find the list of databases available for your research. Watch Video: Selecting a Database Want to Learn More? Check out the following playlist. Searching for Information