CU Scarborough - Library Guide: Research Skills
Research Skills
The tabs in this section (hover the mouse over the 'Research Skills' tab above to see the list, or use the buttons at the bottom of each page to move through them in order) will help you to develop and improve the skills you will need to succeed when researching for assignments at university. Feel free to browse and use what you need.
- Academic Skills LibGuide
There is more information on wider academic skills, including planning, writing and editing your assignments, on our Academic Skills pages - linked to on the left of each LibGuides page.
If there's anything you're not sure about, or something you want to explore in more detail, please remember that you can book a one-to-one appointment for support with any element of academic work by emailing academicskills.cus@coventry.ac.uk or asking at the Customer Service Desk.
Did You Know?
The Library has around 400,000 e-books, and millions of articles, which you can access via Locate or the Subject Resources area. How many of them have you read?
All books from the Library are issued to you for one week. If no-one has requested them, we’ll automatically renew them a few days before they’re due back. How good is that?!
You can download lots of our e-books, meaning you can use them without an internet connection – ideal for the daily commute!
You can request books which would be useful for your course – complete the online form, grab one from the Library desk or speak to Tom.
Books are not always the most up-to-date source of information. For more accurate and current information, why not search for journal articles on your topic on Locate?
You can view the items you’ve got or had on loan, make requests and view any fines you may have accidentally accrued by logging into Locate – just look for the button in the top right of each page!
There are collections of books on Careers and Employability and Reading Well (titles which promote health & wellbeing), as well as our Fiction and Drama collections; find them on the low shelving at the front of the Library!
You can find your module reading lists online on the Talis system. See all the titles in one place, along with handy single-click access to ebooks, articles and online content. These should be embedded on Aula modules, but you can also use the link on the left of each LibGuides page to browse lists.
Not keen on Locate? You can use Google Scholar and still benefit from the subscriptions the Library makes on your behalf. Just add Coventry to your ‘Library Links’ in the settings and see the number or articles you can access dramatically increase!
Not sure how to reference a book or article you found via Locate? Open the Locate record for it and click on the ‘citation’ button near the top. It may not be perfect, but it’s usually a good start!
There are a variety of drop-ins and skills workshops to help develop your skills and knowledge with finding and using information. Check out the schedule online.
You can ask at the Customer Service Desk if you need any help finding items in the Library, you have problems with using the self-issue machines, or you’ve accidentally picked up a fine.
The Academic Writing Service offers feedback on assignments via email as well as via Zoom one-to-ones.
Coventry Student Essentials
Coventry Student Essentials is a set of short online sessions for you to work through, developing some key skills in your own time and at your own pace. Work through the resources and contact the Academic Writing Service if you need any further support.