Guides @ UF: A Guide for McNair Scholars: Getting Started

Off-Campus Access

Learn how to connect to resources off-campus.

The following databases are a great place to explore issues.

A research question is the question that drives your research. Read more information on how to write a research question.

Need help brainstorming? Try mapping your research ideas!

Try these reference collections to find background information on your topic:

Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window
Unified database for searching and accessing ebooks from Gale, including titles from Gale Virtual Reference Library.
SAGE Reference This link opens in a new window
Oxford Research Encyclopedias This link opens in a new window

Make a list of search terms by identifying the main concepts of your topic (keywords) and considering related terms.

Example:

Topic: How did Black Lives Matter utilize the hashtag to mobilize their social justice movement?
Keywords: Black Lives Matter, hashtag, social justice movement
Related terms: BLM, Twitter, social media, activism, protests, racial justice

Try this database to identify related search terms:

Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window
Unified database for searching and accessing ebooks from Gale, including titles from Gale Virtual Reference Library.

Use the Subject Guide Search to discover related subject terms.

The Topic Finder is a visual way to search that connects related concepts.