Speaking the Same Language
If you've ever tried to have a conversation in a foreign language, you know it can be tough and takes practice. In conversations among researchers, much the same is true: those that have spent years studying your topic can seem to speak a different language.
Most research discussions don't start back at the basics, but give a brief introduction and assume prior knowledge. This page offers strategies for gaining understanding of the conversation that interests you.
Background Knowledge & Vocabulary
Reference sources are a great place to begin your research. They can help you:
- gain an overview of a topic
- explore potential research areas
- identify key issues, publications, or authors in your research area
From here, you can narrow your search topic and look at more specialized sources.
- Oxford Reference Library
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Full texts of standard Oxford University Press reference works. To search discipline-specific resources click on 'Subjects' on the homepage. - Gale eBooks
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Database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources. - Encyclopaedia Brittanica This link opens in a new window
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The online equivalent of the complete printed Encyclopaedia Britannica plus Internet links.
Research Methods
Every discipline has its own methods of conducting research. These can be experimental procedures described in the 'methodology' section of research articles, basic ways of conducting field research, or broad theoretical frameworks.
Resources on research methods in various fields:
- Search the Library Catalog for Methodology textsAdd your own topic to this search to find books on research methods in your field.
- CSH Protocols
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Contains new and classic research techniques covering cell and molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, protein science, and imaging.
- Natural Sciences: Guides to Methods and ProtocolsResources for research methods.
- Research Methodologies for Arts and HumanitiesThis guide from Edith Cowan University provides overviews and additional resources on common research methodologies in arts and humanities disciplines.
Theoretical Frameworks
A theoretical framework is a "lens" through which an issue is viewed and explored. It is shaped by concepts and theories that inform how one thinks about and pursues the given issue. The critical theories that inform research can vary by discipline, but also often overlap.
A theoretical framework is often described in a scholarly article's introduction, literature review, or research methods section. This framework is usually reflected throughout the paper as well.
More about theoretical frameworks in the humanities.
- More about developing a theoretical framework for your research.