Full Answer Section

Conducting Productive Online Searches

Boolean Operators

Boolean operators are words that allow researchers to combine search terms in order to narrow down their results. Some common Boolean operators include AND, OR, and NOT. For example, the search term “artificial intelligence AND ethics” would return results that contain both of those terms. The search term “artificial intelligence OR machine learning” would return results that contain either of those terms. The search term “artificial intelligence NOT robotics” would return results that contain the term “artificial intelligence” but not the term “robotics.”

Limiters

Limiters are filters that can be used to narrow down search results to specific types of sources, such as academic journals, peer-reviewed articles, or published books. For example, using the limiter “academic journals” would only return results that are published in scholarly journals.

Databases

Herzing University Library provides access to a variety of academic databases, including:

• EBSCOhost
• JSTOR
• ProQuest
• Web of Science

These databases contain millions of articles from thousands of scholarly journals.

Research Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Choose a Topic

The first step in the research process is to choose a topic. It is important to choose a topic that is interesting to you and that you have enough information about to get started. You should also make sure that the topic is narrow enough to be manageable and broad enough to have enough sources available.

Step 2: Conduct a Preliminary Search

Once you have chosen a topic, you should conduct a preliminary search to get a general overview of the topic. This can be done by using search engines, such as Google, or by browsing through the Herzing University Library online catalog.

Step 3: Develop a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a one-sentence summary of your research paper. It should be clear, concise, and arguable.

Step 4: Write an Annotated Bibliography

An annotated bibliography is a list of sources that you have used in your research. Each entry in the annotated bibliography should include the following information:

• Author(s)
• Title of the source
• Publication date
• A brief summary of the source
• An evaluation of the source

Step 5: Write Your Research Paper

Once you have completed your annotated bibliography, you can start writing your research paper. Your research paper should be well-organized and clearly written. It should also be properly cited, using a style guide such as APA or MLA.

Conclusion

The research process can be a daunting task, but it is also a rewarding one. By following the steps outlined in this discussion, you can learn how to conduct productive online searches, develop a strong thesis statement, and write a well-researched paper.