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Introduction to Library Research

How to use this guide

Your course assignments will require you to use sources available through the Utica University Library.

This guide will help you identify how to find appropriate sources, evaluate sources, and cite your sources.

We will break down each step in the tabs on the left. 

Why Use Library Resources

Without knowing what to look for, it can be hard to recognize fraudulent papers from legitimate sources.

Here are some examples: 

Famous Fraudulent Papers:

  • Mitochondria: Structure, Function and Clinical Relevance
    • A neuroscientist by the pen name of Neuroskeptic sent this paper to predatory journals*. The paper plagiarizes Wikipedia articles on mitochondria, replacing the word mitochondria with Star Wars' midi-chlorians, and inserting the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise monologue from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith directly into the paper. Four journals accepted this article, and three published it.

*publications that claim to be legitimate scholarly journals, but misrepresent their publishing practices.