LibrarySkills@UCL: Library skills essentials

When undertaking independent research you should invest time in planning your search thoroughly and effectively, and develop skills to:

• understand the steps involved in undertaking a thorough search for information. See 5 steps to effective library research.
• understand how to identify gaps in research and formulate a clear and focussed research question to address those gaps. See Understanding your search.
• be able to define the scope of your search based on the context and need. See Understanding the nature of your search.
• be able to deconstruct your research question in order to identify search concepts. See Defining search terms.
• be aware of different types of information sources, including primary and secondary sources, information from different stages of the research cycle, and which are most appropriate to inform your research including effective and responsible use of generative AI. See Sources of information.
• know which resources to use to identify different information sources. See Where to look for information.

Develop your research skills in searching for information:

If you are working on your dissertation or a research project for your academic programme, our guide will direct you to the support, resources and guidance you need.