SEARCH. DISCOVER. BUILD KNOWLEDGE.

1. Start with a scholarly database such as DOAJ, ERIC, PubMed, OpenAlex, or Google Scholar.
2. When available, turn on the database’s peer-reviewed filter.
3. Verify that the item is published in a scholarly journal and identify the journal’s review process when the assignment requires certainty.
4. Do not assume a preprint, dissertation, working paper, repository item, or book chapter has been peer reviewed.
5. Prefer recent scholarship when the field changes quickly, then add foundational older works where academically appropriate.

1. Translate your research question into 3–5 core concepts.
2. Create synonyms and related terms for each concept.
3. Search broadly, then narrow by date, discipline, evidence type, and population.
4. Follow reference lists backward and citation trails forward.
5. Group findings by themes, methods, agreements, disagreements, and gaps—not article by article.
6. Document your search terms and databases so your process can be explained or replicated.

Use citation tools to organize sources, but verify the final citation against the style required by your instructor or program.

• Use AI to support searching, brainstorming, outlining, or comprehension only as permitted by the course or assignment.
• Never cite an AI-generated reference without verifying that the source exists and that the bibliographic details are accurate.
• Read the underlying source before relying on its claims.
• Do not upload confidential research data, protected student information, or sensitive human-participant data into unauthorized AI systems.
• Disclose substantive AI assistance when required by the syllabus, instructor, research protocol, or publication venue.

Research involving human participants, identifiable private information, vulnerable populations, or sensitive data may require EMU internal ethics review before recruitment or data collection. Approval should be sought before the research activity begins.