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Graphic Design, Illustration and Product Design

Boost your Researcher Skills

Where to search?

The ability to find good quality resources to use in your assignments is an essential skill you will need at university. As a Teesside University student you have access to some of the best academic resources in the world. You need the ability to recognise when information is needed, have the ability to locate, evaluate and use it effectively. Honing this skill is also crucial for life outside of university as you prepare for your future career. 

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Discovery

Discovery is a Google-like search engine for Teesside University Library. It searches multiple collections simultaneously, to quickly provide relevancy-ranked, credible academic results. Use it to find books, articles, and more!

This Discovery guide will show you all you need to know libguides.tees.ac.uk/Discovery

Academic Databases

Databases are specialist search engines that search for Journalsquality information, such as journal articles and conference papers, in specific subject areas. 

You can access these databases via the eResources for Research page on this LibGuide.

If you would like some help searching the databases, please contact your subject information team. You will find our details on the Home page of this LibGuide.

Google 

Most of us use Google everyday when we go online. It can be the easiest and fastest way to get the information we need. However the features that make it so popular are also the reason that it is not a good place to look for resources to use in your assignments. In fact it is often the worst place to search!

The following short video details when it is (and when it is not!) appropriate to use Google in an academic context. 

Sway - Information Sources Explained!

Sway - Steps to finding research for your assignment

Sway - Top resources for Graphic Design and Product Design

Sway - Evaluate and review your results

Sway - Review your results to find more research

What is Critical Thinking?

Click to view video icon  View this introduction to critical thinking, which comes from the University of Leicester.

To find out more, visit the Critical Thinking LibGuide.

An introduction to referencing and how to use references in your Studies
Global Future Contexts