Research Guides: Spanish and Portuguese Language &amp; Literature: 3. Buscar Información

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Citation Chaining in Google Scholar (Video Tutorial)

Citation chaining (or chasing) is the name for a process in which you use an information source to find other work that is cited within the first source (backwards chaining) or cites to the first source (forward chaining).

Below is a YouTube video on how citation chaining works in Google Scholar. Keep in mind that you should not have to pay for an article while you are a UO student. Contact your Subject Librarian for help locating materials. In this video, look for a "fluff word" that the researcher uses when searching.

Step 3 - Finding Information

Finding information requires a lot of skills that you may not be aware that you have or that you are developing. Use this page to learn strategies for HOW to find the most relevant information to meet your needs.

Use the sub-pages to learn WHERE to search for research on your topic or course theme.

Library Databases vs. Search Engines (Video Tutorial)

Watch this video from WHMS Library to understand the difference between library databases and search engines.

Boolean Searching (Infographic)

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Boolean search infographic - text description available at link

Text description of "Boolean Searching" for web accessibility

Thanks to IUPUI University Library for allowing reuse of this graphic under a Creative Commons license.

Strategies for Narrowing your Search to get Better Results

Below are 4 top strategies to narrow your search:

Use AND between keywords to find articles where two or more keywords appear together

Use the filters / limiters in the search interface to narrow your search results to a specific date range or resource type (format: book, journal article, news article, etc.)

Add a Subject Term (found in a database's Index or Thesaurus) to your search to find results that are "tagged" with that term to indicate they are "about" that topic/idea. Tip: Use just 1 or 2 Subject Terms per search so you don't get too narrow too quickly and end up with too few results.

After adding a Subject Term to your search, click "Search" and then combine with additional keywords using AND. Note where the Subject Term shows up in your results:

Choose a database that is limited to your major, subject, or discipline. Use the link below to find a research guide with database recommendations for your discipline!

All Research Guides
All research guides by subject can be found here.

Want materials (e.g., books, articles) that the library doesn't have? Use Interlibrary Loan!

Thanks to IUPUI University Library for allowing reuse of this graphic under a Creative Commons license.

Text description of "Use Interlibrary Loan

Once an account is made, books may be searched for and requested through LibrarySearch and WorldCat.

Please allow about 2 weeks for delivery of books and physical materials. An e-mail will be sent when print materials are ready for pick-up.

Most journal articles arrive in 24-48 hours and will be sent electronically.

More Help

Requesting Materials through Interlibrary Loan (UO video tutorial)

Step 3: Pause to Reflect

Pause to Reflect

Did you find the information you needed? Will it help you answer your research question? If not, it might be time to reach out to a Subject Librarian for an appointment.

As researchers, we should approach the evidence we find with an open mind. Research should broaden or inform our perspectives, and not confirm our own biases. If your research is just a collection of cherry-picked quotes, you may need to go back to the library catalog (LibrarySearch) or the article databases to gather more information and other perspectives to consider.

"kirschenpflücken 2006-06" by Brigitte Rieser is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0