{"id":464603,"date":"2026-09-16T10:59:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T02:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.usj.edu.mo\/?page_id=464603"},"modified":"2026-09-16T11:03:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T03:03:52","slug":"undergraduate-research-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/library.usj.edu.mo\/zh\/get-help-support\/undergraduate-research-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Undergraduate Research Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Starting a research assignment can feel overwhelming, but following a structured workflow simplifies the process from initial search to final writing.
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Step 1: Broad Exploration (Discovery Platforms)<\/strong>
Start broad to map out your topic, find keywords, and gather background context before diving into dense literature.
\u2022 Primary Tool:<\/strong> University Library OneSearch (Search something<\/a>)
\u2022 Objective:<\/strong> Define key concepts, discover primary subject terms, and check immediate full-text availability.
\u2022 Actionable Steps:<\/strong>
1. Search your main topic idea (e.g., renewable energy policy<\/em>).
2. Note recurring subject headings, alternative terminology, and prominent authors.
3. Filter results by Peer-Reviewed Articles<\/em> and publication year (e.g., last 5 years) to gauge current trends.
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Step 2: Deep Literature Retrieval (Academic Databases)<\/strong>
Once you have identified targeted keywords, transition to subject-specific and multidisciplinary academic databases for high-quality, peer-reviewed sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6578\u64da\u5eab<\/strong><\/td>Primary Focus<\/strong><\/td>Best Used For<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
ProQuest<\/strong><\/td>Multidisciplinary, dissertations, news sources<\/td>Deep background research, cross-field studies, and historical context.<\/td><\/tr>
EBSCOhost<\/strong><\/td>Specialized databases (e.g., PsycINFO, Business Source Complete)<\/td>Precision searching within specific fields using targeted filters.<\/td><\/tr>
Scopus<\/strong><\/td>Citation indexing, broad scientific research<\/td>Finding high-impact papers and tracking citation networks.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


\u2022 Search Best Practices:<\/strong>
\u25e6 Use Boolean Operators<\/strong>: Combine concepts with AND<\/code> (narrow results), \u6216<\/code> (broaden results), and NOT<\/code> (exclude topics).
\u25e6 Use Truncation & Exact Phrases<\/strong>: Use quotes for phrases (\"artificial intelligence\"<\/code>) and asterisks for word variations (child*<\/code> for child, children, childhood).
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Step 3: AI-Assisted Navigation & Synthesis (Scopus AI)<\/strong>
Accelerate your literature review by using specialized AI features within academic databases to synthesize trends without relying on unverified external LLMs.
\u2022 Primary Tool:<\/strong> Scopus AI (Create an account<\/a>)
\u2022 Objective:<\/strong> Get rapid summaries of complex topics backed by indexed, credible sources.
\u2022 Actionable Steps:<\/strong>
1. Prompt with Natural Questions:<\/strong> Ask precise research questions (e.g., “How does microplastic pollution impact marine biodiversity?”<\/em>).
2. Analyze Summaries:<\/strong> Review the generated overview and trace statements back to the cited foundational papers.
3. Map the Topic:<\/strong> Use Scopus AI’s conceptual maps or topic summaries to identify research gaps or secondary sub-topics for your assignment.
4. Verify:<\/strong> Always cross-reference AI-generated summaries with the original full-text PDF.
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Step 4: Reference Management & Note-Taking (Zotero)<\/strong>
Organize your bibliography from day one to avoid last-minute citation stress and accidental plagiarism.
\u2022 Primary Tool:<\/strong> Zotero (with Zotero Connector browser extension) (Install<\/a>).
\u2022 Objective:<\/strong> Collect, organize, annotate, and cite literature automatically.
\u2022 Workflow:<\/strong>
1. Capture:<\/strong> Click the Zotero browser extension while viewing an article page in ProQuest, EBSCO, or Scopus to save the PDF and metadata directly.
2. Organize:<\/strong> Create a dedicated collection folder for your assignment. Tag sources by sub-topic (e.g., #methodology<\/code>, #background<\/code>).
3. Annotate:<\/strong> Use Zotero’s built-in PDF reader to highlight key passages and add commentary.
4. Cite:<\/strong> Use the Zotero Word\/Google Docs plugin to insert in-text citations and generate your final bibliography in your required style (APA, IEEE, MLA).
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Step 5: Draft Optimization & Proofreading (Grammarly)<\/strong>
Refine your writing structure, clarity, and tone once your draft is complete.
\u2022 Primary Tool:<\/strong> Grammarly (Install<\/a>).
\u2022 Objective:<\/strong> Polishing grammar, enhancing academic tone, and checking for structural clarity.
\u2022 Guidelines for Use:<\/strong>
\u25e6 Tone Setting:<\/strong> Set your goals to \u6559\u5b78\u4eba\u54e1<\/em> domain and Formal<\/em> tone.
\u25e6 Clarity First:<\/strong> Prioritize fixing wordiness, passive voice overuse, and unclear sentence structures.
\u25e6 Integrity Check:<\/strong> Use the built-in originality checker as a final safeguard to ensure all quoted or paraphrased material is cited in Zotero.
\u25e6 Critical Review:<\/strong> Accept suggestions selectively\u2014ensure the AI does not alter your specific domain terminology or intended arguments.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n