UWP 101: Project to Meet Your Goals

Consider these questions as you begin your information research:

1. Topic/Research Question: What do you already know? What do you want to investigate?

2. Five Sources: What types of information would inform your thinking?

3. Search: What has been published in credible sources?

4. Analyze/Refine: Revision is part of the research (and writing) process!

Career Resources

• Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• O*Net Online (U.S. Department of Labor)
• The UC Davis Internship and Career Center offers guidance on careers, crafting CVs and interviewing
  • Handshake can help you find internships and jobs

Graduate and Professional Schools

• U.S News & World Report: Best Grad Schools
• Consult accrediting agencies, e.g. Council on Education (American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges and the American Veterinary Medical Association), American Bar Association
• Browse the websites of the graduate programs you are interested in!

Search the UC Davis Library Catalog for books and ebooks:

Books (and book chapters) can be incredibly helpful sources for framing and contextualizing your topic.

KEYWORDS (Any Field)

Examples: “graduate school” AND (applic* OR admission*), <your profession> AND “vocational guidance, e.g. “data science” AND “vocational guidance”, “urban ecology” AND “climate change”, “city planning” AND “climate change”

Past examples: bitcoin OR blockchain, “study abroad”, music AND (emotion* OR “psychological effect”), spacex, “diabetes mellitus” AND nursing, eczema, “healthcare disparities”, “virtual reality” AND (marketing OR commerce OR business)

SUBJECT

Examples: Universities and colleges — Graduate work, Automobiles – Design and construction, Automobiles – Technological innovations

Past examples: Cryptocurrencies, Psychology – Vocational guidance, Art portfolios, Fetus – Ultrasonic imaging, Social sciences – Research – Statistical methods, Stage management

TIPS

• Make sure you are logged into the library’s VPN to access ebooks
• If a book is not available online, note the call number, e.g. LC212.52 .H45 2016 and consult a Library Map to determine its location. To check out a book, go to the Circulation Desk (Shields Library 1st floor)
• Use the “sign in” option within the Library Catalog and enter your UC Davis Login details to see details about loan periods and requesting titles

SEE ALSO: Health Sciences eBooks

If you are doing your research from off-campus, follow the instructions to set up the library’s VPN (virtual private network), Pulse Secure, so you can access journal articles, books and book chapters.

• Login to Pulse Secure with your UC Davis Kerberos ID and Duo two-factor authentication
• Check your Connection by accessing this article from the journal Computers in Human Behavior, about email communication strategies and team dynamics

☞ Help! I’ve tried and it’s not working. Check our FAQ or submit a Technical Support Request

Use the Library’s Subject Guides to identify relevant databases to search for articles:

Examples:

• • Education (for graduate school admissions)
  • Automotive Engineering, Architecture and Design resources (for vehicle history and design)
  • Environmental Science, Policy & Management, Community Development, Sociology (cities and climate change)

See also: Multidisciplinary Resources

Past Examples:

• • Art, Architecture, Art History and Design (for sewing, professional design portfolios)
  • Business, Marketing and Management (for careers/employment, artificial reality/virtual reality, cryptocurrencies, private space industry)
  • Civil Engineering (for transportation engineering)
  • Global Learning (for study abroad)
  • Health Sciences Library Favorites (for health disparities, eczema, fetal ultrasound)
  • Linguistics (for language learning)
  • Nursing and Physician Assistant Resources  (for diabetic care, career/employment)
  • Psychology (for effects of music on the brain, journaling, stress and anxiety in college students, social phobia following the pandemic)

Ideas:

• Search the UC Davis Library Catalog for books and ebooks:
  • Blogs – design
  • (Brochure OR pamphlet) AND design
  • “Literature review” AND writing

• Use an Advanced Google Search
  • “this exact word or phrase” >> your genre, e.g. blog, instructional brochure, literature review
  • “any of these words” >> template model sample example

What is Peer Review? (pdf)

Chat, Email, or Make An Appointment with a Librarian (for assistance with your research)

Make an Appointment with a Writing Specialist or Tutor or Submit Writing for Feedback (for feedback on your draft)