Use the following databases as a starting point for finding research materials for your conference paper. Each of these databases provides different types of materials, so make sure to check more than one when doing your research.

With so much information out there, it can be hard to find the best sources for your papers. You will come across some information that is clearly biased or irrelevent. Use the CRAAP Test outlined below to evaluate the quality of your sources. Ask yourself the following questions:

CURRENCY: When was the information published?

RELEVANCE: Who is the intended audience?

AUTHORITY: Who is the author and what are her or his credentials?

ACCURACY: What evidence supports the argument?

PURPOSE: What are the intentions of the publishers? Why does the information exist?

Click the image below for more detailed questions. The CRAAP Test was developed by librarians at California State University, Chico.

So, you've started your research and found lots of great scholarly sources. Good for you! Since you've been searching in Scopus and IEEExplore, you've probably found that the articles are very dense, complex, and full of jargon. Not to fear! Check out the PowerPoint below to learn how to easily read (and understand) a scientific paper. This PP was created by Steve Van Tuyl, Data Services Librarian, Oregon State University.

You can request material through PittCat using Get It, even for material that we do not own. You must be signed in and then click on the item you need. Options within the item:

If you have any questions about this, please contact us so we can work with you to try and get the material you need.

See our guide on searching Google for tips on using Advanced Search and Google Scholar. See the video below to learn how to set up Library Links through Google Scholar to get access to full-text content.