Library Research Workshop

EDUC 6000 Fall 2025

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Susie Breier

Susie.breier@concordia.ca

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bit.ly/4pdxCuh

Susie Breier (she/her/elle)�Education Librarian

AskSusie Office Hours �on Zoom �Tuesdays 3:30-5:30 pm

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AskUs Desk Fridays 3-5 pm

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or by appointment

Email: susie.breier@concordia.ca

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FIND ME:

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• Google: �concordia library education

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• concordia.ca/library/guides/education�

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TODAY

• Using the library / getting help
• Zotero & Citations
• Accessing stuff
• Searching for academic sources
• Using Generative AI in grad research

BUT FIRST:

you told me:

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USING THE LIBRARY & GETTING HELP

SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT

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USING THE LIBRARY

• WHY BOTHER?
• WHAT SHOULD EVERY STUDENT KNOW?

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Support for Grad Students

Getting help in the Library

1. Ask Us desk, chat, email or phone

FOR QUICK OR GENERAL QUESTIONS

Google: ask concordia library

2) Contact your subject librarian

FOR MORE IN-DEPTH CONSULTATIONS

Icons on this slide are from the noun project

REMINDER:�Susie Breier (she/her/elle)�Education Librarian

AskSusie Office Hours �on Zoom �Tuesdays 3:30-5:30 pm

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AskUs Desk Fridays 3-5 pm

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or by appointment

Email: susie.breier@concordia.ca

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FIND ME:

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• Google: �concordia library education

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• concordia.ca/library/guides/education�

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�

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ZOTERO

SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT

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Let’s launch Zotero and create a Collection

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SOME ZOTERO BASICS

ZOTERO instruction SLIDES�

ZOTERO Grad Workshops at Concordia

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ZOTERO Group/Shared Libraries

Quick Videos:

• creating a group library and inviting members
• using a group library and adding citations

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MY GROUP LIBRARY for this class: bit.ly/47XGFJl (small L)

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TODAY – checklist 1

• Using the library / getting help
• Zotero & Citations
• Accessing stuff
• Searching for academic sources
• Using Generative AI in grad research

ACCESSING STUFF

SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT

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Accessing Stuff: Sofia

• Find what we own: books, videos, articles �
• REQUEST material from Quebec University Libraries & libraries around the world�
• Try quick topic searches��
• Introductory Video:
• Searching Sofia

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Requesting stuff from other libraries: Sofia

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Quick How-to Videos:

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• Requesting Books (print books)

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• Requesting Articles & Chapters (online)

TODAY – checklist 2

• Using the library / getting help
• Zotero & Citations
• Accessing stuff
• Searching for academic sources
• Using Generative AI in grad research

SEARCHING for ACADEMIC SOURCES

SAMPLE FOOTER TEXT

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�find relevant academic sources �on your topic �

where would YOU search?

TELL YOUR NEIGHBOUR

�ACADEMIC RESEARCH TOOLS

1. Sofia
2. Library Databases
3. Google Scholar
4. GenAI-based Research Tools

see also the module: Choosing your Search Tool from our Critical Toolkit for Navigating Information

�ACADEMIC RESEARCH TOOLS - �Sofia

1. Sofia�
• Discovery Tool for Concordia Library (and beyond)
• use to access known items at Concordia (and beyond)
• unsophisticated & unsatisfying for advanced searching
• can use to search for books

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�ACADEMIC RESEARCH TOOLS 2

• Sofia
• Library Databases
• Google Scholar
• GenAI-based Research Tools

see also the module: Choosing your Search Tool from our Critical Toolkit for Navigating Information

�ACADEMIC RESEARCH TOOLS –�Library Databases

2. Library Databases (500+ at Concordia Library):�

• by Subject/Discipline. ex: Education Source & ERIC
• by Type of souce: scholarly encyclopedias, news, film/video, government publications….
• Advanced search options: boolean searching, filters by date, format/source, peer-review; subject indexes; but little or no natural language capabilities
• Subsciption-based, ‘legitimate’ search tools with replicable search results
• Often not as effective for wide-ranging, “needle in a haystack”, very recent searches

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Library Databases

TRY THEM�

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• Education Source (EBSCO)

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• ERIC (EBSCO)

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• Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts (ProQuest)�
• PscycINFO (APA Psychnet)

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Library Databases - USING THEM�sample search - Advanced Search mode

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("disciplin* disp*" OR "disproportionate discipline" OR "discipline gap" OR “exclusionary discipline”) ��AND

�(transgender OR “gender identity” OR “gender nonconforming” OR “gender non-conforming” OR tgnc OR “gender divers*” OR nonbinary OR non-binary)

see also this handout

�Library Databases

FINDING THEM

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Concordia Library website:

• Subject Guides
• Education Subject Guide
• Applied Linguistics/TESL�
• Database Finder

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�ACADEMIC RESEARCH TOOLS 3

• Sofia
• Library Databases
• Google Scholar
• GenAI-based Research Tools

see also the module: Choosing your Search Tool from our Critical Toolkit for Navigating Information

�ACADEMIC RESEARCH TOOLS –�Google Scholar

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3. Google Scholar:�

• Effective for wide-ranging or “needle in a haystack” searches
• “Cited by” feature for snowball searching, finding RECENT sources
• No advanced filters such as source type, peer-review
• Keyword searching only, no subject indexes
• Results not fully replicable, search algorithms and source list hidden
• Can set it up to access Concordia online resources

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Comparison�Library Databases vs Google Scholar

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("disciplin* disp*" OR "disproportionate discipline" OR "discipline gap" OR “exclusionary discipline”) �

AND

�(transgender OR tgnc OR “gender identity” OR “gender non- conforming” OR “gender nonconforming” OR “gender divers*” OR nonbinary OR non-binary)

("disciplinary disparity" OR “disciplinary disproportionality” OR "discipline gap" OR “exclusionary discipline”)

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(transgender OR “gender identity” OR “gender nonconforming” OR tgnc OR “gender diverse” OR non-binary)

Search strategies: Boolean operators and more

• use OR for alternative terms / ideas / synonyms

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• use quotation marks " " for phrases

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• DON'T need to use AND (it is implied)

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• DON'T use * (happens automatically)

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• use OR for alternative terms / ideas / synonyms

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• use quotation marks " " for phrases

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• use AND to combine concepts

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• use * to substitute word endings

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GOOGLE SCHOLAR

LIBRARY DATABASES (EBSCO etc)

Founds some articles?

save them to:

ZOTERO

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Now what do you do with those saved article citations? How do they work with the paper you are writing?

�ACADEMIC RESEARCH TOOLS 4

• Sofia
• Library Databases
• Google Scholar
• GenAI-based Research Tools

see also the module: Choosing your Search Tool from our Critical Toolkit for Navigating Information

TODAY – checklist 3

• Using the library / getting help
• Zotero & Citations
• Accessing stuff
• Searching for academic sources
• Library Dabases & Google Scholar
• Using Generative AI in grad research

Google Scholar�(and competitors)

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vs

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GenAI-based research tools

infographic produced by ChatGPT

�ACADEMIC RESEARCH TOOLS –�GenAI Research - and Academic - Tools

library.concordia.ca/help/ai/

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ACADEMIC RESEARCH TOOLS –�GenAI-based Research Tools

4. GenAI-based Research Tools
1. for Literature Discovery & Review�
1. Many also offer synthesis and review; features evolving almost daily
2. Natural language capabilities; extremely fast and efficient
3. Mostly limited to open-access sources rather than subscriptions; almost no book or chapter content
4. Almost all based on personal subscription and/or freemium model
5. Countless unresolved ethical, privacy, social, environmental issues

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�Before we jump into these tools

• Evaluation rather than recommendation
• Where can AI tools fit into and support, rather than replace the scholarly process of learning?
• Do not let it rob you of the opportunity of learning a new skill
• Use it to help speed up the tasks you already know how to do

AI & GenAI research tools:��

TRY THEM?�

��GenAI-based Research Tools

LEARN MORE

• Concordia Library guide: AI Literacy
• see especially the section: AI Academic Tools�

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Hallucinations & inaccuracies

Hallucinations - completely made up articles

• This is less likely in academic AI tools as their data sources are based on actual indexes

Inaccuracies - summaries misinterpret/misrepresent the sources

• Summary is not consistent with the sources (e.g., an article supports an argument but the AI summary indicates otherwise)
• AI summary contains inferred information that is not mentioned directly by the sources (e.g., the summary gives wrong connections or illogical conclusions)
• Tendency to overgeneralize and oversimplify – see research by Peters and Chin-Yee, Generalization bias in large language model summarization of scientific research.

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why does it matter where you search?

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Citations & References

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Thoughts about citing and citational practices

This is a challenge for all of us:  Reflect on the way you approach referencing the work of others in your own writing, presenting and thinking. Whose work do you build on to make arguments ... Who are you citing, and why do you cite them (and not others)?�Eve Tuck, K. Wayne Yang, Rubén Gaztambide-Fernández,"Citation Practices" Critical Ethnic Studies, April 2015

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I believe that bibliographies and endnotes and references and sources are alternative stories that can, in the most generous sense, centralize the practice of sharing ideas about liberation and resistance and writing against racial and sexual violence. �Katherine McKittrick, "Footnotes (Books and Papers Scattered about the Floor)", Dear Science and Other Stories, 2021

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See also, from our Critical Information Literacy Toolkit: Who's Citing Whom and Inclusive Voices

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THOUGHTS ABOUT CITING

WHY WE CITE

Next set of slides adapted from those of Aeron MacHattie​, Teaching & Research Librarian

WHAT IS CITATION FOR?

• Making visible the work you put into your research
• Giving credit for ideas and following copyright rules
• Allowing readers to replicate findings and/or check on accuracy of claims/conclusions
• Helping readers follow up on interesting resources
• Situating your voice in the scholarly conversation

SCHOLARLY CONVERSATION

Diagram from https://www.connectedpapers.com/

CITATION BASICS

REMINDER:

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Use a CITATION STYLE GUIDE!��Examples:

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• Chicago quick style guide

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• APA quick style guide (for articles, books, chapters)

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• More style guides with more details & examples

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HOW, WHEN & WHERE ��TO CITE

HOW

• Use only one citation style per paper
• Use automatic citation generators (optional)
• Use a citation style guide (APA, MLA , Chicago)
• Identify what your source is before you cite it

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WHEN

• Information or facts that are not common knowledge
• ex. the Eiffel tower is in Paris vs. the Eiffel tower receives 7 million visitors per year
• both “direct quotes” and paraphrasing

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WHERE

• In-text citations at the end of the sentence
• End-of-text citations in a list of sources (References)

IN-TEXT CITATIONS

• Come at the end of the sentence where you quote or paraphrase a source

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• Refer the reader to a complete list of sources at the end of your paper

IN-TEXT CITATIONS: DIRECT QUOTES

Hakkinen and Akrami (2014) found that “individuals are receptive to climate change communications, regardless of ideological position” (p. 65).

APA

Hakkinen and Akrami (2014) found that “individuals are receptive to climate change communications, regardless of ideological position” (65).

Chicago

author-date

IN-TEXT CITATIONS: PARAPHRASING

People from any ideological background are open to hearing about climate change (Hakkinen & Akrami, 2014).

APA

People from any ideological background are open to hearing about climate change (Hakkinen and Akrami 2014)

Chicago

author-date

END-OF-TEXT CITATIONS: REFERENCE LIST

• Come at the end of your paper in an alphabetized list of all the sources you used�
• Consist of thorough citations containing all information needed to successfully identify each source�
• Sometimes called a bibliography (Chicago notes & bibliography), references (Chicago author-date, APA) or works cited (MLA)

END-OF-TEXT CITATIONS EXAMPLE:�APA JOURNAL ARTICLE REFERENCES

References

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Doherty, T. J., & Clayton, S. (2011). The psychological impacts of global climate change. American Psychologist, 66(4), 265-276.

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Hakkinen, K., & Akrami, N. (2014). Ideology and climate change denial. Personality and Individual Differences, 70, 62-65.�

McCright, A. M., & Dunlap, R. E. (2011). Cool dudes: The denial of climate change among conservative white males in the United States. Global environmental change, 21(4), 1163-1172.

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END-OF-TEXT CITATIONS EXAMPLE:�CHICAGO AUTHOR-DATE JOURNAL ARTICLE REFERENCES

Reference List

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Doherty, Thomas. J., and Susan Clayton. 2011. “The psychological impacts of global climate change.” American Psychologist 66, no. 4: 265-276.

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Hakkinen, Kristi, and Nazar Akrami. 2014. “Ideology and climate change denial.” Personality and Individual Differences 70: 62-65.�

McCright, Aston M., and Riley E. Dunlap. 2011. “Cool dudes: The denial of climate change among conservative white males in the United States.” Global environmental change 21, no.4: 1163-1172.

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BOOK CHAPTERS: APA & CHICAGO

Guillen, R. (2017). Growing Justice in the Fields: Farmworker Autonomy and Food Sovereignty. In D. G. Peña, L. Calvo, P. McFarland, & G. R. Valle (Eds.), Mexican-origin Foods, Foodways, and Social Movements: Decolonial Perspectives (pp.235-250). Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press.

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APA

Guillen, Rosalinda. “Growing Justice in the Fields: Farmworker Autonomy and Food Sovereignty.” In Mexican-origin Foods, Foodways, and Social Movements: Decolonial Perspectives, edited by Devon Gerardo Peña, Luz Calvo, Pancho McFarland, and Gabriel R Valle, 235-250. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 2017.

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CHICAGO

TIPS FOR PARAPHRASING

• Make sure you aren’t keeping the same structure as your source quote and only replacing a few words with synonyms (Thesaurus plagiarism)
• Try reading the quote you want to paraphrase, setting it aside and writing it in your own words
• Any set of words in the same order as your source needs quotation marks

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Practice paraphrasing and other quotation skills with the library research skills tutorial

RESOURCES AND HELP

AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED CITATIONS

BIBLIOGRAPHIC MANAGERS

Programs that build a database of your research material.

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At Concordia we use: ZOTERO

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REMINDER:

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Use a CITATION STYLE GUIDE!��Examples:

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• Chicago quick style guide

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• APA quick style guide (for articles, books, chapters)

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• More style guides with more details & examples

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