Expanded Cheat Sheet

​Understanding Research in Library Settings

​Fundamentals of Library Research

  • Literature Review: Master the art of comprehensive literature searches using databases like JSTOR, PubMed, and Scopus. Understand how to synthesize findings to establish a foundation for new research.
  • Research Design: Gain proficiency in creating research frameworks, selecting appropriate methodologies, and understanding ethical considerations. Familiarize yourself with the differences between experimental, survey, ethnographic, and bibliometric studies.

Scholarly Communication

  • Publication Process: Delve into the steps of academic publishing, from manuscript preparation to peer review, and post-acceptance. Understand the roles of authors, reviewers, and editors.
  • Open Access Movement: Explore the benefits and challenges of open access, the varieties (gold, green, platinum), and its impact on the availability and dissemination of research.

​Implementing Research Methods

​Data Collection Techniques

  • Surveys and Questionnaires: Design detailed survey instruments, understand sampling strategies, and learn how to ensure validity and reliability in responses.
  • Interviews and Focus Groups: Develop skills to conduct structured and semi-structured interviews, facilitate focus groups, and master techniques to probe and record nuanced qualitative data.

​Data Analysis and Interpretation

  • Statistical Analysis: Introduce common statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R), and practice applying statistical tests to interpret quantitative data.
  • Thematic Analysis: Learn coding strategies for qualitative data, use software like NVivo for data management, and understand how to draw inferences from thematic patterns.

​Enhancing Scholarly Communication

Writing and Publishing

  • Academic Writing Skills: Hone skills for crafting research articles, literature reviews, and theoretical papers, focusing on structure, coherence, and academic style.
  • Choosing the Right Journals: Utilize tools like Journal Citation Reports to evaluate the impact factor, audience, and scope of potential journals for publication.

​Citation and Reference Management

  • Citation Styles: Study the intricacies of various citation styles, their in-text and bibliographic formats, and their applicability to different disciplines.
  • Reference Management Tools: Train on advanced features of reference management tools, including citation sharing, cloud backups, and document annotation.

​Scholarly Networking and Visibility

​Building an Academic Profile

  • Researcher Profiles: Create profiles that stand out, understand the metrics used by different platforms, and keep records of publications and citations up to date.
  • Networking: Learn strategies for engaging with other professionals at conferences, and develop skills for presenting research and participating in scholarly discussions.

Promoting Scholarly Work

  • Social Media for Academics: Utilize academic social networks to share research, collaborate with peers, and track the reach and engagement of published work.
  • Altmetrics: Dive into the analysis of alternative metrics, understand the platforms that track them, and how they complement traditional citation metrics.

​Navigating Ethical Considerations

Research Ethics

  • Consent and Anonymity: Develop consent forms, understand the principles of voluntary participation, and master techniques for ensuring participant anonymity and data confidentiality.
  • Plagiarism and Academic Integrity: Understand the nuances of intellectual property, learn to use plagiarism detection software, and foster a culture of integrity in academic work.

​Intellectual Property

  • Copyright Law: Examine case studies on copyright infringement, learn about creative commons licensing, and the role of copyright in digital preservation.
  • Fair Use and Licensing: Interpret the four factors of fair use, understand the implications of licensing agreements, and apply this knowledge to the use of scholarly work.

​Trends in Scholarly Communication

Digital Scholarship

  • Digital Humanities: Explore tools and platforms for digital exhibits, text analysis, and digital archiving. Understand the interdisciplinary nature of digital humanities research.
  • Data Curation: Learn best practices for research data management, understand metadata standards, and explore the role of repositories in data preservation and sharing.

​The Future of Publishing

  • Predatory Journals: Identify red flags associated with predatory publishers, understand the impact on the scholarly record, and learn how to educate peers about these risks.
  • Transformation of Scholarly Communication: Discuss the shift toward collaborative and open science practices, the role of preprints, and the changing landscape of scholarly publishing in the digital age.
​This expanded cheat sheet offers librarians, researchers, and students a comprehensive understanding of the research process within academic libraries, including practical steps and professional tools necessary for successful scholarly communication. It is intended to be a resource for mastering research techniques, enhancing the dissemination and impact of scholarly work, and staying abreast of changes in the field.