Social Science Research Methods

Tips for searching HillCat:

• Try different keyword combinations
• Experiment with the Advanced Search underneath the Search tab to combine ideas
• Use the "Narrow your search" and "Related searches" sidebars to find similar items
• Set the "Sort by" drop-down menu to "Publication date" to view the newer material at the top of the list
• Ebooks will appear in your results list; to access the full book, click the "Web site" link next to the globe icon

Remember that you need to bring your SHU ID card to check out books from the library.

You can also search Ebook Central all by itself, for instance when you are off-campus and need just digital content. Search the ebook catalog for books on your topic. You can set up an account to add books to your virtual bookshelf and to add notes to what you read.

Tips for searching WorldCat:

• Pay attention to the type of resource (book, dissertation, photo, etc.)
• Consider date and currency
• Place interlibrary loan requests for items not held at our library

You can also search WorldCat from within our own catalog. When working in HillCat, select the "Search" tab and click on the "Select Databases" link underneath the search options. Check the box next to OLUCWorldCat (OCLC WorldCat) and "Set Search Options" to search both our collection and the WorldCat listings at one time.