Gather literature

Once your topic is approved, you can start searching for literature.

• Search through online databases

As a UHasselt student, you have access to several online databases.
You can search for scientific literature relevant to your topic in these databases.
- Find the correct information with databases and the university library (website)

Note! Google is not enough to find good sources

- Read here why Google is not a good source of information (website)
- Extra tips about good sources of information (video 2’ 40)
- Identify credible sources with this scheme (infographic)

• Use (Gen)AI to collect start information

Use GenAI as a tool to explore your topic. Then, find scientific sources, analyze them critically, and write in your own words. Don’t copy, but develop your insights! 

Note! Always follow the guidelines of your program!

Make a list of possible search terms.

This is how you can find search terms:

• Browse through the first literature you find, looking for new search terms
• Use general search engines
• Take a look at relevant scientific articles; sometimes, they list keywords that you can use as search terms

Search in different languages (in your native/first language, English, ...).

- Optimise your search strategy (infographic)
- Find the right resources with these tips (video, 3’)
- How to select and use keywords? (video 4’ 13)
- Tips about expressing an effective search query (website)

Verify that the information you found is reliable and qualitative. 
Only some of the literature you find is reliable!

- This is how you check the quality of your sources (website)

You don't need to read scientific articles from A to Z to grasp the main points.
How do you read a scientific article quickly and effectively?

- Reading a scientific article - visual step-by-step plan (infographic)
- Read scientific articles efficiently (video, 7’)
- Check also these tips about effectively reading a scientific article (website)

Ensure that you can quickly locate the research papers and sources you've found.
This way, you can keep relevant literature organised:

• With bibliographic software
  Bibliographic software helps you keep and list your literature in a well-organized way, and it is  a useful tool for citations (see section 'preventing plagiarism')
  - Here is an overview of different types of (free) bibliographic software (website)
• Using your table
  A simple table can also work well to structure your sources manually
  - This table helps you keep an overview of your sources (document)
  - Find templates and information on how to keep your sources organised in a table (website)
  - Learn how you can make a comprehensive literature matrix in Excel (video, 6’)
• With cards
  Rather manage your sources with pen and paper?
  Make a card for each relevant source; write on each card:
  - Title
  - Author
  - Keywords 
  - Main findings
  - Summary
  - Relevance of the source to your research

- A short introduction to the use of note cards (video, 1’)
- Read more about the use of research note cards (website)
- Learn step-by-step how to use note cards to organise your information (slide show)