Schedule an Appointment with Paige 

According to a 2009 study, common student research frustrations are:

• Information overload (e.g., the more you know, the less you know, it’s depressing).

• Too much irrelevant information, can’t locate what is needed from online results.

• Beginning and getting started on an assignment.

• Trying to find the “perfect source.”

• Not knowing what to look for, yet still sifting through articles that might fit.

• Trouble finding books needed on library shelves.

• Can find the citation online, but cannot find the full-text article in a database.

• Scholarly databases or library books are out of-date.

• Finding statistical information online.

• Having to change and refine how to write a research paper from class to class.

• Not having access to same materials as professors (e.g., rare documents).

• Having to buy a source unavailable on campus

• Trying to find the .05% of things of interest not on Web.

• Feeling that nothing new is being said and feels like the same information again and again.

• Conducting research to meet another’s expectations.

Hi, I'm Paige and I'm here to help you with your research assignments. As you're probably aware, conducting research can be surprising in its complexity. I compare it to icebergs--you think you know what you're getting yourself into but soon find that it's a lot larger than you thought. I'm usually available during the week between 8am and 5pm, working an occassional Sunday. Use my contact information to the right. Based on your needs, we can do a variety of things.

• Work on, or refine, your topic so that it's well matched to available resources.

• Investigate research tools to help you find what you're looking for.

• Utilize basic and advanced search strategies so we don't miss anything.

• Refine search results to limit them to what's most relevant.

• Discuss how to evaluate sources so your instructors look forward to your assignments.

• Locate a book or article that's been challenging to find.

• Set up an EndNote account to help you with your citations.

To make the most of our time, please bring your assignment. Although you needn't bring anything else, if you've compiled any of the following, please bring them as well:  notes on any research you've done, articles you've gathered, a list of databases you've searched, etc.

Remember that each course and each assignment is its own iceberg. Aware of this, some students may choose to see me on a regular basis for each assignment and/or each course they take. You decide what will work best for you. Good luck and let me know how I can help.