Doing Research at a Distance:
An 8-Step Guide
Step 1 - Read This Document
The following guide offers an introduction to doing research at a distance and outlines the resources available to students through the WGU Library. Please take a moment to read this guide in its entirety before following any of the links offered below. Once familiar with the research opportunities available to you, you'll be better prepared to conduct efficient, productive research.
Step 2 - Access the Library
To access the WGU Library web page, logon to the my.WGU.edu Portal home page, My WGU, and click on the Library
link under WGU Resources on the left. To access Ereserves, or any of the article databases, use the passwords which appear in the window
when you first click on the Library link.
Step 3 - Get Acquainted
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the WGU Library web page layout. When following the links available here, you'll find databases which allow you to search for full-text articles or books on a given subject, library tutorials and user guides, a host of reference materials, and links to research opportunities available on the World Wide Web.
Near the top of the page, please see the contact information for the WGU librarians, Barb Rosen and Sarah Stohr. Please don't hesitate to contact them should you have any questions at all about using the library or conducting research - they are happy to help.
Step 4 - Select a Topic
If you've arrived at the WGU Library with a specific research topic in mind, congratulations, you're half-way home. If not, you might consider using a library database like Academic Search Complete, or a search engine such as Google or Yahoo to find topics of interest on the internet. Involve your Mentor in your research by soliciting topic suggestions and starting points. Your research topic should be broad enough to capture your interest, but focused and manageable.
Step 5 - Use Electronic Databases and Take Advantage of Interlibrary Loan
The WGU Library offers access to full-text articles from periodical journals, magazines and newspapers through numerous databases. You can view the databases we subscribe to by clicking on the "Find Articles" link. If you're not sure which database to start with, we suggest using Academic Search Complete as it is a database that contains articles and information about a huge variety of topics. If you find an article that you want to read that doesn't have the full-text of the article included, you can request the article for free using our Interlibrary Loan Service.
Step 6 - Locate Books and Have Them Delivered To Your Home
WGU contracts with the University of New Mexico to provide library books to WGU students. If you'd like to borrow a book for your research, search the Library Catalog (aka LIBROS)o locate a book you want to request. Once you've located a book you'd like to use in your research, use the WGU Library interlibrary loan service to have the book delivered to your home.
LIBROS allows students to search for books by keyword, author or title. Books are often useful research tools as they can provide historical or general background on your research topic.
Interlibrary Loan Service allows students to receive books or full-text articles in hard copy, at their homes. Contact WGU's librarians if you have any questions about using the service.
Step 7 - Investigate Internet Sources
The internet presents literally millions of research avenues for students. When using web-based sources, be sure to investigate the credibility and reliability of your source.
Electronic Reference Materials include encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs and style manuals. Make use of these materials as you conduct research.
Step 8 - Ask For Help
Perhaps the most helpful hint for those learning to do research at a distance is to admit that you are powerless when faced with obstacles you cannot control. If you encounter technical difficulties, have difficulty finding sufficient resources or could benefit from the advice of experienced research professionals, don't hesitate to ask for help. Contact a WGU librarian or your Mentor to discuss any difficulties you may encounter.
