Skip to Main Content

Divergent Learning

Tips and Tricks

  • Choose scholarly (peer reviewed) sources not popular sources. 
    • Scholarly sources will be more accurate, credible, and relevant than popular sources.

 

  • Divergent Learning is a term that is specific to Columbia College.
    • If you try to search this term you will not get many results or relevant results. 
    • Try “at-risk students” instead or be more specific with your terms.

 

  • Keep in mind what terminology is being used in the current field of study when creating keywords, but also be aware of what terms USED to be used.
    • Some researchers will still add old terminology to their search terms to reach a larger audience
    • Most researchers will always add their work using the most recent terminology as well.

 

  • When searching break down your topic into more specific terms. 
    • Try to focus on one type of learning style or personality trait 
    • You will get more relevant narrowed results
    • This will help you create a more focused-manageable research project

 

  • Make use of the limiters in the advanced search function within databases
    • You can limit by publication date
    • Subject matter
    • Scholarly articles
    •  Full text

 

  • Sort your results by most relevant and then use your limiters to exclude any publications outside of your publication date criteria.
    • This will give you articles that are most useful but still recent enough for your project.

 

  • Search multiple EBSCO databases at once to save time and cover more ground
    • Above the search bar is an option for Choose Databases
    • Click that link and you will be presented with a list of available EBSCO databases
    • Choose the ones you want to search through and continue back to the search bar

 

  • If you are stuck on search terms look at the subject headings of an article you found useful and try one of those in your search string.
    • You can also look to the bottom left or sometimes the top right to find a link that says "Find Similar Articles"

 

  • If you want to save a link to an article be sure to use the permalink or save the DOI (Digital Object Identifier). 
    • This will lead you directly back to the article, but you may be required to sign in to retrieve it.
    • If you use the link from the address bar it is likely to change and you will be unable to find the article again 

J. Drake Edens Library

Research: 803.786.3703

refdesk@columbiasc.edu

1301 Columbia College Drive

Columbia, SC 29203

College Links

Canvas

Koala Connection

Eprint

Email

Library Links

A-Z Database List

Research Guides

Faculty Info

PASCAL Delivers

Interlibrary Loan

About Us