Research Success for High School Students

ASU Library is here to help you learn about academic research and find sources for your class assignments. This Library Guide will direct you to helpful and relevant ASU Library resources.

Click on the boxes at the left for information about selecting a topic, coming up with a research question, finding background information, learning about effective search strategies, finding research databases appropriate for your topic, evaluating the sources you find, and citing correctly to avoid plagiarism. You can also get help by using our online Ask a Librarian service.

Research is the process of collecting information and data, then conducting analyses to test hypotheses and present findings. Research often follows methodologies and protocols set up by specific academic disciplines. Library research is a type of research that involves finding and using library resources to help answer questions.

There are many different kinds of research and ways to do it. This guide focuses on academic research, which usually requires high-quality, peer-reviewed sources. Because research can be thought about in many different ways and broken down into many different steps, this guide presents but one way to break down the research process.

Many ASU Library resources are available only to current ASU students, faculty, and staff. However, anyone can explore publicly accessible digital learning materials through the library’s ASU for You page, which provides suggestions and links to find open access educational resources, books, and data sets, among other information.

In addition, most public libraries have research databases available to library cardholders, and many state libraries provide research databases and other resources for state residents (such as the Arizona State Library in Arizona).

If you aren’t a current ASU affiliate but are located in the Phoenix metro area, you can access many of our databases by visiting one of ASU’s four campuses, registering for ASU guest wi-fi, and exploring resources while you’re on campus. Some libraries like Hayden Library and Fletcher (West Valley) Library have public hours, or you can simply be on campus to access the guest wi-fi.

If you’re an ASU Prep student, you should have full access to ASU Library materials.