Research in

History

Prof. Sarah Cohn

3/30/26

World Civ

Prehistory to 1500 AD

Agenda

Introduction

Types of Sources

Databases

Searching

Getting Help

Introduction

A few thoughts to get us started.

Why Library?

  • One isn't better than the other

    • Different information needs require different places to search.

  • The library is a resource for you as CCNY students

    • Utilize all the tools available to you. 

    • Librarians are nice and helpful!

LLMs & Generative AI

  • Fake sources

  • Cognitive offloading

    • What do you give up when you outsource thinking and the process of learning to a machine?

  • Howe we learn!

    • Process, problem solving, failure

  • Environmental concerns

    • Is it worth it?

Searching as (strategic) Exploration

  • Searching for information is often nonlinear and iterative.

  • You might not find the exact 'answer' to your questions.

  • Think of your sources as puzzle pieces, each with their own bit of information or context that work together to provide a complete picture.

Types of Sources

Know what you're looking for.

Read the three excerpts at the link and add comments with about all three.

  • Content
    • What is the author writing about?
  • Language
    • How is the author they writing about it?
  • Similarities and differences
    • What do you notice?

 

Source Comparison

tinyurl.com/worldciv2026

Secondary

Primary

  • Created at the time, or recalled by an eyewitness

  • Provides firsthand accounts

  • Letters, diaries, art, administrative records,  photographs, newspapers

  • Analyze and interpret primary sources

  • Provides theory, analysis, critical engagement

  • Scholarly, peer reviewed journal articles, books

  • Summarize and digest the information in primary and secondary sources

  • Provides background and general overviews
  • Encyclopedias, textbooks

Tertiary

Scholarly

Popular

  • Author & Audience

    • by journalists for the general public

  • Publication

    • newspaper or magazine

  • Content

    • human interest hook, photos, little or no specialized language, background on topic

  • Citations

    • links within the text

  • Author & Audience

    • by academics & researchers for other academics & researchers

  • Publication

    • peer reviewed journal

  • Content

    • original research, data, findings, theoretical framework, specialized language

  • Citations

    • Works cited or bibliography

Databases

Where to search.

Academic Search Complete

An easy to use multi-disciplinary database. Be sure to add the filter for Peer Reviewed to get scholarly sources.

JSTOR

Scholarly articles and book chapters on a range of topics. Very strong in history, although most of the articles are 5+ years old.

Project Muse

Current and archival scholarly sources on a range of topics with good history coverage.

OneSearch

Multi-disciplinary database with books, peer-reviewed journal articles, & media.

library.ccny.cuny.edu

Searching

How to search.

Think about different ways to describe your topic in individual words or phrases.

1.

Identify your key words

Combine 2 or more search terms, adding any relevant filters.

2.

Build a search & test it out

Do the results look promising, interesting, or relevant? If not, change a search term and try again.

 

Repeat until you're seeing relevant articles.

3.

Evaluate the results & change the search as needed

Getting Help

Sarah Cohn

scohn@ccny.cuny.edu

ccny.libcal.com/appointments/scohn

 

Reference Desk

Monday-Friday 10am-7pm

Friday 10am-4pm

library.ccny.cuny.edu/chat

World Civ Spring 2026

By Sarah Cohn

World Civ Spring 2026

Yaari Felber-Seligman

  • 19

More from Sarah Cohn