By Dong Danping & Redzuan Abdullah, Senior Librarians, Research & Data Services
Where should I search for literature? How can I manage my references and research data? What tools are available for analysing data? And how do I decide where to publish?
These questions can arise at different stages of a research journey, but it isn't always easy to know where to begin or what support is available.
To help researchers navigate these questions, SMU Libraries has launched LIB002: Research Essentials, a new self-paced online learning resource for researchers and research students at SMU.
LIB002 brings together practical guidance, useful tools, curated resources and library support across the research lifecycle. Whether you are beginning a new research project, preparing for an important milestone or looking for help with a specific task, you can explore the topics most relevant to you.
Explore Essential Research Topics
LIB002 is organised into five modules:
- Introduction to Library Services - Discover resources, spaces, services and support available to researchers
- Literature Review Methods - Learn about developing a research question, finding scholarly literature, using AI tools for literature review, and managing citations and references.
- Working with Data - Explore resources and guidance for data collection, discovering secondary datasets, preparing and wrangling data, and conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis.
- Research Data Management - Learn practical approaches to organising, documenting, managing and sharing research data throughout a research project.
- Publishing and Research Impact - Explore what to consider when choosing where to publish, how to recognise potentially predatory journals and conferences, and ways to manage your researcher profiles and understand research impact.
Learn at Your Own Pace
LIB002 is not intended to be a comprehensive research methods course. Instead, it provides a starting point for discovering key concepts, tools, resources and support available at SMU.
You do not need to work through every module in order. Browse the full resource, focus on a topic relevant to your current work or return to individual sections as new research needs arise.
Each module includes conceptual overview, interactive activities and links to further resources. If you would like to explore a topic in greater depth, LIB002 also connects you with relevant workshops, resources and specialist support.
Access LIB002
The web version of LIB002 is available for anyone who would like to browse the materials or refer to a particular topic. No course enrolment is required.
Access LIB002 here: https://smu-libraries.github.io/lib002/
Research students in participating programmes (e.g. EngD, DBA) will be enrolled in the eLearn version of LIB002. This provides a structured learning experience and supports any learning or completion requirements set by their programme.
Whether you are working through LIB002 as part of a programme or simply exploring a topic when you need it, we hope the resource helps you identify useful starting points and discover how SMU Libraries can support your research.
