Finding information for academic assignments requires understanding which sources are available, where to find them and how to search them effectively.
This page encourages you think about the type of information you need, introduces different kinds of sources, explains where to search for information (within the library and beyond), and offers search tips and techniques to help you search more effectively.
Starting to find information
At university, you need to find information to develop your understanding, support your learning, and provide evidence for your academic work. Information literacy is also an important skill to develop for your future employment and as a life skill.
Before you begin searching, take time to think about what information you need. We live in a world where it is easy to be overwhelmed by information. There are many different types of sources in a variety of formats, digital and print, scholarly and popular, factual and opinion-based - the information landscape is vast, complex and rapidly changing. So, identifying your information need will help you to plan more strategically where and how to search.
If you want to find information for an assignment then start by considering carefully what sort of sources you are expected to find, evaluate and reference. What sort of information and evidence do you need to find to answer a question and fulfil the learning outcomes? This will vary depending on what subject you are studying, e.g. this could include primary sources for a history student, or case law for a law student. You may find guidance in your module handbook or assignment brief.
Generative AI
Take note of how much Generative AI (GenAI) interaction is permitted for your module assessment, as this includes the process of finding information as well as producing work.
You can do this by consulting your lecturer’s guidance and checking the level on the AI Assessment Scale in your module handbook. This scale is a practical framework which has been developed by leading academics; it establishes transparency and ethical boundaries and categorises assessment into five specific levels of AI integration, e.g. AI Assessment Level 2 allows the use of GenAI for planning, idea development and research, so at this level you could use it to identify possible information sources.
Now consider what sort of information you want to find and ask yourself questions to determine the purpose and scope of your search:
- Do you want to find one specific piece of information, or are you searching for a range of sources on a topic for an essay or to write a literature review?
- Do you want to establish a general overview of a subject, or to perform a comprehensive search for in-depth analysis?
- Do you want to focus your search on scholarly/academic sources, or to include popular sources or opinion pieces?
- Will the sort of information that you want to find be available online, or will you be visiting the library for print or specialist collections, or obtaining them from elsewhere?
When you have thought about the purpose and scope of what you want to find, then you will be ready to identify relevant and appropriate sources and to start your search.
Activity
Take 2 minutes to think about what sort of information you want to find. If it is for a specific assignment, then check the module and assessment guidelines.
Types of information sources
There are many types of information sources, and you need to identify and select those that will meet your needs. Primary sources include original research, first-hand accounts, and creative works like novels, films, or artworks. Secondary sources analyse or discuss those primary sources.
| Primary Sources | Secondary Sources | Tertiary Sources |
|---|---|---|
| An original creative work such as a novel, a poem, a film, a work of art, a photograph or a music score. | A book, review or journal article about the work of a writer, poet, movie director, artist, music composer, game designer etc. | An encyclopaedia entry in Britannica or Wikipedia |
| An original historical document, such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle or the Magna Carta, a diary, a letter, or a manuscript | A commentary, introduction, annotation or explanatory text accompanying a published or digitized facsimile of an historical document. | A definition of a word, a dictionary entry |
| Statistical data, for example the results of a survey or census, or an experiment | A report highlighting the findings of statistical or scientific research | Almanacs containing statistical, factual and current information, which are published yearly |
| Audio or video recordings of live events or speeches | A television documentary which includes historic footage. | A database of audio or video recordings e.g. Box of Broadcasts |
| An autobiography | A biography | A biographical entry in an encyclopaedia |
| Patient records, X-rays, a case study, action research, cohort study | A systematic review of published research, a literature review | A text book |
| A piece of legislation, such as an Act of Parliament, a statutory instrument, a treaty, case law, referring to an actual lawsuit | Halsbury's Laws of England | Legal dictionaries |
Sometimes the distinction can be different according to which subject discipline you are studying. For example, the Peter Jackson movie The Fellowship of the Ring can be considered a primary source if you are studying Media or Film Production; however, if you are writing about other artistic/creative interpretations of the original novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, then the movie could be seen as a secondary source.
You may decide to start by using background sources (textbooks/reference works) for factual explanations or to orient yourself to a topic, then search for more specific sources such as journal articles. You may want research evidence, data, or statistics to support your arguments, or use web content or newspapers to gauge current opinion on a particular issue.
The type of information you use may depend on your discipline. You can use the Library Subject Guides for recommended resources for your subject.
As well as books and journal articles, LibrarySearch provides access to streaming services, archives of TV or radio programmes, image databases covering everything from great works of art to X-rays, newspaper archives, market research reports, a 3D atlas of the human body, maps, theatre performances, case law, and much more.
You will need to think about the quality of the sources you are using. At university you are expected to use academic/scholarly sources as these provide verifiable, expert-reviewed and evidence-based information.
Keep a record of all sources that you find and intend to use in your work, it is essential that you acknowledge and reference these.
Key academic sources
Activity
Find your Library Subject page and review the types of resources. Can you identify what the key information sources for your subject are?
Where to find information
The best place to start to find information is the university library. Library resources are usually academic, peer-reviewed, and reliable sources that are suitable for university-level assignments. The CCCU library collection contains physical (print) resources in three campus libraries, and subscribed digital resources that you can access from anywhere - you will not find these for free online! These resources have been chosen by your lecturers as subject-experts, to support the courses that you are studying.
All CCCU print and online library resources can be discovered using the resource discovery system called LibrarySearch (also known as the library catalogue).
Using the library
CCCU students can visit and borrow books from Augustine House Library in Canterbury; the Drill Hall Library in Medway; and Salomons Institute Library in Tunbridge Wells. You can find out about the opening hours, facilities and collections for each library Note that when you leave CCCU you may still be able to visit and borrow books from the libraries through alumni membership; see the Membership and Visitors site for more information.
Books in these libraries are organised into subject areas on the shelves using a classification scheme, so every book will have a classmark to help you to locate it. Library staff are always happy to help you use the library and find books on the shelves, so please ask if you want any assistance.
Activity
Check Library Guide for your subject and look under “Books” to identify relevant classmarks for your subject. Do you know where to find these books in the library? Note that books are also available to read online as ebooks where possible.
LibrarySearch
You can search LibrarySearch to find specific resources that are on your module reading lists, or to search for information on a topic.
Searching for a book on your reading list
- Use the main search box and type in the author’s surname plus a few words from the title.
- Look at the results list, there may be more than one reference if the book is available as a print and an ebook or was published in different years.
- Click on the book title to check number of copies, the classmark, and if it is available in the library for you to borrow now.
- If it is an ebook then click on the blue Link to CCCU ebook to read online or to download it (for a limited time).
Searching for information on a topic
- Use the main search box and type in your topic, keeping your search terms simple.
- Review your list of results and switch the tabs between Library Resources (to view books/ebooks) and Digital Resources (to view mainly journal articles).
- Use the options in the left-hand panel to filter your list of search results (e.g. by publication date).
- You can click on an article title to read a summary (abstract), and on View Content to link to the full-text.
Finding more information using LibrarySearch
The left-hand menu on the LibrarySearch homepage contains more useful links to help you find information including Find E-Journals and E-books by title (useful to check if the library has a subscription to a specific journal); and Find Databases A-Z (there may be specific databases that you can search for your own subject).
Activity
Go to LibrarySearch, Log In with your CCCU username and password and search for a topic. Review your search results and click on the Library Resources/Digital Resources tabs to see what is available.
Reading lists
Every CCCU taught module will have an accompanying reading list created by your lecturer. This will indicate key and suggested readings, and sometimes wider research. It will usually include books and may also list other types of resources. You can find reading lists in module handbooks and via LibrarySearch, and these are the best resources for you to use.
You may see a link to a digital reading list in your module handbook, which you can also find on your module Blackboard or by searching for your module name at ReadingLists@CCCU. Use these digital reading lists to discover the recommended sources for your modules and to seamlessly link to online resources. You can also personalise digital reading lists using filters (e.g. limit to display only ebooks) and set your own reading intentions to keep track of what you have read, or what you intend to read next.
Obtaining resources not in the library
If you find a resource that the library does not have then you may be able to access it a different way. To request a book or article you can use the Document Delivery service and the library will request this for you from another library. You can also click on the “Suggest an ebook” option on the LibrarySearch homepage to ask the library to consider buying a book.
You could also use other libraries. Many students can use the SCONUL Access scheme to visit and borrow books from other university libraries, and researchers may want to apply to use the British Library. You may discover that the subject you are studying has a special collection or archive in another library which you could enquire about visiting.
Finding information online
In addition to library subscribed resources you can find a vast amount of information on the web. If you are using a search engine, then it is essential that you evaluate any information that you can find as information on the internet varies greatly in quality and reliability.
Search the web to find information that is not commonly held in a library, e.g. reports, government publications, data and statistics, conference papers, images etc. You may also find open access (freely available) research and information from professional organisations and in other university research repositories. It is worth noting the domain in the website address (URL) of sites that you find to identify the origin of the information, e.g. .gov.uk (UK government); .ac.uk (UK universities); .co/.com (commercial business or organisation).
To find academic sources on the web it is better to use a search engine such as Google Scholar which is like an "academic Google", and contains references to scholarly articles, books and other sources. Top tips are to use the Advanced Search feature to refine your search; and to link Google Scholar to CCCU LibrarySearch using the Library Links option in the Settings menu, so that you can read the full-text if the library has a subscription. Note that Google Scholar can be useful for discovering academic sources, but library databases often provide more advanced search tools and better access to full-text content.
Activity
Try searching for a topic using Google, then repeat the same search using Google Scholar. Review the types of results that you find with each search.
Using GenAI to find information
There are a growing number of GenAI tools that can be used to find information and for literature searching. Many search engines now incorporate GenAI extensions, and some library databases also include elements of GenAI (e.g. to enable you to search using more “natural language”). Some tools enable you to visually map how different publications and authors are connected, enabling you to follow citations (references) and find more information on a topic. AI-generated summaries of information sources can be useful to help you understand them, but you should read the actual source yourself before citing in an assignment.
These tools can help you to find information very quickly, but all AI-generated information and data should be cross-verified with other sources, methods, or theories to ensure accuracy and reliability. Some AI tools may generate inaccurate or non-existent references, so always verify citations before using them in your work by conducting further research using reading lists and library resources. Refer to the CCCU Generative AI Guidance to read more about using GenAI to do research.
Search tips and techniques
Once you have identified what information you want to find and where to search, consider how to search for it effectively. Using a few simple search techniques can significantly improve your search results.
Activity: Pick a topic (this may be for a current assignment) and identify 3 keywords. Add 2 alternatives for each and try 2 different searches. Was one search more successful than the other? Why?
Further search tips
- Use the reference lists from relevant books and articles to find other sources. You can paste these directly into Google Scholar to find them.
- Click on the ‘Related articles’ or ‘Cited by’ links in Google Scholar to find similar or more recent research.
- Search inside articles using CTRL+F to find words. Most eBook platforms will also allow you to search inside for key terms.
- Look out for authors that appear in searches multiple times. This can be a way of identifying key authors in a particular field or research area.
- The LibKey Nomad Google Chrome browser extension identifies library-subscribed scholarly content from anywhere on the web, allowing you to get to it in one click.
Be organised
Note keywords and searches conducted so you can remember. This allows you to replicate searches in different search engines.
Remember to organise and save your references as you find them, so that you can acknowledge the source of your ideas correctly when you come to reference them.
Assess your learning
Now you have learned more about finding information, check your understanding with this quick quiz:
Key takeaways
Finding information for academic assignments is a skill that develops with practice and experience. This guide has introduced you to the types of sources available, explained where to search for them, and offered strategies to help you search more effectively.
As you progress through your studies, your ability to find and use information will grow. You will become more confident in identifying the right sources for your needs, more skilled at evaluating what you find, and more efficient in how you search. Information literacy is a skill you will continue to develop at university and beyond
Look at the below links to explore and develop other skills related to finding information:
- You may want to develop your information search further by learning how to find other types of specialist information, which includes database searching.
- Learn how to evaluate sources.
- Our content on referencing explains why we reference, and how to record and reference the information that you find.
- Studying at postgraduate level contains more on finding information for postgraduate students.
Credit
Written by David Bedford, Lynsey Blandford, Ruth Collingwood, Kate Davies and Catherine Sherwood
Last updated 2026.