Scholarly Communication

Conducting a comprehensive literature search for a critical analysis of the published works related to a research topic is a key element of scholarly communication. Whether the literature review is for a dissertation, thesis, or other project, it provides a foundation and rationale on which to build research questions, identify gaps, and support claims. Assistance with conducting a literature review in your discipline is available through faculty workshops, graduate workshops, and individual research consultations using the services below.

Services and tools:

• Faculty can attend Conducting a Comprehensive Literature Review, a program-specific workshop sponsored by the Office of Research.
• Graduate students can attend the Library Research & Literature Review Strategies workshop or a Thesis & Dissertation Forum sponsored by the UCF Libraries in collaboration with College of Graduate Studies.
• Contact Ven Basco  to request a faculty workshop.
• Contact Corinne Bishop to request a Literature Review Strategies workshop.
• Contact Corinne Bishop to request a graduate workshop.
• Contact your Subject Librarian to request a research consultation.
• Contact Cyndia Muñiz to request a consultation on notable Hispanic/Minority Serving Institution (HSI/MSI) Scholars and frameworks.
• Search the library catalog, subject databases, and Google Scholar for published works.
• Use iThenticate to check faculty work for plagiarism and TurnItIn for student work.

Research Guides: Google Scholar for Academic Research | Graduate Research

For more information, faculty may contact Ven Basco

For more information, students may contact Corinne Bishop

Identify collaborators, find funding opportunities, and gain other support to help your research proposal and planning process. This step of the research process is supported outside of the library through the Office of Research.

Services and tools:

• Use Pivot to search for funding opportunities and view matching faculty from inside or outside UCF.
• Sign-up to receive notifications of HSI/MSI funding opportunities via Targeted Research Alerts.
• Develop your proposal with the Office of Research resources and support services.
• Build your team with strategies to locate expertise.
• Attend or request Hispanic/Minority Serving Institution (HSI/MSI) Workshops sponsored by the Office for HSI Initiatives.
• Use the HSI Funder Toolkit to search for Hispanic/Minority Serving Institutions (HSI/MSI) funding opportunities and resources.
• Contact Cyndia Muñiz to request participation on grant proposal team or advisory board for Hispanic/Minority Serving Institutions (HSI/MSI) projects.

Research Guide: How to Set Up a Pivot Account

For more information, contact The Office of Research

Citations can get out of hand with complex research projects. Citation management tools assist researchers with collecting and organizing their citations. The UCF Libraries offers two, RefWorks and EndNote, and can also provide assistance with Zotero and Mendeley.

Services and tools:

• Attend workshops about EndNote.
• Ask Corinne Bishop for assistance with Mendeley and Zotero.
• Schedule a Writing Center consultation for more in-depth assistance with writing and incorporating citations.
• Compare different citation management tools.

Research Guides: Citation Management | EndNote | Citations and Writing

For more information, contact Renee Cole Montgomery

Research must follow regulatory guidelines, such as the IRB if working with human participants. More considerations relate to animal welfare, reporting, certification, and standards of conduct. Explore the services below to ensure that your research, if applicable, follows the appropriate ethical guidelines and regulations.

Services and tools:

• Mitigate conflicts of interest to preserve the integrity of your research.
• Receive training for the Responsible Conduct of Research to preserve the public trust in science.
• Follow export control regulations and laws with Export Compliance.
• Preserve compliance with grant and contract activities through Effort Certification and Reporting Technology (ECRT).
• Protect human rights and welfare through the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
• Keep classified information safe through Facility Security.
• Protect animal welfare through the Office of Animal Welfare.
• Commit to intentional and inclusive experiences and positive outcomes for students, faculty and staff involved in Hispanic/Minority Serving Institution (HSI/MSI) projects by submitting a signed Serving Statement to HSI@ucf.edu.

For more information, contact The Office of Research

Making a plan to manage your data should be a consideration for any research project. Having a data management plan helps to preserve your data, facilitates sharing and visibility of your research, and allows you to meet applicable grant requirements.

Services and tools:

• Contact Lee Dotson for more information and help with Data Management Plans.
• Use the Data Management Planning (DMP) Tool to create and share data management plans.
• See a sampling of DMP templates arranged by funder requirements.
• Go through MANTRA, a free online course about managing data in research projects.
• Submit Hispanic/Minority Serving Institution (HSI/MSI) certification/verification requests to designated Signatory in Office for HSI Initiatives via HSI@ucf.edu.

Research Guide: Data Management

For more information, contact Lee Dotson

Grant planning involves searching for funding, working on proposals, and building your team. Services are provided outside the library through the Office of Research.

Services and tools:

• Locate funding options with search tools, targeted alerts, and internal program options.
• Identify collaborators at the industry level or individual researchers.
• Find other research development support such as workshops.
• Manage your proposal.
• Contact Cyndia Muñiz to request a Hispanic/Minority Serving Institution (HSI/MSI) consultation.
• Contact Cyndia Muñiz to request participation on grant proposal team or advisory board for Hispanic/Minority Serving Institution (HSI/MSI) projects.
• Submit Serving Statement to HSI@ucf.edu to obtain Hispanic/Minority Serving Institution (HSI/MSI) certification.

Research Guides: NIH Resources | NSF Resources | Private Foundation Resources

For more information, contact The Office of Research