Research Support

Doing any kind of research can be varied and often very complex. 

There are lots of ways in which the Haddon Library can support you with your in your research work while at Cambridge. To help theme some of the things that you might need to talk to us about, we've themed our support into key stages of a typical research lifecycle. 

We work closely with other departments around the University to deliver this support so if in doubt, get in touch with your questions and we can match you up with the best people to answer them.

Planning your research

Reviewing the literature

Searching for literature in any field can be time-consuming and often quite confusing. You can get bespoke guidance from our Librarian so email us and we will be able to set up a time to go through your needs.

Managing your references

Managing what you read is an essential part of being an effective researcher. Getting set up with a dedicated reference manager can help manage your research as well as citing resources according to different styles. 

Want to know more? We can help with that too.

Gathering and creating

Data Management Plan

Having a good data management plan (DMP) in place before you start any research project is critical in getting prepared to do good research. Our Librarian can help you navigate this often confusing process with training, resources and support.

Ethics and compliance

Ethics and compliance can sound like two intimidating words but they are also very important ones to understand in relation to how you do your research. Our Librarian regularly advises and teaches on complex topics such as sensitive data. The University's Research Operations Office also has lots of guidance, expertise and training on these topics to help.
 

Publishing and sharing

What is Open Access?

Open Access is the process by which research is made freely available for anyone with an internet connection to access, as opposed to locking it away behind subscription paywalls. Many research outputs can be made Open Access, from journal articles and book chapters to datasets and software. We can help you with this.

Not sure where to publish?

While we can't tell you where to publish in the context of which is the 'best' journal for your research area, we can help you with deciding on where to publish through engaging with different criteria, such as who your funder is and what are the best Open Access options for you.

Symplectic Elements

Symplectic Elements is a key University system that helps you record and share your research outputs. A lot of the reporting carried out by your Department and the wider University relies on your information being up-to-date and accurate. However, Symplectic Elements can be a bit confusing to use for the first time so get in touch and we can help get you started.

The Librarian also supports the Department of Archaeology with managing Symplectic Elements so if you've published recently, you might get an email from us!