Independent guides · English and German
Research, done properly. From the first search to the final talk.
Clear, practical guides for students and researchers: how to search the literature, which tools are worth using, how to write and cite, where to publish and how to present. No ghostwriting, no shortcuts that put your degree at risk.
Seven sections, one research process
Ordered the way a project actually runs, from reading to presenting. Every guide is written in English and German.
014 pages
Literature search and review
How to search databases systematically, write a literature review, find a research gap and turn it into a research question that holds up.
025 pages
Research tools compared
Reference managers, AI research assistants, plagiarism checkers and writing assistants compared on features, price, data protection and what your university allows.
035 pages
Academic writing
Research methodology, research proposals, citation styles, thesis structure and the practical last step of printing and binding, explained clearly.
044 pages
Publishing your research
How to choose a journal, prepare and submit a paper, what open access really costs, how peer review works and how to recognise predatory journals.
052 pages
Presenting your research
How to design a scientific poster that people stop for, submit an abstract to a conference and give a talk that fits the time slot.
063 pages
Research careers
How to apply for a PhD, how scholarships and research grants work, and what researchers need to know about patents before they publish.
071 page
Deep tech explained
Research-heavy technologies explained for non-specialists, starting with emerging memory: MRAM, ReRAM and phase-change memory.
Where most readers start
01
Literature search: a step-by-step method that works
A practical method for a systematic literature search: define concepts, pick databases, build search strings, screen results and document every step.
02
Research gap: how to find one and justify it
What a research gap is, the main types, where to look for one in the literature and how to check that your gap is real, relevant and doable.
03
How to cite in APA, IEEE and Harvard: a clear comparison
How to cite in APA, IEEE and Harvard: in-text citations, reference list patterns, key differences, which fields use which style and how to stay consistent.
04
Research proposal: structure, steps and common mistakes
How to write a research proposal for a thesis, PhD application or grant: the standard structure, what each section must show, a timeline and common mistakes.
05
Predatory journals: how to spot them before you submit
How to spot predatory journals and conferences: the typical warning signs, a checklist using DOAJ, COPE and ISSN, and what to do if you have already submitted.
06
PhD application: how to apply for a doctorate step by step
How a PhD application works: finding advertised positions or a supervisor, the documents you need, the research proposal and preparing for the interview.
Tools compared
Software that helps rather than gets in the way
Reference managers, AI research assistants and plagiarism checkers, compared on features, export, data protection and what examination rules usually allow.
All tool comparisonsReference managers compared: Zotero, Citavi, Mendeley, EndNote
Zotero, Citavi, Mendeley and EndNote compared on price, platforms, Word integration, collaboration, export and data protection, with a clear pick per situation.
AI tools for research: Elicit, Scite, Consensus compared
What AI research tools such as Elicit, Scite and Consensus can and cannot do, how to use them responsibly and what your examination rules may require.
Plagiarism checkers compared: what students should know
How plagiarism checkers work, what Scribbr, Grammarly and QuillBot offer, why results differ from your university's system and how to use a check sensibly.
Tools and providers
This is where we list research and writing tools we have checked against their documentation and terms. Nothing goes here before that check is done.
Partner links are marked as such.
Auf Deutsch
Alle Ratgeber gibt es auch auf Deutsch, mit Literaturrecherche, Exposé, Zitierstilen und Promotion.
Zum deutschen Bereich