Research Basics

reseach process

What is research? How do you get started?

Research isn't a step-by-step checklist, but a map that has you retrace your steps from time to time.

  1. Develop a Research Plan: Understand your assignment and think about the steps you need to take to complete it
  2. Do Background Research: What are the possibilities for your topic? How can you begin to organize your thoughts? How “big” is your topic?
  3. Planning: Set a Search Strategy: Think about where you will look for information, what terms you’ll use, what resources will be most helpful. Save time by planning ahead.
  4. Find Sources: Look in the right places for the best possible sources to support your research.
  5. Evaluate Sources: Select the most appropriate and best quality sources for your research
  6. Put it Together: Incorporate your research into your own work and avoid plagiarizing by citing your sources.

Helpful Resources for Every Stage

Your instructor: use your instructor's office hours; check-in at different stages of your research; ask questions
The Library: visit the Reference Desk; make an appointment with a Librarian; call, email or IM the Library

The following presentation will introduce you to the Research Process and provide you with the resources (people, places, websites) that can help you throughout every step of the way.
Click the gear icon at the bottom of the presentation to see the Notes.

Tags: