Navigating the Research Process

You have just received your research paper assignment and it is due sometime in the near future.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

This guide will help you work through the different parts of research as YOU get to them. It is entirely up to you how quickly or slowly you go through these modules.

Through these modules you will be able to:

• Recognize the various steps to the research process.
• Compare the value of online searching and of using the library's resources.
• Formulate keywords from a research question or thesis statement.
• Categorize different types of information/sources needed for research.
• Evaluate online sources for credibility and academic sources for relevance.
• Identify common component parts of scholarly articles.

Here you will find a set of modules to help you through the research process.

It doesn't matter what subject or topic you need to research.

This guide will help you through any research assignment.

Each tab on the left-hand side corresponds to a different part of the research process. The best way to use these modules is to complete each one as you get to that step in your research. You can take as much time as you need. Remember to complete the Knowledge Checks at the end!

The Research Process

• The Topic: This can be assigned by your professor, or based on your academic interests.
• Understanding keywords: Building from your chosen topic you'll need to enter expansive language or "keywords" into a database search to get the best results.
• Sources are probably the most important part of any research paper. We've divided the topic into Finding Sources, Evaluating Sources, and Reading the Article. 
• Writing and Citing: While you do the hard work of integrating your sources into a cohesive assignment, you always need to attribute or provide citations for where the ideas and facts originated.