Begin Your Research

Select your topic
Locate background information
How To Find...
        Books
        Articles
        Video/ DVD
        Music Materials
Evaluate your sources
Organize & Cite

For more help with this process Ask A Librarian

Select and focus on your topic

Consider the following when identifying your topic:

• Are you interested in the topic enough to produce something that will interest your audience?
• Can you cover the topic fully within the constraints of the assignment?
• Can you find enough material on the topic?

For more help with this process look at Choosing and Refining a Topic

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Locate background information to define topic

Now that you identified a topic, locate background information to further develop the topic and make sure enough resources are available.

• Look at your topic question and create a list of keywords and their synonyms that describe different facets of the concepts.
• Find the keywords that describe your topic in the indexes to subject encyclopedia.
• Read articles related to your topic in these encyclopedia to help focus your ideas on the subject.
• Use the bibliographies at the end of the encyclopedia articles to further your research.
• Remember to use your lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve readings to gain additional background information or find more bibliographic citations.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Will I be able to find enough information to support my topic?
If no, you may need to broaden the topic.

Will I find too much information?
If yes, you need to narrow the topic further.

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Find resources to support your topic

• Determine which catalogs and indexes you need to locate books and articles that relate to your topic.
• Using subject appropriate keywords, create a search strategy that outlines which search terms you will use and how you plan to combine them.
• Document which resources you used and how you found quality items in your searches; you'll likely have to revise your search strategy as you learn more about the topic.
• Skim books and articles, making notes of references for further reading and subjects for further research.
• For more help or in-depth assistance, contact your department's Library Liaison to set-up an appointment.
• Use search engines and departmental subject pages to help locate materials on the Web.
• For more help or in-depth assistance, contact your department's Library Liaison to set-up an appointment.

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Evaluate your sources - throughout the research process

To learn how to evaluate the authority and quality of the items you locate refer to:

• Evaluation of Print Sources
• Web Site Evaluation Checklist and
• Scholarly and Non-Scholarly Literature

If you have questions about certain resources Ask a Librarian or consult your instructor.

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Stop and reconsider your topic

Based on what you've discovered ask the following questions:

• has your topic changed?
• do you have enough high quality resources to support your thesis?
• are you forcing your resources to support your thesis?

If you answered yes to any of these, go back to step three.

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Cite What You Find

Citing materials and keeping accurate records is essential to research.

When you restate someone else's original idea or quote someone directly, you must cite these sources using a style approved by your instructor. The most common styles used are APA and MLA.

For help with a specific citation, Ask a Librarian or contact the Writing Center.

Remember if you fail to cite resources accurately, you could be found guilty of plagiarism.

Networked guides:

• The Writing Center has created online guides, which explain how to use the APA, MLA, and Chicago citation styles. These guides are also available in print at the entrance to the library and in the writing center.

Book guides in the library:

• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 5th ed. (REF. LB 2369 .G53 1999)
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 5th ed. (REF. BF 76.7 .P83 2001)

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