1. Analyze your information need
- Write a question or statement about your chosen topic
- Identify key words and phrases that describe your topic
- Determine:
- The level of coverage and depth of the information needed
- The type of information needed
- How much information you need
- The currency of the information needed
- How soon you need the information
- What disciplines or groups would be researching and writing about your topic
2. Select the best types of information sources for your paper/project/presentation
- Books (including eBooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.)
- Articles from journals, magazines, or newspapers
- Videos / Audios
- Websites
3. Select the appropriate resources in which to search
Start with the following pages in this guide:
- Encyclopedias/Dictionaries
- Books & eBooks
- Journal Articles
- Newspaper Articles
- Media
4. Conduct searches using effective techniques
(The Conducting Effective Searches guide can help with this)
6. Develop a working bibliography/reference list
7. Physically locate the desired material
(Sometimes this may mean requesting from another library)
(The Locating Full-Text Articles guide can help with this)
8. Read and think critically about your sources
9. Write/develop an effective research paper/project/presentation
(Resources on the Citation & Writing Help page in this guide can help you with this)
10. Correctly cite the information sources you used (e.g., using APA Style)
(Resources on the Citation & Writing Help page in this guide can help you with this)
