The Research Process

1
The Research Process

• Amanda Izenstark
• LIB 120

2
The Research Process

• Keep in mind that doing research is a multi-step
  process.
• There is no single set of steps that apply to
  every information quest.
• Be flexible!

3
The Research Process

• Keep track of what you find and where you find it.

General overview encyclopedia Discussion
of issues journals In daily life newspapers
4
The Research Process Part 1 - Before You Search

• Consider the general topic(s) your research falls
  under
• Pollution might fall under Environmental
  Sciences
• Media might fall under Communications
• Also consider how to narrow your topic
• You might be able to limit by time period,
  location, specific population affected, etc.

5
The Research Process Part 1 - Before You Search

• 1. Identify Your Topic
• pollution in the ocean
• violence in the media

6
The Research Process Part 1 - Before You Search

• 2. Phrase your topic in the form of a question
• How does pollution affect the ocean?
• How does violence in the media affect children?

7
The Research Process Part 1 - Before You Search

• 3. Refine your question to make it more specific
  -- encyclopedias can help with this!
• How does pollution in the ocean affect marine
  life?
• What effect does television violence have on
  children?

8
The Research Process Part 1 - Before You Search

• 4. Identify the key concepts in your question
• How does pollution in the ocean affect marine
  life?
• What effect does television violence have on
  children?
• How does poverty affect family life in the US?

9
The Research Process Part 1 - Before You Search

• 5. Think of synonyms for your search terms
• pollution ocean marine life
• television violence children

10
The Research Process Part 1 - Before You Search

• 6. Identify the Library of Congress Subject
  Headings for your topic
• pollution ocean marine life
• television violence children

11
The Research Process Part 2 - Starting Your
Search

• If you dont know anything about your topic, or
  you dont know where to start, try a general or
  subject specific encyclopedia.
• You can get a broad overview of your topic, and
  references to sources.

12
The Research Process Part 2 - Starting Your
Search

• Books provide in-depth or historical information
  on your topic.
• Journal articles provide detailed analysis of
  your topic by researchers.

13
The Research Process Part 2 - Starting Your
Search

• Newspapers and magazines provide primary
  information on your topic, including recent
  developments.
• Web sites may provide opinion, basic information,
  or detailed analysis of your topic.

14
The Research Process Part 2 - Starting Your
Search

• Think about the KIND of information you need
  before you start your search!
• Factual or analytical?
• Objective or subjective?
• Primary or secondary?

15
The Research Process Part 2 - Starting Your
Search

• Keep in mind that good research includes a
  variety of sources and acknowledges opposing
  sides of an issue.

16
The Research Process Part 3 - Focus Your Search

• Who is your audience?
• Scholars? Students? Your professor?
• How much do they already know?
• Are you
• Writing a ten page paper?
• Giving a five minute presentation?
• Leading a class discussion?

17
The Research Process Part 3 - Focus Your Search

• Decide how MUCH information you need
• A lot? (For a lengthy paper)
• Enough to fill five minutes?
• Just a couple of sources?

18
The Research Process Part 3 - Focus Your Search

• Decide how CURRENT the info must be
• Only recent?
• Older, historical information?
• A variety?

19
The Research Process Part 3 - Focus Your Search

• Decide how TECHNICAL the info must be
• A broad overview?
• Materials used by experts in your field?
• Material that can be used by the general
• public?

20
The Research Process Part 4 - Doing Research

• DOING RESEARCH AND USING GOOGLE ARE NOT THE SAME
  THING!

21
The Research Process Part 4 - Doing Research

• Doing research involves finding a variety of
  sources, not just books, or just articles, or
  just web sites.

22
The Research Process Part 4 - Doing Research

• Once youve identified the types of materials you
  need, consult the sources
• The Catalog
• Encyclopedias
• Reference Databases
• Indexes
• Search Engines

23
The Research Process Part 4 - Doing Research

• Evaluate the results of your search as you go
  along.
• Do the materials youre finding meet your needs?
• Yes? Great! Keep going.
• No? Try another approach, or ask for help.

24
The Research Process Part 4 - Doing Research

• Read the records that you find in each access
  tool before you print any, and select only
  sources that are truly relevant to your topic.

25
The Research Process Part 5 - Evaluate Your
Sources

• Consider the authority of your source what are
  the authors credentials?
• Is the information up-to-date? Accurate?

26
The Research Process Part 5 - Evaluate Your
Sources

• What is the purpose of the information? Is it
  biased in any way?
• Who is the audience? Who is the author/producer
  trying to influence?

27
The Research Process Part 5 - Evaluate Your
Sources

• Is it appropriate for your research? Is it too
  general or too specific?
• Does it make sense based on what you already
  know?

28
The Research Process Part 6 - Once Youve Got
Em...

• Cite your sources!
• By making sure you write down all relevant
  bibliographic information about your sources, you
  will be able to find them again if you need them.

29
The Research Process Part 6 - Once Youve Got
Em...

• Whoever reads your paper might want to track down
  your sources so that they can read more on the
  topic.
• Not citing your sources properly is considered a
  serious offense in academia.