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This introduction is intended to help you understand how to approach research.
College content can be overwhelming! Remember to approach research as a way to learn how to write and how to comprehend knowledge.
Research isn’t a single step. It’s a series of steps. You need to begin with the basics.
- Read your assignment. You may be overwhelmed if you pick a topic that could produce a 5 page paper when you are asked to write a 150 word paragraph. Does your assignment note which citation style is required? Does the assignment describe what the instructor counts as proof that you’ve learned about the topic? Use clues and hints in your assignment to design the proper outcome.
- Select something interesting. You’re in a class with a large amount of content. Pick something that you’re really interested in or that appeals to you, before you devote time to it.
- Approach the topic with an open mind. Ask a research question rather than make a statement. If you find opposing research, it may influence how you develop your research.
Library search engines will have some tools that you can use to limit and improve your results. Try multiple searches over different hours or days. Some ideas may be a search engine, some in your textbook, some in library books, and some in online encyclopedias or videos.
Here are some tips for research skills:
- Scan through an entire source before you say gotcha. Sometimes what looks great at first glance isn’t really usable later.
- Note the title or the name. It’s hard if you saw it, but can’t find your way back to it.
- Evaluate your source. Not every source is as strong as something else you may find. It’s not enough that you find it, it must be usable for your topic.
Remember that library staff can assist you if you get stuck while developing topical research in a course.