Library Research - The Research Process  

• Have a question
  
• Discover what others have done
• Refine your question in light of that discovery
• Answer that question yourself

The research process typically includes four broad steps. Most often you complete one step before moving onto the next. However, there may be times when you will need to return to a previous step or complete multiple steps simultaneously.  It's called the "research loop"!

Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the rockin' awesome librarians at Johnson & Wales University for letting us use the majority of the content of their LibGuide.

Please help us improve this Research Guide!  Send us a message with your suggestions.

Step 1. Develop a topic
Selecting a Topic | Develop Research Questions | Identify Keywords | Find Background Information | Refine a Topic

Step 2. Locate information
Find Books | Find Videos | Find Articles | Find Websites | Search Strategies

Step 3. Evaluate and analyze information and sources
Evaluate Sources | Primary v Secondary Sources | Types of Periodicals

Step 4. Use, organize and communicate information
Notetaking | Paraphrasing

Step 5. Complies with legal, ethical and moral standards
Plagiarism | MLA Citation Style | Works Cited Examples | Copyright

Video and program notes are from Bob Baker, Library Director, Pima Community College

1)     Booth, Wayne C.  The Craft of Research.  Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2008.

Q 180.55 M4 B66 2008

2)     George, Mary W. The Elements of Library Research: What Every Student Needs to Know. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2008.

Z 710 G44 2008

3)     Lipson, Charles.  Doing Honest Work in College. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2008.  Ref PN 171 F56 L56 2008

4)     Quaratiello, Arlene R. The College Student's Research Companion. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2000.

Z 710 Q37 2000

Do NOT miss Purdue University's section on "Writing a Research Paper"!!!

• Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) (Writing a Research Paper)
• Writing Center at the University of North Carolina (Writing the Paper)
• Writing Center at University of Wisconsin at Madison. (The Writer's Handbook)

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