What is the Research Process?
Research in college is different in many ways from what you may have experienced in the past.
We often think of research as a linear process in which we move neatly in a straight line from one step to another to our end goal of finishing the paper or project and submitting it for a grade.
In reality, research is an iterative process, or one in which we refine and improve upon our work throughout to get to our desired goal. While doing research, you should expect to go back to and repeat various steps in the process; don't get discouraged!
Reality of the Research Process
In most of your classes you will select your own research topics and navigate the process yourself. Typically you will be required to investigate a range of databases and other search tools, using search terms that best fit your topics to find information sources. You'll be asked to consider the information you discover in these databases critically, reading and evaluating not only what is said, but the perspectives and biases of the creators/authors of the sources. You will determine how these sources might be relevant to your overall research and how they relate to each other.
Google and research
One important question to consider is: "why don't we just use Google for all of our research and forget about the library?"
It's a valid question, but one that can be answered simply: Google doesn't have everything you need.
More importantly, library databases give you access to information that is not freely available to the general public on Google.
This doesn't mean that Google is "bad." Sometimes Google might be the perfect place to find what we need! It really depends on the topic, or the type of resource we are looking for.
Research is ultimately about expanding our knowledge and expertise. The more information we find from a greater diversity of sources, the richer the experience can be.
Meet with a librarian for research help
Whenever you have a question or need assistance with a project for any of your classes, our dedicated research librarians are available to support you at any point in the process!
We offer guidance in various areas, including:
1. Developing Research Questions and Topics: We can help you refine and shape your research questions and topics to ensure they align with your academic objectives.
2. Effective Search Strategies: Learn how to identify and use effective search words to find relevant and reliable information for your project.
3. Exploring Resources and Databases: Understand the capabilities of various resources and databases, and how to utilize them efficiently.
4. Information Source Discovery: We can assist you in searching for and discovering credible and authoritative sources relevant to your project.
5. Citations and Bibliographies: Receive support in creating accurate citations and well-structured bibliographies or works cited pages.
Feel free to sign up for a one-on-one research appointment whenever you require personalized assistance. Our librarians are here to empower you with the skills and resources needed for successful academic research.