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The following seven steps outline an effective strategy for finding information for a research project, developing
the project, and documenting the sources you find. Adapt this outline to your needs.
1. IDENTIFY YOUR TOPIC
State your topic as a question. For example, if you are interested in finding out about use of steroids by high school athletes,
you might pose the question, "What effect does use of steroids have on the health of high school athletes?" Identify the main
concepts or
keywords in your question.
2. FIND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Look up your keywords in Ebsco and encyclopedias. Read articles in Ebsco and encyclopedias to set the context for your research.
Additional background information may be found in class notes, textbooks, and outside readings.
3. USE THE CARD CATALOG TO FIND BOOKS
Use keyword searching for a narrow or complex search topic. Use subject searching for a broad subject. Write down the citation
(author, title,etc.) and the location information (call number). Note the circulation status. When you pull the book from
the shelf, scan the bibliography for additional sources.
4. USE PROQUEST TO FIND PERIODICAL ARTICLES
Use Ebsco to locate full-text articles best suited to your particular topic.
5. USING THE INTERNET
The Internet can be a very useful resource. Searching on the Internet can be very frustrating and time-consuming if you are
not clear of what you are searching for. There are different types of search tools and resources. Each have their own set
of tips and instructions. We can give you advice and assistance with your Internet searches. Your task is to come up with
as many search terms and ideas as possible before you get on-line. Then we can direct you to some useful sites.
6. EVALUATE WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND
A. Author--What are the author's credentials (educational background, past writings, or experience) in this area? Is the book
or article written on a topic in the author's area of expertise?
B.Year of Publication--When was the source published? Is the source current or out-of-date for your topic?
C. Title of Periodical--Is this a scholarly or a popular magazine? This is important because it indicates different levels
of complexity in conveying ideas.
D. Intended Audience--What type of audience is the author addressing? Is the publication aimed at a specialized or a general
audience? Is this source too elementary, too technical, too advanced, or just right for your needs?
E. Objective Reasoning--Is the information covered fact, opinion, or propaganda? Does the information appear to be valid and
well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence? Is the author's point of
view objective and impartial? Is the language free of emotion-rousing words and bias?
F. Coverage--Does the work update other sources, support other materials you have read, or add new information? Is the material
primary or secondary in nature? Primary sources are the raw material (personal journals, diaries, etc) of the research process.
Secondary sources are based on primary sources. Choose both primary and secondary sources when you have the opportunity.
Learning how to quickly determine the relevance and authority of a given resource for your research is one of the the core
skills of the research process. For more assistance with the research process, consult your
instructor.
6. WRITE YOUR PAPER or PREPARE YOUR PROJECT
7. USE A STANDARD FORMAT FOR YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY
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