The steps of the research process will help keep you organized as you go from learning more about a broad topic all the way through to finishing your research and citing your sources.
- Information need: What is your assignment asking you to find?
- Pre-research: Choose a topic, learn more about it, narrow it down, find keywords.
- Research question: What is your assignment asking you to create?
- Search strategy: Where will you look for information?
- Search: Start with the main ideas of your topic or research question.
- Evaluate every source you find - for credibility and usefulness.
- Cite: You have found credible, relevant sources and answered your research question!
Research can be overwhelming and frustrating. It rarely goes in a straight line or in perfect order as the steps of the research process may suggest! Don't hesitate to reach out to your teacher or your librarian for help.
