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SuperInfoLit

The Research Process

steps of the research process: Information need, pre-research, research question, search strategy, search, evaluate, and cite.

The Research Process

  1. Information need: What is your assignment asking you to find? 
  2. Pre-research: Choose a topic, learn more about it, narrow it down, find keywords.
  3. Research question: What is your assignment asking you to create?
  4. Search strategy: Where will you look for information?
  5. Search: Start with the main ideas of your topic or research question.
  6. Evaluate every source you find - for credibility and usefulness.
  7. Cite: You have found credible sources and answered your research question!

Getting Started

Getting Started

Sometimes choosing a topic can seem overwhelming! 

Opposing Viewpoints is a good database to help with that. Use their Browse Issues tool to help you. Each topic has an overview, which is a good place to learn more about your topic and start finding keywords.

Once you choose a topic, doing some pre-research is important because:

  • You'll find out if enough information exists about your topic for you to do thorough research
  • It will help you refine your topic or lead you to a new aspect of it to explore.
  • It will help you identify more keywords to further your research.