Research is a process and may include twists and turns that surprise you. This guide is meant to help you identify some of the steps along the way and provide resources to assist you when starting your research assignment. In a typical research assignment you will need to:
Your topic should be narrow enough to be clear to your audience, but broad enough that you are able to find relevant information.
Getting a general overview and familiarizing yourself with you topic will help you identify keywords and subtopics to explore.
An important part of research is knowing what is available. Use the library databases to find articles, books, and eBooks for in-depth information on your topics. This may require advanced search techniques.
Search Techniques & Strategies
Make sure the information you have gathered is reliable and relevant to your needs. Learn about types of sources and how to evaluate them.
Organize your sources, take notes, and write a draft.
As you read and learn more about your topic, you may find that you may want to modify your topic. This is all part of the research process!
Give credit where it's due and cite the sources you used.
The MCC Library is here to help you on your research journey! Contact us for research questions and support.
Keep an open mind and note that the research process is not always linear.
Image via The Design Squiggle
In 2 Minutes: The Research Process
This short video gives a quick overview of the different stages in the research process.
Key Moments:
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