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Research Process

Research Process. Seven simple steps. #1: Identify and develop topic. State your topic as a question: If you are interested in finding out about use of alcoholic beverages by college students, you might pose the question:

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Research Process

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  1. Research Process Seven simple steps

  2. #1: Identify and develop topic • State your topic as a question: • If you are interested in finding out about use of alcoholic beverages by college students, you might pose the question: • What effect does use of alcoholic beverages have on the health of college students?

  3. Ask yourself: • What are the main concepts or keywords in your question? • If you have webbed your thoughts, these concepts/keywords will be the three aspects you present/debate/define in your paper.

  4. #2: Find background info • Look up your keywords in the indexes to subject encyclopedias. • Do a WEB search but realize not everything you read on the Internet is true (really)! • Read articles to define the direction of your research. • Note relevant bibliographies following articles. They may lead you elsewhere … a place no human has dared go!

  5. Be a detective! • Sometimes valuable information is hidden. • Look under every leaf. • Interview friends and relatives -- these discussions would be considered PRIMARY sources and while they may be opinions, these quotations help validate your point of view … or disprove it, too!

  6. #3: Use catalogs to find books • Ah, yes, books! You remember them. • Not every source should come from the Internet. • Visit the OSU-Newark Library website to access books from across the state. • Be sure to write down the title, the call number, and the author’s name.

  7. #4: Use indexes to find periodical articles • Magazine articles can be found by using periodical indexes. The OSU-N Library website has dozens to choose from. • You can find articles if you know the author, title, or keyword. • Some texts are available on-line. You can print them directly to a printer. • Treat these sources as if they were the magazine article itself, not a web version.

  8. #5: Internet resources • Use search engines and subject directories. • Some search engines allow you to fine-tune your search. Look for “advanced search.”

  9. #6: Audio and video • There are reliable audio and video resources available. • For example: The sinking of the Lusitania during World War I. • Terrific video of the expedition conducted by Dr. Bob Ballard produced in mid-90s.

  10. #7: Evaluate what you find • If you have found too many or too few sources, you may need to narrow or broaden your topic. Do not bite off more than you can chew! • Ask a librarian if the source is credible. A book about Hollywood written by a plumber probably is not a good source.

  11. #8: Cite what you find • Give credit where credit is due. • Cite your sources • Do not plagiarize. • MLA or APA format is acceptable. • If you need information about these, please ask me for assistance. Most classes on campus are using the MLA format and you should become familiar with it sooner rather than later.

  12. Need help? • Libraries can be intimidating. • Our campus library, however, is NOT! • Will McElhaney is a goldmine of information and is eager to help students. He is on-campus during the daytime. • View research as a journey, an expedition. Research can be fun. Take good notes, develop your own style of research skills.

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