(Image CC-BY-SA, Susanna Smith: Georgia Highlands College Library, 2021)
The research process is messy, no doubt about it.
Step 1: Identify your topic. Narrow it down if necessary.
Step 2: Identify your primary keywords.
Step 3: Start searching in library databases. Don't forget to use the tools provided, like limiters!
Step 4: When you find a few sources you think may be useful, stop and review them. Discard any aren't helpful and save the ones that are.
Step 5: Do you have enough sources to start writing your paper?
YES: Start writing and make sure to cite!
NO: Return to Step 2 and 3 as necessary until you have enough information to start writing.
PROTIP: Sometimes you may start writing and realize you need more information. That's OK! Go back to Step 2 and continue the research process!
THINK first, SEARCH later.
Always remember: KEYWORDS are critical!
Here's an example.
My topic is "Females have brought a positive element to the military."
My keywords in this topic are "female" and "military" and maybe something like "benefit".
My "related words" lists might look like this:
|
female |
military | positive |
|
woman (women) |
soldier | benefit |
| girl | army |
good |
So I could mix and match - pick one word from each list and I could get great results from each search!
OR - if I wanted to be even more specific, I could make a phrase: <"Female soldier"> and then add a word from my third list: <benefit>. My full search would look like this: <"female soldier" benefit>
See how that works?
One thing to keep in mind when you are doing research on your topic is that there is NO SUCH THING as a single perfect source that you will be able to cite to support your thesis. Researching and writing is a process of learning about your topic, thinking critically about what you've learned, and supporting your thesis through referencing a variety of sources.