Research is an iterative process, not just a straight line.
Key Steps
- Define Your Topic: Start with a broad area of interest and narrow it down to a specific research question.
- Background Research: Get a general overview using encyclopedias or textbooks to understand context and keywords.
- Locate Sources: Use library catalogs and databases to find scholarly articles and books.
- Evaluate Sources: Determine if the information is credible, relevant, and current (CRAAP Test).
- Synthesize: Read your sources and look for connections, contradictions, and themes.
- Cite: Keep track of where you found your information to give credit and avoid plagiarism.