The document outlines the research process and provides guidance on selecting a topic, conducting research using a variety of sources, evaluating and citing sources, and completing a research paper. Key steps include developing search terms, taking notes on source cards, focusing the topic into a question, using databases, catalogs and the internet to find information, and writing a bibliography in a standard format.

1. SWSi Libraries
The Research Process
Version 2 – 21 February 2012

2. Research
“work that is done to investigate
something; to investigate a field of
study and discover new facts about it”
Dictionary of Information and Library
Management,
2006 A&C Black Publishers, London

3. Select a general
topic
• Choose a topic that interests you
• Talk to teachers and others if you get
stuck choosing a topic.

4. Get an overview of
the topic
• Go to an encyclopaedia or another
reference source to get an overview
of the topic.

5. List key words
• These words will help you look up
information on the topic.
• Use a thesaurus if necessary.
• Brainstorm key words with other
staff, family and friends.

6. Make a source card
/ page
• Write down all resources you will use or
you have used for information.
• For online resources, as they are found
print the 1st page of the site.
• Do this as you go along, it will save time at
the end.

7. Focus the topic/
Write a statement
of purpose or
question
• Write a statement of purpose or
question about the focused topic. This
is what you will be answering in your
assignment

8. Use a range of
resources
• Print
• Online – including YouTube, TeacherTube
• Databases
• Audio-Visual
• eBooks

9. Evaluate what you
find
• Evaluate the quality and usefulness of
the information.
• Relevance – significant to your topic
• Currency – how old is an article
• Authority – who wrote or published the
article
• Reliability – general or
academic information

10. Use catalogues
• Use library catalogues to find library
resources, such as print
material, eBooks and DVDs

11. Use databases
• Log onto the library databases to find
journal, magazine and newspaper
articles. These articles can be
printed, emailed or saved

12. Find internet
resources
• Use search engines. Check to see if
your class has a bibliography or
Studylinks created by librarians.
• Finding information on the
internet tutorial:
the Internet Detective

13. Write your paper
• Do not copy, unless you are quoting –
it’s plagiarism

14. Write a
bibliography
• Give credit where credit is due; cite
your sources.
• Using the source cards/ paper which
you started at the beginning of your
research.
• Use a standard referencing
format, ask library staff for a
loan of a guide

15. Evaluate your
work
• Re-read it. Does it make
sense? Can you see any
spelling mistakes ?
• Get a family member or a
friend to read it, does it make
sense to them?

16. Turn in your paper on time!

17. Celebrate!
• When you’re finished, relax.
See a movie, catch up with
family or do the ironing!

18. Bibliography for
this presentation
• Cornell University, 2004, Critically Analyzing Information Sources, viewed 18 June 2009
<http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill26.htm>
• Intute Virtual Training Suite, 2008, Internet Detective, viewed 18 June 2009
<http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/detective/index.html>
• The Learning Centre, UNSW, 2005, Avoiding Plagiarism, viewed 18 June 2009
<http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/plag.html>
• The Learning Centre, UNSW, 2005, Harvard Referencing, viewed 18 June 2009
<http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/ref2.html>
• NSW Department of Education & Training, 2009, Tafe Studylinks, viewed 18 June 2009
<https://www.tafensw.edu.au/library/studylinks/>
• NSW Department of Education & Training, 2009, SWSI Library website, viewed 2 July 2009
<http://www.swsi.tafensw.edu.au/students/library/library_overview.aspx>
• PMgD, 2007, Extreme Ironing, viewed 18 June 2009
<http://pmgd.wordpress.com/2007/05/07/extreme-ironing/>
• TeacherTube, 2009, viewed 2 July 2009 <http://teachertube.com/>
• YouTube, 2009, viewed 2 July 2009 <http://www.youtube.com/>

19. Need further
assistance?
You can book in for a personal
Research Skills session, just talk to
the Professional Library Staff
Remember to keep up-to-date with
what’s happening at your library