This document provides guidance on developing an effective research plan and process. It recommends starting with discipline-specific databases and assessing one's comfort with source material. It also emphasizes creating a research plan that defines information needs and deadlines. The plan should be revisited throughout the research process to allow for reflection and revision. Key considerations include identifying the type of evidence needed and gathering background information on the topic.

1. Discover Search on the
library home page is not
the best starting point
for all searches.
Select Best
Research Tools
❏ Discipline-specific
databases
❏ Newspaper databases
❏ Statistical databases
❏ Google Advanced
Search narrowed by
Boolean operators,
type of publication,
or domain
Try:
Interpreting statistics,
finding key points in
scholarly articles, and
working with primary
sources requires
comfort with important
terms and concepts.
Assess Comfort
with Source
Material
❏ Diagramming or
outlining the source
❏ Reading background
sources on specific
concepts
❏ Looking up
unfamiliar terms
❏ Meeting with a
partner, the CWS, or
Library to assess
the source together
Try:
McCain
Library
Assessing
Research
Readiness
Research involves
reflecting and revising
throughout the project.
A plan will help you
keep track of
information needs.
Create Research
Plan
❏ Defining the number
of sources needed
❏ Outlining questions
you need to answer
❏ Creating deliverable
dates for each
research segment
❏ Scheduling
appointments with
the CWS and Library
to discuss progress
❏ Revising your outline
with new questions
Try:
Consider the audience
and purpose of the
assignment. What kind
of evidence will be most
useful in informing
your audience?
Identify Type of
Information
Needed
❏ News sources
❏ Statistics
❏ Scholarly journals
❏ Scholarly books
❏ Primary sources
❏ Opinion essays
❏ Technical (how-to)
guides
❏ NGO / Government
reports
Try:
Take a moment to
research and read how
others talk about the
topic. Look for
important keywords,
concepts, theorists,
dates, etc.
Gather
Background
Information
❏ Course readings
❏ Wikipedia entry or
other overview
source
❏ Current news
articles
❏ Broad database
searches
Try:

2. Best Database for Each Discipline
Scholarly Books
WorldCat
Scholarly Journals
Academic Search Complete
Newspapers
News & Newspapers
Magazines
MasterFile Elite
Primary Sources
Proquest Databases (narrow
search to historical
newspapers)
Legal
Nexis Uni
Market Research Reports
Business Source Complete
Statistics
Statista
Best Database by
Type of
Information
McCain
Library
Favorites!
Anthropology
Social Science Database
Art
Art & Architecture
Complete
Astronomy
Web of Science
Biology
Web of Science
Chemistry
Web of Science
Classics
JSTOR
Economics
EconLit
Education
Education Resources
Information Center (ERIC)
English
MLA International
Bibliography
Environmental Studies
Environmental Complete
History (American)
America: History & Life
History (World)
Historical Abstracts
International Relations
GALILEO Discover
(Advanced Search)
Interdisciplinary Studies
Gender Watch
JSTOR
Project Muse
Race Relations
Math
MathSciNet
Music
RILM Music Abstracts
Philosophy
Philosopher’s Index
Physics
Web of Science
Political Science
Political Science
Complete
Psychology
APA PsycINFO
Public Health
Public Health Database
Religious Studies
ATLA Religion
Sociology
SocIndex
Theater
International
Bibliography of
Theater & Dance