This document provides an overview of basic research methods. It discusses identifying and refining a topic, determining needed information sources, using search strategies like Boolean operators, and evaluating information sources. Key steps include brainstorming topics of interest, listing related keywords, determining if facts, current information, or differing viewpoints are needed, searching databases and the catalog, and evaluating sources based on author credentials, publication purpose, journal type, and date. The goal is to find relevant and authoritative sources to support a research assignment.