1. Preliminary steps BEFORE you
start your research
Created by Carrie Gaxiola
Great Basin College Library
Elko, Nevada
August 2015
2. the assignment
• Read the assignment carefully
• Highlight requirements and main guidelines
• When is it due?
• Do not wait, start early!
• How long should this be? How many words?
how many pages? (again, read directions carefully)
• How much information will you need?
3. subject
• Chose your subject for your research
• Formulate your subject into a question(s): what do you need to know?
• What do you already know? Where are the gaps in knowledge?
• If you know very little of your topic, get familiar with the terms used by
professionals in the field, write down other influencing or similar topics regarding
your topic.
Please do not skip getting to know the background of your topic. It will save you so
much time, preliminary research is in your best interest! (more on next slide)
4. for background information
• Infoplease.com (infoplease.com)
• Online Encyclopedias (GBC Subject Guide for Encyclopedias)
• Internet Public Library (www.ipl.org)
• Wikipedia (Wikipedia.org)
• Blogs (blogger.com, blog.com, wordpress.com…)
• Google Scholar (google scholar)
• Archive.org (archive.org)
• Pew Research Center (pewresearch.org)
Write down terms used, like terms, associations you spot, any other
interesting information that might assist your searching later.
5. determine your information needs
• Please refer back to assignment requirements to see what types of
data you need.
Do you need primary?
Secondary?
Tertiary?
• articles from journals?
(databases)
• Books?
• Pin down the required sources!
• Source information to the right is from slideshare: Dilip Barad,
Professor at Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
at Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar,India
6. identify where you will get your data
Chose the best source for your information:
• Consult the subject guides on the library website for recommended databases and more sources
• Use the GBC Library catalog to find books if needed. If you are distant education student, we will send the requested
book(s) to you! (See the tab in the “Library for Distant Ed Students Getting materials delivered to you” OR call or
email us for assistance (775-753-2222 | gbc-library@gbcnv.edu)
• Articles: For journal articles, consult which database is best for your subject (as mentioned above, this is located on the
library website subject guides)
• Do you need peer reviewed scholarly articles? If so, please see the tab on how to retrieve these (Database
Searching)
• Statistics: Census data (census.gov), Gallup.com, or perhaps an industry collects what you are seeking? Ask a librarian!
• Primary Sources, Diaries or Historical Information: Although you can get this data via databases or even the library
catalog most of the time, check out archive.org, the Library of Congress Archive findingaids.loc.gov, search historic
newspapers, or search for libraries who have digitized manuscripts on your topic! (Remember, the library can assist you
– even if you are not in Elko!)
7. other tips for sources!!
• References of other research!
• Yes! Read the references the author used and you can find great sources this
way! Don’t forget, if GBC does not have a source you need, let us know! We
will see if our library partners can lend it to you!
• When you search databases, use filters that are usually in the side. It can filter
out non-scholarly articles, you can choose what dates of publication are
suitable for your research, and much more!
• Also, when you find a good article, note the SUBJECT terms used. Use them in your
searches! Keywords are not the only way to pull great articles.
• If you are in the library, look at books around the one you chose –
Serendipity! LOC call numbers (used in colleges) are arranged by SUBJECT so
you can browse!
8. YOU are READY!
• Start your research!
• Use the library databases, eBooks, Encyclopedias, GBC library catalog
• Searching strategies and tips are listed in their own tab “Database
Searching” READ IT! It will help you!
• EVALUATE ALL SOURCES! See tab “Evaluating Information”
If you are unsure about anything, please ask a librarian or ask your
professor for clarification.
