The document outlines the steps of the research process, starting from understanding the project and determining the scope, to locating and evaluating sources. It emphasizes the importance of formulating research questions, determining keywords and search strings, as well as organizing, writing, and citing sources. Finally, it highlights the need for proofreading before submission.

1. STEPS IN THE RESEARCH
PROCESS

2. Understanding Your Project
 OK- at this point, you have your assignment and
you’re thinking about how you’ll meet the
requirements. It helps to read the assignment
carefully.

3. Determining Scope
 Now, you decide how widely or narrowly you want
to address your topic. Keep in mind that a topic
that is too broad will give you too many resources
to look through.

4. Finding a Research Question
 Not every paper requires a research question, but
sometimes asking a question can help you think
about how to find sources and determine an
approach.

5. Determining Keywords
 Keywords are just general terms (like the ones you
type into Google). Good keywords are also useful
in he library catalog or databases.

6. Determining Search Strings
 Search strings help you do a more sophisticated
search within a database.
 For example to find articles on people aged 2-18, a
search string might be:
(child OR teen) NOT (infant OR baby OR toddler)

7. Identifying Types of Searches
 Thinking about what types of library sources make
the most sense.

8. Locating Sources
 You’ll find your sources: electronically, in print or
through Interlibrary Loan.

9. Evaluating Sources
 Determine if your source is trustworthy and if it
can contribute to your research.

10. Organizing Sources
 Creating a record of your sources so you can create
a bibliography and properly cite your sources.

11. Writing
 In this step, you synthesize your findings and
compose your paper.

12. Citing
 You should cite sources in your paper, whether you
quote or paraphrase someone else’s ideas. You can
do this parenthetically or by using footnotes.

13. Bibliography
 Create a list of sources you used in your paper.

14. Proofreading
 Read your paper before turning it in!