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Research Guides

Research Crash Course

Welcome!

Welcome to the Research Crash Course guide! Research can be a tricky process. Here you will find information that will make that process easier and less daunting, helping you improve your research skills. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out! Visit the "Need Help?" page for ways to get in contact with a librarian, the Center for Academic Excellence, and other Drew University departments.

The Research Process

Navigating the Research Process- 1. Choose a Topic: Understand your assignment parameters, requirements, and due dates. Choose something that excites you! 2. Do Background Research: Search for news articles, top hits on Google, and encyclopedia entries. 3. Refine Your Topic: Narrow down what you want to investigate. Think about the who, what, when, where, and why for your topic. 4. Create a Research Question: Come up with a tentative question you want to answer in your project. 5. Develop a Search Strategy: Select your resources and develop your keywords. 6. Search: Conduct multiple searches in a variety of locations. 7. Evaluate Your Sources: Determine if your sources are trustworthy by thinking about Authority, Purpose, Language, Date, Evidence, Source, and Relevance. 8. Adjust Your Search: Try using new keywords, databases, and strategies depending on what you still need. 9. Synthesize the Information: Bring together the information you found to create a coherent and comprehensive understanding of your topic. 10. Draw Conclusions and Write: Based on your analysis and synthesis, draw conclusions that address your research question. Begin writing your paper, citing your sources as you go. 11. Review and Re-Search: Fill in any gaps in your research, dig deeper, and explore any new areas of interest. 12. Cite, Review, Edit: Finish up your paper by making sure everything is properly cited and check for spelling, grammar, and structural issues.

  1. Choose a Topic: Understand your assignment parameters, requirements, and due dates. Choose something that excites you!
  2. Do Background Research: Search for news articles, top hits on Google, and encyclopedia entries.
  3. Refine Your Topic: Narrow down what you want to investigate. Think about the who, what, when, where, and why for your topic.
  4. Create a Research Question: Come up with a tentative question you want to answer in your project.
  5. Develop a Search Strategy: Select your resources and develop your keywords.
  6. Search: Conduct multiple searches in a variety of locations.
  7. Evaluate Your Sources: Determine if your sources are trustworthy by thinking about Authority, Purpose, Language, Date, Evidence, Source, and Relevance.
  8. Adjust Your Search: Try using new keywords, databases, and strategies depending on what you still need.
  9. Synthesize the Information: Bring together the information you found to create a coherent and comprehensive understanding of your topic.
  10. Draw Conclusions and Write: Based on your analysis and synthesis, draw conclusions that address your research question. Begin writing your paper, citing your sources as you go.
  11. Review and Re-Search: Fill in any gaps in your research, dig deeper, and explore any new areas of interest.
  12. Cite, Review, Edit: Finish up your paper by making sure everything is properly cited and check for spelling, grammar, and structural issues.

Questions? Need Help? Email reference@drew.edu

Drew University Library, http://www.drew.edu/library