Research Steps

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Research Steps

Getting started 

brainstorm girl.jpg Research is not a simple linear process; it is a complex and challenging set of tasks. There is no one "right" way to conduct research, but using the methods outlined in this guide can make your efforts more efficient and effective.
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Take the time to understand your assignment. This may be more complicated than it seems. Read the assignment carefully as soon as you receive it so that you can budget your time effectively, and ask your instructor about anything that is unclear.

Choosing an appropriate topic to research is critical to success. Choose one that fits the assignment and that interests you. Do not choose a topic so recent or narrow that little information is available, or so broad that the amount of information available is overwhelming. Consult with your instructor about your topic before you begin your research.


Choosing a Topic 

Getting started with this video from NCSU Libraries. Links to an external site.

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Read more: Choosing a Topic Links to an external site. (Purdue Online Writing Lab) (text)

 

Develop and focus your topic. Once you have an idea of what interests you as a topic, you will need to develop it into a manageable research question. For example, if your topic is, broadly, health care, what specifically do you want to research about health care? You may wish to create a working thesis that you will revisit as the paper develops. To do this, you may need to first read some background information.

 

Developing a Topic through Preliminary Research

Preliminary research helps us develop a topic that is well suited for our assignment. This is a critical stage of conducting research, as it can help identify keywords that can be used when conducting further research. Two extremely valuable resources to use at this stage of research are Google Links to an external site. and Wikipedia Links to an external site., as they can provide you with a nice introduction to your topic, as well as background knowledge of the key issues, terms, and ideas surrounding the topic. You aren't going to do all of your research on Google and Wikipedia, of course, but they can be a good way to pick up enough of the basics about a topic to give your research a jump start, especially if the topic is new to you.
 
There are two questions that you should ask yourself during this stage of research:
    1. Am I interested in this topic?
    2. Can I find more information on this topic?

If during this stage the answer to either of the above questions is NO, consider revisiting your topic choice. The topic you come up with at the beginning of your research does not have to be what you ultimately use for your project. Even for scholars, picking a research topic is rarely a linear process - you can expect to go back and change your topic after conducting some preliminary research.

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How to Develop a Good Research Topic Links to an external site.(video, 4:33 min)
Choosing and Narrowing Research Topics for APA & MLA Essays Links to an external site.(video, 6:32 min)

Finding background information

You may not initially know a lot about the issues and debates that surround a topic. Reading background information will help you determine what some of those issues are and figure out whether your topic may be too broad or too narrow within the field. Preliminary research will also help you become more familiar with the terminology used to discuss your topic, which will be of use in identifying keywords to use when searching for journal articles and other information.

Start with a preliminary search using Google Links to an external site., Google Scholar Links to an external site., even Wikipedia Links to an external site.. Organize your findings using the Download Research Worksheet Links to an external site.

. Think and look for the following:

  1. Unique words, distinctive names, abbreviations, or acronyms related to your topic or subject.
  2. Organizations, societies, or groups that might have information on your subject via their pages.
  3. Synonyms or equivalent terms.

Specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias can be useful resources for background information. The introductory chapter of a book is another. Find books by searching  WorldCat UMD Links to an external site., the UMD Libraries' catalog.

Finding Specialized Dictionaries and Encyclopedias 

Finding books, articles, and other resources

Think about the nature and extent of the information you will need to successfully complete your assignment. The resources below will help you identify books, articles, and other resources for your research. If you aren't sure which sources to use or how to find them, ask a University of Maryland librarian for assistance Links to an external site.. The Research Guides by Subject Disciplines Links to an external site. can also help you home in on the specific resources that are most important within your field of inquiry.

  • Identifying & Selecting Research Resources

Use WorldCat UMD to find books. WorldCat UMD Links to an external site. is your gateway to books and other items the Libraries owns, such as nonprint media, government documents, technical reports, and periodical titles, as well as materials owned by libraries around the world.

Use Database Finder to find articles. Database Finder Links to an external site. is your gateway to periodical articles, many available online in full text. Students, faculty, and staff can search databases and e-journals from on and off campus. Ready to get started? Go directly to Database Finder Links to an external site. or use Research Guides by Subject Discipline Links to an external site. to discover databases for your topic.

Search smart. Whatever your information needs, use keywords and other smart search strategies to locate sources efficiently and effectively.

Consider other sources. Each discipline has its own unique resources to consider. For example, a research paper on a topic in engineering may require a search of patents and trademarks Links to an external site.. Students in humanities may wish to consult book reviews Links to an external site.. Use the Libraries' collection of Research Guides by Subject Disciplines Links to an external site. for more suggestions.

What if the University of Maryland doesn't have it? First, be sure that the Libraries don't own a copy. If the item you are looking for is not available on campus or through another library, you can also use Interlibrary Loan Links to an external site. or suggest a title for purchase Links to an external site..