Overview of the Research Process

Module 1

Library and Information Literacy TutorialsKrannert Memorial Library

• The Research Process can be simple or complex, quick or lengthy, depending on the complexity of your information needs.

• But in general, the process goes like this:

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Step 1Identify and refine your topic

Step 2Identify your best resources

Step 3Access and search the

resources

Step 4 Evaluate results and repeat

Steps 1 – 3 as needed!

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• Having the “big picture” in mind is helpful … it can keep you from getting bogged down in all the details once you actually start your research.

• In the rest of this module, we will very briefly describe the kinds of activities you will do in each of the four steps of the research process. Later modules will cover in depth the skills and tools you will be using.

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Step 1Identify and refine your topic

Use your questions to identify keywords and concepts

BrainstormTalk to professor(s)

Consult with Writing Lab tutors

Check encyclopedias, Internet, textbooks, etc. for general information on your topic

State your topic as a question you want to

answer

(or a set of questions)

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Brainstorm: What kind of materials would have the kind of information I

need to answer my questions …

Books?

Scholarly Journals?

Information from government or non-profit organizations?

Popular or Trade Journals?

Newspapers?

…?

Go to Databases – By Subjecton the KML website

Consult Research Guides on the KML website

Talk to your professor

Consult with Reference Librarian

Step 2Identify your best resources

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Step 3 Access and search the

resources

Construct search queries that are appropriate to each resource

Find Internet sites

Find books and audiovisual materials

Find journal articles

Search library catalog & WorldCat

Use Internet search engines and directories

Search databases

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Step 4 Evaluate results and repeat

Steps 1 – 3 as needed!

Exploring topic

First Pass

Step 4

Step 1

Step 2

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Detailed investigation of

specific questions and issues

Second Pass

Step 4

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Following up

Third Pass

Step 4

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 1 Identify and refine your topic

BrainstormConsult professors, encyclopedias, Writing Lab, etc.Formulate qustionsIdentify keywords and concepts

Step 2 Identify your best resourcesBrainstormConsult library Research Guides, Reference Librarians, professors, Databases – By Subject library web page

Step 3 Access and search the resourcesConstruct search queries that are appropriate to each resource

Step 4 Evaluate results and repeat Steps 1 – 3 as needed!For example, in your first pass through the process, you may be exploring a topic – doing preliminary research. In the second pass, you would focus your search on specific issues you identified in your exploration phase. In the third pass, you may need to find additional information that you had not considered before doing more in-depth research.

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• This concludes Module 1, our overview of the research process.

• The remaining modules describe and demonstrate the tools you will be using during this process.

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