Overview of the Research Process Module 1 Library and Information Literacy Tutorials Krannert 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: Module 1: Overview of the Research Process

Step 1 Identify and refine your topic Step 2 Identify your best resources Step 3 Access and search the resources Step 4 Evaluate results and repeat Steps 1 – 3 as needed! Module 1: Overview of the Research Process

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. Module 1: Overview of the Research Process

Step 1 Identify and refine your topic Use your questions to identify keywords and concepts Brainstorm Talk 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) Module 1: Overview of the Research Process

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 Subject on the KML website Consult Research Guides on the KML website Talk to your professor Consult with Reference Librarian Step 2 Identify your best resources Module 1: Overview of the Research Process

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 Module 1: Overview of the Research Process

Step 4 Evaluate results and repeat Steps 1 – 3 as needed! Exploring topic First Pass Step 4 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Module 1: Overview of the Research Process 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 Brainstorm Consult professors, encyclopedias, Writing Lab, etc. Formulate qustions Identify keywords and concepts Step 2 Identify your best resources Brainstorm Consult library Research Guides, Reference Librarians, professors, Databases – By Subject library web page Step 3 Access and search the resources Construct 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. Module 1: Overview of the Research Process

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. Module 1: Overview of the Research Process