Overview of the Research Process

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

2. The Research Process can be simple or complex, quick or lengthy, depending on the complexity of your information needs. Module 1: Overview of the Research Process • But in general, the process goes like this:

3. Step 1Identify 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

4. 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. Module 1: Overview of the Research Process • In the rest of this module, we will very brieflydescribe 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.

5. Step 1Identify and refine your topic Brainstorm Talk to professor(s) Module 1: Overview of the Research Process Check encyclopedias, Internet, textbooks, etc. for general information on your topic Consult with Writing Lab tutors State your topic as a question you want to answer (or a set of questions) Use your questions to identify keywords and concepts

6. Step 2 Identify your best resources • 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? …? Consult Research Guideson the KML website Module 1: Overview of the Research Process Go to Databases – By Subjecton the KML website Consult with Reference Librarian Talk to your professor

7. Step 3 Access and search the resources Find books and audiovisual materials Search library catalog & WorldCat Module 1: Overview of the Research Process Find journal articles Search databases Use Internet search engines and directories Find Internet sites Construct search queries that are appropriate to each resource

8. Second Pass Detailed investigation of specific questions and issues First Pass Third Pass Exploring topic Following up Step 1 Step 1 Step 1 Step 2 Step 2 Step 2 Step 3 Step 3 Step 3 Step 4 Step 4 Step 4 Step 4 Evaluate results and repeat Steps 1 – 3 as needed! Module 1: Overview of the Research Process

9. 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 Module 1: Overview of the Research Process 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.

10. 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