Developing a Research Process

Research helps us make connections between information and ideas, as well as broaden our perspectives. It happens in most aspects of our lives (academic, personal, and professional) for a multitude of reasons.

The research process involves several overlapping activities and usually takes more time than we expect. As we learn more about our topics, we realize that we need to find more information, use other source types, and/or change our focus.

Starting early, being patient, and using good strategies can help us get good results.

The following pages offer strategies for thinking critically about information needs and choosing source materials based on those needs. Using these strategies can help us save time and get better results from our research efforts.