Library Tutorial: The Research Process

Once you have chosen a topic, your first task will be to develop a research question. To begin this process

• Write down what you know and don't know about the topic
• Based on what you wrote down, create a list of questions you would like to answer while researching the topic 

Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. Instead, ask who, what, where, when, why, and how. 

Example: Climate Change

Source: Columbus State Library's The Research Process

Once you have decided on a research question you are particularly interested in exploring, you need to determine if that question can be managed within the scope of your assignment. 

Now that you have a research question in mind, it is time to conduct some tests to determine if it is a good topic. A good topic is neither too broad nor too narrow. It can be fully developed within the scope of your assignment. 

To test your topic, identify the keywords in your research question and conduct a quick search of Google and Primo, the Library's Catalog, to see how much and what types of information are available. 

If you aren't finding much information, your topic may be too narrow. If it is, consider

• expanding the time period covered, population considered, or geographic area discussed
• choosing a topic that is not so recent

If you are finding too much information, consider narrowing your topic by

• Geographic area
• Time frame
• Population demographic (i.e. age range, sex, ethnicity, profession, etc.)
• Industry

This video from NCSU Libraries shows how testing your topic can save you time and help prevent frustration as you get further into the research process. 

Now that you have a viable research topic in mind, it can be tempting to jump right into the databases and start searching for articles and books. 

Before you jump into looking for detailed sources on specific aspects of your topic, it can be very helpful to understand the broader context of your research and to find out in general terms what is known about a topic by doing some background reading. Reading a reference source is a quick way to:

• familiarize yourself with the basics of the topic: concepts, controversies, time, and place
• find the names of key figures associated with the topic
• decode some of the jargon associated with the topic
• discover additional sources using the bibliography of an article or chapter

As you gather background information, make note of any keywords used to describe or associated with your topic, as well as names that come up again and again. These keywords and names can be used as search terms in the library's catalog and databases. 
 

Although the library does maintain a small reference collection onsite, our digital reference sources provide the most comprehensive, up-to-date background information. Start by searching one of our multidisciplinary reference resource databases.

Identifying potential search terms can make the research process easier. 

Tip: Create a chart in which you list the most important concepts from your research question and the terms and names associated with your topic that you discovered in your background research. For each word or concept, list synonyms (junior college in addition to community college), more specific terms (child care or financial assistance in addition to family support), umbrella terms (heart disease instead in addition to arrhythmia), older terms, more or less technical terms, jargon, and everyday language. 

This chart will be an invaluable resource as you begin searching the Library's catalog and databases for books and articles. ​The search terms you use can have a huge impact on your search results. Using the “right” words will speed up the research process, while the “wrong” words can bring to it to a screeching halt.

If the search terms you try don't provide you with the results you need, try using one or a combination of the other terms listed in your chart.