1. Lesson Six
Research Basics

2. Steps to Successful Research: Introduction
This lesson provides tips and information on how to conduct successful research using library resources.
Sometimes it can be difficult to begin a research paper or project.
You may not know where to begin or which resources would be the best.

3. Steps to Successful Research: Introduction
Certain factors affect the research on a paper, including:
time constraints
the length of the paper
the paper's hypothesis or main thesis statement
your prior knowledge of the research subject
the style of the paper
the type and number of sources that can be used
and many, many other factors

4. Steps to Successful Research: Introduction
How to start?
Here are some steps for successful research!

5. Step 1 to Successful Research – Review the assignment
Review the specific assignment to insure that you understand the instructor's requirements.
Before starting your assignment, it is important to understand the requirements for that assignment.
It will not matter how wonderful or detailed a job you do on your assignment if it does not meet with the approval of your instructor.

6. Step 1 to Successful Research – Review the assignment
Here are some important considerations for an assignment:
TOPIC: Has the instructor assigned a topic, either general or specific?
PURPOSE: Is this an informational or persuasive paper, an essay, or another type of paper?
LENGTH: How many pages are required?
SOURCES: Are there suggested sources, or restrictions on the number and type of sources?
DEADLINE: When is the assignment due?

7. Step 2 to Successful Research – Select your topic
Sometimes this can be a difficult, if not a nail-biting, decision.
Your research will be easier, if you select a topic that:
Interests you, or is something that you want to know more about
Meets your instructor's requirements
Has sufficient information that is readily available

8. Step 2 to Successful Research – Select your topic
You can gather topic ideas from:
A list of topics assigned by your instructor
Textbooks or assigned readings
Preliminary reading in general encyclopedias, newspapers, or magazines
Bibliographies in the back of books on your topics
Also, many electronic databases provide subject term or topic guide searching

9. Step 3 to Successful Research – Refine your topic
Refine Your Topic From Broad to Narrow Concepts
You can narrow your topic by identifying ideas or concepts included in a broader topic.
For example, you would like to write a 2-page paper on the topic of violence. But violence is such a large concept that it would be difficult to write an all-encompassing paper. It would be best to narrow this topic down.
Narrower topics for the subject violence would be topics such as: violence in the media, domestic violence, or gun control.

10. Step 3 to Successful Research – Refine your topic
Now you try it!
Below is a listing of related topics. Please choose the topic that you consider to be the broadest term.
Transportation
Cars
Vehicles
Ford Explorer

11. Step 3 to Successful Research – Refine your topic
Transportation is the broadest term.

12. Step 3 to Successful Research – Refine your topic
Now, choose the topic that you consider to be the narrowest term.
Plants
Flowers
Petunias
Agriculture

13. Step 3 to Successful Research – Refine your topic
Petunias is the narrowest term.

14. Step 3 to Successful Research – Refine your topic
Here are some sources that can help you narrow your topic:
Library catalogs, databases, encyclopedias, newspapers, or magazine articles

15. Step 3 to Successful Research – Refine your topic
Example: the online catalog
If you perform a library catalog search for the topic "violence" you will retrieve the following:
Crimes of violence, children and violence, conjugal violence, and other terms.

16. Step 3 to Successful Research – Refine your topic
Example: databases, newspapers, and magazine articles
If you perform a search for the topic "violence" using the databases Academic Search Premier®, MasterFILE Premier®, and Newspaper Source® from the EBSCOhost Web®, you will retrieve:
Over 100,000 articles.

17. Step 3 to Successful Research – Refine your topic
Example: encyclopedia
If you search for the word "violence" in the World Book Encyclopedia®, you will be referred to the following subjects: crime, revolution, riot, and terrorism

18. Step 3 to Successful Research – Refine your topic
Once you decide on your topic, the topic should be written as a thesis statement, or short sentence that:
Defines the main idea of your paper
States what you will describe or prove in your paper

19. Step 4 to Successful Research: Plan Your Search Strategy
It is very helpful to map out the main ideas of your topic. This can be useful in the search for information.
Make a list of keywords related to your topic using:
Main ideas
Synonyms or words with the same or similar meaning

20. Step 4 to Successful Research: Plan Your Search Strategy
Develop search terms:
Start with one search term, even though your results may be too broad, then
Add a second search term with the Boolean Operators AND or OR.
AND narrows a search; results are limited to materials that include all of the specified text
OR broadens a search; results are materials that include any of the search terms in the text.
Even though OR broadens rather than narrows your topic, its use is important especially when attempting to include all aspects of your topic, e.g.:
Physicians OR Doctors
Lawyers OR Attorneys
Add additional search terms as needed

21. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
Sources to use for an overview of a topic:
General encyclopedias, e.g. Encyclopedia Americana®
Specialized encyclopedias, e.g. Encyclopedia of Drama®
Specialized dictionaries. e.g. Dictionary of Classical Mythology®
General interest periodicals (magazines and newspapers)

22. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
Sources to use for specialized information:
Books (search the online catalog for specific titles; browse call number location for related titles)
Scholarly journals (journals published for academics or professionals; the library's holdings include print journals and electronic databases with full text)
Internet (use caution with this source; you must evaluate Internet sources for credibility, authority, and currency)

23. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
Let's review! Which source or sources would be the best for each of the following: A report that covers current events?

24. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
Magazines, journals, and newspapers would have the most current, reliable information. The Internet is current, but you would need to be careful about the reliability!

25. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
Which source or sources would have an overview of a topic?

26. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
An encyclopedia or other reference book would provide a ready source of fast, reliable information.

27. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
Which source or sources would provide research on current, general information?

28. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
A popular magazine or newspaper would provide research for this kind of topic.

29. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
Which source would be best for in-depth, scholarly information?

30. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
A scholarly, peer-reviewed journal would provide information for this type of topic.

31. Step 5 to Successful Research: Gather Sources
Keep track of sources used for citing documentation:
Write down all the publication information, pages used, etc.
Know what style format is required for citations (example: APA)
With your research completed, you are ready to start writing your paper!!

32. For More Information About Research Basics...
Here are some Web sites that provide additional information about starting a research paper.
Research 101: ( This is an excellent tutorial developed by the University Libraries of the University of Washington. There are several segments. This particular segment describes how to choose and focus on a research topic.
Research & Writing: Step By Step is a resource created by as part of the Teen the Internet Public Library that provides information and tips on how to write a research paper. This Web site can be found at (