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Research Process

Research is easier when you think of it as a process. Don’t try to find everything at once; your topic will evolve as you learn more about it. You can save time by working through the process in these steps:

1. Craft a research question

Write your research topic as a question. This will help you narrow your topic and give you a few search words. You'll find synonyms when you're searching. Write these down, too!

2. Search for background information

Background information will help you begin to understand your topic. Look for encyclopedias, newspapers, popular magazines and books. The Middlebury Libraries Reference Research Guide ( ) lists a variety of sources for background information.

3. Preview, evaluate and refine.

a) Take a quick look at your sources. Preview each by reading the abstract/summary, introduction and conclusion. If you’re still not sure what the source is about, skim the beginning of each section.

b) Evaluate the sources. Are they useful?

c) Refine your research topic. Now that you know more, what would points would you like to make in your paper? Have your research questions changed? What more do you need to know?

4. Answer new or revised research questions

|Scholarly journal articles can provide answers to more specific research questions. You can limit a search in Summon |

|() to articles from scholarly publications. |

|Research guides () will help you find discipline-specific research databases. |

5. Read, organize, write and revise

After you’ve read all of your sources more carefully, you’re ready to organize your thoughts and start writing. Consider getting in touch with a Peer Writing Tutor () for advice.

6. Cite

Keep a record of your sources throughout the research process. Write down – or better yet, store electronically – the citation information for each source, including author, title, page numbers, date, and publisher. Take notes on what each source says (record page numbers so that you can find and cite the information later), and how you might use the source in your paper. Citation tools like Zotero and RefWorks make it easy to collect and organize your sources; find them in the Middlebury Libraries Citation & Style Research Guide (). When you’re done writing, citation tools also will help you create your notes and bibliography.

The “Honor Code and Academic Honesty” section of the College Handbook () describes the honor code and why it's important.

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|[pic] |If you need help at any point, ask a librarian! |

Worksheet

This worksheet should help you complete the research process (see the steps on the previous page). If you record your ideas and track your progress, you’ll always know what to do next.

1. Craft a research question: Turn your topic into a research question.

| |

|Research |

|question: |

Your question will give you a few words to search for. Write them down.

Search words:

← ___________________

← ___________________

← ___________________

2. Search for background information: Where will you look for the basics about your topic?

| |

|Databases: |

|___________________ |

|___________________ |

|___________________ |

As you search, you’ll come across additional search words and synonyms. Write them down.

Search words and synonyms:

← _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________

← _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________

← _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________

3. Preview, evaluate, refine. Now that you know more, how has your research question changed?

| |

|New or revised |

|research question: |

4. Answer new/revised research question: Where will you look for detailed or current information?.

| |

|Databases: |

|___________________ |

|___________________ |

|___________________ |

As you search, you’ll come across additional search words and synonyms. Write them down.

Search words and synonyms:

← _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________

← _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________

← _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________

|[pic] |Remember to keep a record of the sources you find. (See Step 6 on the previous page.) |

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