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Navigating the Research Process

Getting Started with Your Research

 

You Now Have the Tools

You've learned essential research skills that will help you throughout your academic career:

  • Developing keywords - Creating effective search terms for library databases

  • Understanding scholarly sources - Recognizing and navigating academic articles

  • Reading strategically - Approaching complex scholarly literature effectively

  • Evaluating critically - Assessing source credibility and relevance

Ready to Begin?

Research is repetitious process - you'll likely revisit these strategies multiple times as your understanding of your topic develops. That's completely normal and part of effective research.

Remember:

  • Start with background sources to build foundational knowledge

  • Develop multiple keyword options and adjust as you learn

  • Use library databases for scholarly sources

  • Evaluate all sources critically, whether from the web or academic journals

  • Take your time reading scholarly articles - they're challenging by design

Need Help? Contact a Librarian! 

Our librarians are here to help you at any stage of the research process. We can assist with:

  • Finding appropriate databases for your topic

  • Developing effective search strategies

  • Locating full-text articles

  • And more!

Contact Us at:

Additional Resources

  • Library Essentials - Comprehensive guide to library resources and services

  • Citation Help - Page with resources for APA, MLA, Chicago, and other citation styles

Good luck with your research!

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