Getting Started with Research

This guide is for anyone getting started with a research paper or project. It covers the early stages of the research process from choosing and narrowing your topic to developing your research plan. Even if you've done research before, this guide is a great place to find tips and tricks to doing research more efficiently!

While we've broken this guide into steps, you likely won't proceed through the steps linearly. Research is messy! You'll probably go in circles, finding background information, refining your research question, possibly changing your topic, and then finding more background information...

Navigate through the steps in this guide in the way that works for you - and if you get stuck, ask a librarian!

Steps of the Research Process:

1. Choose a research topic
2. Find background information
3. Develop a research plan
4. Find resources!
5. Evaluate your sources
6. Write and cite