Research
Your argument is only as good as your evidence.
Now that you have a focused research question, it is time to find and record information so you can support your answer with strong evidence. In the research section of this guide, you will create a search strategy, evaluate sources, and take good notes. As you work, keep your research question and any assignment requirements in mind so that you stay focused.
Many students begin this stage feeling optimistic but become confused and frustrated as they are overwhelmed by finding too much information or disappointed by finding too little. You may need to go back to pre-search to refine your topic, making it more narrow or broad. This is a great time to ask a librarian for help.
Possible research tools for this stage: Library catalog, Online databases, Google Advanced Search, Internet Archive, Wolphram Alpha (for computational data), Chrome Bookmarking, EasyBib School Edition (with notebook feature), Google Drive Note Taking Templates, VideoNot.es (for video note-taking)
Many students begin this stage feeling optimistic but become confused and frustrated as they are overwhelmed by finding too much information or disappointed by finding too little. You may need to go back to pre-search to refine your topic, making it more narrow or broad. This is a great time to ask a librarian for help.
Possible research tools for this stage: Library catalog, Online databases, Google Advanced Search, Internet Archive, Wolphram Alpha (for computational data), Chrome Bookmarking, EasyBib School Edition (with notebook feature), Google Drive Note Taking Templates, VideoNot.es (for video note-taking)
In this section...
- What is a search strategy and how do I create one?
- Where can I find the best sources to answer my research question?
- How do I evaluate potential sources using the CRAAP test?
- How do I take organized and relevant notes in order to work efficiently and avoid plagiarism?
Find SourcesCreate a Search Strategy
Your search strategy is your plan for finding sources to use in answering your research question. Think about what kinds of information you will need. Will you need primary sources such as political cartoons, diary entries, or photographs? Will you conduct original data collection such as interviews, surveys, or observations? Once you know what you need, you can make a list of the possible sources. Your information may come from the following types of sources:
Beginning with the library's print and online resources rather than Google can save time and effort. Internet search engines provide thousands of results and figuring out which are relevant and trustworthy can be a long task. A search strategy will combine some of the following:
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Keyword SearchKeyword Searches
You will use keywords to search for information whether in databases, online catalogs, internet search engines, and even books (use the index at the back). Try this brainstorming process (also found here) to develop a list of potential keywords:
Search Tips Advanced search strategies will allow you to achieve more accurate and precise results. Try these:
Sources: Primary v. Secondary
Your teacher may ask you to include primary sources in your research. Even if it is not required, using primary sources can show your depth of knowledge about a topic and make your work more interesting.
For a refresher, view these infographics: |
Evaluating SourcesThe CRAAP Test for Sources
As you choose sources, spend some time skimming them before you add them to your Works Cited and begin to take notes. For books, skim the Table of Contents and Index sections for your keywords. When skimming shorter works like articles, look at subheadings, first and last paragraphs. Two important questions arise as you look at each of your sources:
Use the CRAAP Evaluation test to determine what's a quality source and what's not. CRAAP stands for:
Answer as many of the questions on the CRAAP Evaluation test as you can to evaluate potential research sources. Do this prior to taking notes or citing your source to make sure time is not wasted on unverified or incorrect information. Website Evaluation
Pay special attention to evaluating websites and their creators. If you don't see it immediately, you may need to click around to find the author’s name, date, publisher, etc. Look for tiny print at the top and bottom of pages. Try navigating back to the homepage of a website and look for "About" links. If you cannot find a link to the homepage, try to access higher levels of the site by deleting parts of the URL. For example:
Also remember that although the domain (,gov, .org) may provide a clue, there are no guarantees. For example, a website with an .edu address may be student work, not the work of an authoritative author. Also see: Website Credibility Evaluation Guide by EasyBib, How to Read a Web Address by November Learning |
Taking NotesThree Kinds of Notes
You will take three types of notes from sources in your research:
Recommended Practices for Taking Notes
Follow the steps to sign up for an EasyBib School Edition account through screencast tutorial videos here.
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