Research is a systematic process involving asking questions, finding out what we already know, and creatively synthesizing the results to gain new knowledge.  We engage in research every day—whether checking the weather, fact checking a social media post, buying a car, or investigating a company during a job hunt.   

Conducting research is an essential part of academic life, and while it can be both exciting and rewarding, it can also be daunting and challenging at times. This guide intends to provide you with practical tips and techniques to help you navigate the research process effectively, efficiently, and confidently.

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The Research Process

Information on how to structure your research. Includes research strategy, research topics, background research, thesis statements, counterarguments, & missing information.

Sources of Information

Information on different types of sources. Includes primary sources, reference sources (encyclopedias & dictionaries), news, magazines, academic journals, books & ebooks, government documents, videos, images, and statistics.

Searching for information

Information on how to find information. Includes databases and discovery tools, search terms, refining results, saving and linking to sources, finding specific items, and searching outside of the library.

Evaluating Information

Information on evaluating the credibility of different information sources. Includes the SIFT method, scholarly vs popular sources, avoiding bias, websites, misinformation and fact checking.

Integrating and Citing Information

Information on using sources in your research, including proper citation. Includes integrating sources, citation (MLA, APA, Chicago, AMA, CSE, & APSE) citation tools.

Information Ethics

Information on the ethical use of Information, Includes avoiding plagiarism, copyright and fair use.