General Studies: The Research Process

Identify a Topic

• Define your topic by posing it as a question. For example, if you are interested in climate change, find a controversy or debate within that topic to explore. For example, you could ask the question, "Is carbon offsetting an effective way to fight climate change?" 
• Make your question clear and concise. Avoid multi-part and open-ended questions.
• Browse through current events in a news database like NewsBank or explore a general topic database like SIRS Issues Researcher if you need help finding ideas for a topic. SIRS Issues Researcher also outlines the debates for many topics which can help you formulate a research question.

Background Research

• Once you have identified a topic, read some introductory material about that topic. Encyclopedias in the Credo Reference database or in print are great resources at this level. Identify any special vocabulary that can be used as search terms. It will also help you fine-tune your research question.

Make a List of Useful Keywords

• Find keywords relating to your topic. Find broader or narrower terms, synonyms, and key concepts to keywords to widen your search capabilities.

Be Flexible

• The original topic may change at this point. It is normal to change your topic.

Read More about your Topic

• Search for articles and eBooks on your topic in EBSCO Discovery Service.
• Search for print books in the library catalog.
• Search for credible websites - see the Website Evaluation guide.

Develop a Thesis Statement

• Write your topic as a thesis statement. This statement is usually one to two sentences explaining what will be proven or answered in your paper.

Develop an Outline

• Make a preliminary outline by Identifying three to five points that will answer your thesis question. Do not worry about getting this step perfect. You can change this outline as you progress. It is simply a way to give you a place to start.
• Try this Essay Map online tool from the National Council of Teachers of English to help you map your topic or print out a blank topic map. 

Search for Sources 

• Collect sources that will help you answer your thesis statement.
• Search for your topic using the keywords you identified.
• Go beyond Google and search in library databases. Databases like Academic Search Complete and SIRS Issues Researcher are great for general topics.

Read and Take Notes

• Write down the citation information for each source.
• Keep track of direct quotes. Make a note of the page number and authors of any quotes. 
• Try to put your notes in your own words but write down the page numbers and authors you are paraphrasing. 
• Organize notes by using note cards or keeping notes in one location. Some people like to use a notebook. 

Write your Paper

• Organize your sources and notes according to your outline.
• Write your rough draft based on your thesis statement and outline.
• Create a list of the sources according to the rules of the citation style (APA, AMA, MLA, NLM).  
• Revise your rough draft. 
• Format the paper according to the rules of the citation style (APA, AMA, MLA, NLM). 

Cite your Sources

• As you write, include in-text citations. Make use of our Cite Sources guide which has details on every citation style used at Harcum College.

Adapted from:

Badke, William B. Research Strategies : Finding Your Way through the Information Fog / William Badke. iUniverse, Inc., 2021. EBSCOhost, https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=629186cd-b309-3755-b36e-b164826da2e3.