Steps in the Research Process
| Topic |
Think of this process as a personal journey. Start by reflecting on what genuinely intrigues you—what questions keep you awake at night? What issues resonate with your experiences? |
| Research Questions | Think of your questions as anchors that will steer your research and help you uncover insights. Don’t hesitate to start with broad ideas; from there, you can narrow them down into specific questions that focus your inquiry. Ask yourself: What do I want to learn? Why does this topic matter to me or my community? |
| Research | Think about the resources you need to answer the question. Are there books and peer reviewed resources available about the topic? Can you find an expert to help you (an Oakton Librarian)? |
| Purpose | Went you get stuck, think about the purpose of your research. A purpose is a reason one does something. Knowing the purpose of your research will help you decide which question is best. |
Research Definitions
| Widely available, usually cheaper to acquire, and can be understood by almost every person with basic literacy skills. They tend to promulgate known ideas and theories. These works may be professionally edited, but do not go through a jury process. | |
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The purpose of Scholarly or Academic sources is to share information within the subject field and they are based on original research and experimentation. They are suitable for academics, and are supported by a system of learning and study. They are less widely circulated than popular sources and may be understandable only to those who work or study in a particular field. In addition, scholarly sources are juried either through peer review or the referee process to determine that the research meets a standard of accuracy, originality, and scholarly integrity. |
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| Citation |
the quoting of a passage, book, author, etc.; a reference to an authority or a precedent. |