Picking a Topic
Finding and developing a research topic is the first step in the research process.
Go to Picking a Topic
Key Steps in Picking a Topic:
- Identifying a Topic
- Testing Your Topic
Key Strategies in Identifying and Testing a Topic
- Discuss topic ideas with your Instructors
- State your topic as a question
- Develop keywords that describe your topic
- Search keywords in a database or other resource to test sources of information
Finding Background Information
Background information helps you:
- Understand the context of your topic
- Define what is already know about your topic
Go to Finding Background Information
Key Steps in Finding Background Information
- Keyword searching in databases, the Library Catalog and subject encyclopedias
- Read articles found for context
Key Strategies in Finding Background Information
- Note relevant articles in bibliographies
- Use lecture notes, text books, and reserve materials for additional sources
Finding Articles
Finding articles and other sources that specifically relate to your chosen topic is the heart of the research process.
Go to Finding Articles
Key Steps in Finding Articles
- Selecting a database
- Searching a database
- Searching the Library Catalog
- Finding print and online articles
Key Strategies in Finding Articles
Finding Books
Locating books on your topic adds context and overview to your research project.
Go to Finding Books
Key Steps in Finding Books
Key Strategies in Finding Books
Using the UC Library
UC Library collects materials in several formats, or material types:
Go to Using UC Library
Key Steps in Using the UC Library Collection
- Understanding format types
Key Strategies in Using the Library Collection
Using InterLibrary Loan (ILL)
InterLibrary Loan (ILL) allows you to request journal articles, newspaper articles and books from other libraries when what you need is not in the UC Library Collection.
Go to Using InterLibrary Loan (ILL)
Key Steps in Using InterLibrary Loan (ILL)
- Is the article or book you want in the UC Library Collection?
- Completing the ILL Article or Book Request forms
Key Strategies in Using InterLibrary Loan (ILL)
Evaluating Books & Articles
You've found books, articles and websites. The next step is evaluating their authority and appropriateness to your research.
Go to Evaluating Books & Articles
Key Steps in Evaluating Books & Articles
- Examining author, date and audience
- Distinguishing scholarly content from other content
- Looking for quality indicators
Key Strategies in Evaluating Books &Articles
- Decoding the bibliographic citation
- Learning to decipher relevance and authority
Evaluating Web Pages
The Internet offers valuable and questionable content. As a researcher, you must establish a web document's:
- Validity
- Authorship
- Timeliness
- Integrity
Go to Evaluating Web Pages
Key Steps in Evaluating Web Pages
- Evaluating search results
- Evaluating site and page characteristics
- Determining authorship, validity and integrity
Key Strategies in Evaluating Web Pages
Critically examining:
- Search results
- Site and page characteristics
- Content
- Authenticity
Citing Your Sources
Now that you've completed your research, you need to prepare your references and create a bibliography or works cited.
Go to Citing Your Sources
Key Steps in Citing Sources
- Avoiding plagiarism
- Selecting the right citation style
- Formatting your bibliography or works cited
Key Strategies in Citing Sources
- Understanding plagiarism
- Using citation style guides
