Basic Steps in the Research Process

This list of steps is a guideline for you to use. Not everyone will do these steps in the
same order and you may go back and forth between them.

Click on the colored words to learn how to do that step.

1. Select a general topic that interests you in some way.

2. List key words to help you look up information about the topic.

3. Go to an encyclopedia, or other reference source, to get an overview of the topic.

4. Make source cards for whatever sources you will use for information.

5. Using the general overview, begin to focus the topic into something you can cover
well.

6. Write a statement of purpose about the focused topic.

7. Brainstorm questions about the focused topic.

8. Group questions under similar headings.

9. Add any new questions you can think of under those headings.

10. Repeat step 2, listing more key words from your newly focused topic and questions.

11. Make a list of possible sources that can answer your questions. Identify the best
sources to use.

12. Find the sources in the library, on the computer, etc. Make a source card for each
one you use.

13. Begin making notecards. Use your brain stormed questions to guide your note
taking.

14. Change your statement of purpose into a draft thesis statement.

15. Make an outline of your headings. If you are ready to print your outline, try the
Outline Maker

16. Refocus your thesis statement if necessary.

17. Write the body of your paper from your notes.

 18. Cite any necessary information with parenthetical citations.

19. Write your introduction and conclusion.

20. Write your Works Cited (it is similar to a bibliography).

21. Create a title page.

22. Evaluate your work.

23. Turn in your paper on time.

When you're finished, celebrate!

RESEARCHING IN THE SCIENCES

Research in the sciences generally involves recognizing a scientific problem to be solved, setting
up an experiment designed to yield useful data, and interpreting the data in the context of other
scientific knowledge. Researchers use library resources to
• keep up with current thinking in the field so they can recognize a question worth
asking
• review what is known about a given phenomenon so they can place new knowledge
in context
• locate specific information they need to successfully carry out an experiment or
project
The large volume of scientific literature being produced can be daunting at first. However, a
number of resources are available to help you find what is relevant to your research, and most of
the resources are searchable online. Students planning to search for scientific materials should
be prepared to
• choose search terms carefully so that they match those used by the sources
• work from the most recent publications to earlier ones, sorting out schools of thought
and lines of inquiry
• know when to stop, when they have uncovered a selection of the most important and
relevant research for their topic
The resources in Finding Sources will give you an idea of where to start. Consult a librarian
to determine which resources are best for your research and whether they are available in
electronic format.
Use the menu at the top left for help with Finding Sources or Documenting Sources in the sciences.

GENERAL RESOURCES

• General Science Index. New York: Wilson, 1978–. An index designed for the nonspecialist,
covering about 190 major research publications and popular science magazines. Available in print
 and electronic formats. Some libraries may subscribe to an electronic version that includes
abstracts and full text of selected articles.
• Science Citation Index. Philadelphia: Institute for Scientific Information, 1961–. An
interdisciplinary index to nearly 6,000 science journals. The index, updated weekly, provides
citations and abstracts. It can be searched by author or keyword and allows searches by cited
source, an efficient way to trace the influence of a piece of research. The electronic version, part
of the Web of Science, has a powerful “related records” search, which identifies articles that cite
one or more of the same sources.

• EurekAlerthttp://www.eurekalert.org A regularly updated source for information about research

advances in science, medicine, health, and technology. The site includes links to other science
sites, access to databases, and a searchable archive of news releases. Content for the site is
screened by an advisory committee of journalists and public information specialists. The site was
founded by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
• National Science Digital Libraryhttp://nsdl.org Sponsored by the National Science Foundation,
this site offers hundreds of collections of digitized material about math and science, intended to
enhance science education at all levels. Users can search or browse collections or submit a
question to a panel of experts.
• Science.govhttp://www.science.gov A portal for science information from the U.S. government.
The site includes cross-searching of 30 databases as well as links to science pages contributed
by 12 federal agencies. It offers an advanced search as well as a browsable directory of
resources by topic.
• Scirushttp://www.scirus.com A search engine that focuses on science materials only. It searches
both free Web content and several databases that include abstracts to published research,
including Medline, Science Direct, and NASA Technical Reports. The site is sponsored by
Elsevier, a major science publisher.

• Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Ed. Charles Coulston Gillispie, 14 vols. New York:
Macmillan Library Reference, 1970–2000. With supplements. Profiles scientists from early to
modern times, considering both their lives and technical aspects of their work. Each biography is
followed by a bibliography of primary and secondary sources. For basic biographical information
on living scientists, consult American Men and Women of Science, published by Thomson Gale.
• McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill,
2003. Offers concise, up-to-date definitions of technical terms beyond those found in a standard
dictionary.
• McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 9th ed. 20 vols. New York: McGraw-
Hill, 2002. A specialized encyclopedia covering scientific topics in detail. Technical discussions
are fully illustrated with charts, diagrams, and photographs