Do you know what you're looking for?

You know how to do research, right?

You search the Web. You get 10,000 hits on your topic.

But... what if you need an eyewitness account of something that happened in 1952? The Web doesn't usually have older information.

What you really need is a newspaper article from 1952 — and it's not available on the Web (yet).

You know how to do research, right?
You go to the library and look up books. They have hundreds of books about your topic.

But... what if you're supposed to be finding recent research experiments in biology? The books may be too old... and too long.

What you really need is a scholarly article from a biology journal.

You know how to do research, right?
You look through the article databases on GALILEO. They have 472 articles on your topic.

But... what if you want just some basic background information on the topic? You don't have hours to spend looking through all those articles.

What you really need is an encyclopedia or other reference source to bring you up to speed on the topic.

So how do you know all of that? How do you know where to look for what?

Information comes in many packages, including books, articles, Web sites, videos, radio, and even just a conversation. Once you've chosen a topic, your next step in research is figuring out which "package" contains the information you need. To do this, you'll want to understand how information flows — how new information is created, packaged, and made available.

This section will help you figure out what you're trying to find. Once you know that, the next sections will show you how to find it.

What is research?

It's an entire process

DICTIONARY DEFINITION

RE-SEARCH

Function: noun, verb transitive
Etymology: Middle French recerche, from recerchier to investigate thoroughly, from Old French, from re- + cerchier to search
Date: 1577
1. to search or investigate exhaustively
2. studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws
3. the collecting of information about a particular subject
© Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition

Please note, your computer will require the Flash 5 plug-in for the interactive example below to work. If you don't have the Flash plug-in you can download it for free from (link will open in a pop-up window): Macromedia.

How Research is Defined

A (link will open in a pop-up window) text description of "How Research is Defined" is also available.

A LIBRARIAN'S DEFINITION

Research
Research is a process of investigation. An examination of a subject from different points of view. It's not just a trip to the library to pick up a stack of materials, or picking the first five hits from a computer search. Research is a hunt for the truth. It is getting to know a subject by reading up on it, reflecting, playing with the ideas, choosing the areas that interest you and following up on them. Research is the way you educate yourself.

It can be dull if you make it that way. Or, it can be as exciting as 'Dancing with the Stars.'

The following is an external link which will open in a pop-up window.

The 'Dancing with the Stars' Web site includes multimedia presentation, details about the series, images, outlines, and more.

Steps in the Research Process

A list of ten steps

STEP 1:	Formulate your question
STEP 2:	Get background information
STEP 3:	Refine your search topic
STEP 4:	Consider your resource options
STEP 5:	Select the appropriate tool
STEP 6:	Use the tool
STEP 7:	Locate your materials
STEP 8:	Analyze your materials
STEP 9:	Organize and write
STEP 10:	Compose your bibliography

Think about the flow of information. Which part (or parts) of the timeline cover your topic's focus? Who (or what type of source) would publish the information? What sources would offer background information?

Now you're ready to begin your search.

WANT MORE on the researching process?
> Unit 2 > Starting Your Search

These exercises have been provided to help students learn about library services and researching. They may be used by an instructor as an assignment.

---

Exercise: Finding the Best Sources

Identifying types of information resources

Learning Objective: Identify the different types of information resources, and use the flow of information to identify the best resources.

INSTRUCTIONS: Print out this page and fill in the blanks.

1. Topic: Pearl Harbor
   Match the information you need with the resource that would best answer the question by putting the appropriate letter in the space at left.

2. Topic: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
   Put a check next to the information resources that are scholarly:

   ____ "Technology Developed After Shuttle Disaster to Aid in Search Today." Atlanta Constitution, July 19, 1996, p. 11A. (newspaper article)

   ____ Challengers : The Inspiring Life Stories of the Seven Brave Astronauts of Shuttle Mission 51-L. (book)

   ____ "Analysis of In-Flight Winds for Shuttle Mission STS 51-L." Journal of Applied Meteorology v. 27 (Nov. 1988) p. 1232-41. (article)

   ____ "Media Coverage of Shuttle." Time, Feb. 10, 1986, p. 42. (article)

3. Topic: Battle of Gettysburg
   Mark the information resources that are primary sources:

   ____ Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (text of speech)

   ____ "In Not So Dubious Battle: Motivations of American Civil War Soldiers." Journal of Military History. January 1998. (article)

   ____ "Gettysburgh: Rebel Accounts of the Battle." New York Times, July 11, 1863. (newspaper article)

   ____ War Journal of Louis N. Beaudry, Fifth New York Cavalry : The Diary of a Union Chaplain (book)

   ____ Death of a Nation: The Story of Lee and His Men at Gettysburg (book)

Submit your work to your instructor if required.