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Library Research

Researching 101

These pages will focus on different points in the research process that can be challenging: the places where you might get confused and how to get the information so you can finish your research! Let's get started with an overview of the research process.

The Research Process

The research process has lots of steps and sometimes we end up moving through each of the steps in more of a squiggle rather than a straight line, repeating steps or revising our topic and research until we get to the point of writing our paper. 

Review the graphic or watch the video below.

Multi-colored graphic of the research process with gears representing each step.

The Research Process graphic. Authored by: Kim Louie for Lumen Learning. LicenseCC BY: Attribution

Step 1: Define the topic 
Step 2: Narrow the topic 
Step 3: Gather background information 
Step 4: Create a research question 
Step 5: Develop a working thesis statement 
Step 6: Find and evaluate sources 
Step 7: Cite sources 
Step 8: Write the paper 

The Research Process in 7 Steps video