LSU Libraries - The Research Process

CONTENTS:
Introduction
Clearly define your topic
Collect/find information
Evaluate the information you find
Use and/or do something with the information
Use the information ethically and legally

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A good way to start your research is to state your topic as a question. This will help you clarify your thoughts and focus on your topic. You need to be very clear and very specific about what information you need before you will be able to find it.

Let's look at two examples, one personal research and the other academic research for a paper.

Personal Example - You are going to buy a car, and need to figure out which one to buy:

What cars are available right now?
How much can I afford to spend on a car?
What cars are available in my price range?
What features am I interested in having in my new car?
What cars are available with the features I'm interested in and in my price range?
"What cars should I consider purchasing, taking into consideration cost, safety and gas mileage, given my available cash, credit, and income" is a very specific question.

Academic Example - Your assignment is to write a paper on media violence:

Is there more violence in the media today than in years past?
Where do you see violence in the media?
Are children exposed to violence in the media?
Does violence in the media affect children's behavior?

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Last Updated: Wednesday, 29-Aug-2007 16:46:56 CDT