VRKM – Basic Steps in the Research Process

An approach to creating a research paper that is both straightforward and productive is laid out in the following phases. It’s possible that you’ll need to reorder these steps depending on how knowledgeable you are with the subject matter and the difficulties that arise as you move forward.

Choosing and developing your theme is the first step.

Choosing a subject for investigation may prove to be the most difficult aspect of a research project. Given that this is the very first step in the process of writing a paper, ensuring that it is done correctly is of the utmost importance. The following are some suggestions to consider when choosing a topic:

Choose a subject to write about while adhering to the requirements outlined in the assignment. The majority of the time, your instructor will provide you with specific rules that outline what you can and cannot write about in the assignment. In the event that you fail to adhere to these principles in your work, your instructor may conclude that the paper you have suggested is inappropriate.

Choose a subject that piques your interest and educate yourself further on that subject. If you choose to write about a topic that is of personal interest to you, both the research and the actual writing of the paper will be more entertaining to you.

Choose a subject about which you can obtain a sufficient amount of knowledge to work with. Begin by conducting a preliminary search of information sources to ascertain whether or not the sources already available will satisfy your requirements. If you find an excessive amount of information, you might need to narrow your topic; on the other hand, if you find an insufficient amount of information, you could need to broaden your topic.

Create your own path. Your professor reads hundreds of research papers each year, and many of them are on the same topics (topics that were in the news at the time, contentious issues, and subjects for which there is a sufficient amount of information that is easy to acquire). Choose a topic that is fascinating and not commonly discussed to set yourself apart from the other students in your class.

Are you still unable to think of something to write about? Consult with your teacher for some pointers.

After you have decided what your topic will be, expressing it in the form of a question can be a helpful next step. You may, for instance, inquire about the reasons of the obesity pandemic in the American population by asking, “What are the causes of obesity in America?” if you are curious about the prevalence of obesity among the American populace. You will have an easier time determining the primary ideas or keywords that should be utilised in your investigation if you phrase your topic as an inquiry.

Step 2: Conduct a preliminary search for information Before commencing your research in earnest, conduct a preliminary search for information in order to establish the context of your research and to decide whether or not there is sufficient material available to meet your requirements. Do a search for your keywords using the appropriate titles found in the Reference collection of the library (such as dictionaries and encyclopaedias) as well as other sources such as our book catalogue, periodical databases, and internet search engines. Your lecture notes, textbooks, and the readings that are assigned for reserve can all provide you with further background information. In light of the resources at your disposal, you can conclude that it is important to make some adjustments to the focus of your issue.

3. Look for the necessary items

You should now be able to begin locating literature on your topic now that you have a better idea of the route your study will take. You can look for information in a variety of areas, including the following:

Conduct a subject search in One Search if you are interested in looking for books. In the event that the subject search does not produce sufficient results, one can try conducting a keyword search instead. The citation information (author, title, etc.) and the location of the item(s), including the call number and the collection, can be written down or printed out. Take into account the current circulation. When you find the book on the shelf, check at the books that are positioned close; goods that are shelved in the same location always have a similar arrangement. The audio-visual resources held by the library are indexed inside the Aleph catalogue as well.

To locate articles from magazines and newspapers, look through the electronic periodical databases provided by the library. Choose the databases and formats that are the most appropriate for your specific subject matter; if you require assistance determining which database is the most appropriate for your requirements, speak with a librarian at the Reference Desk. The full-text versions of many of the articles contained within the databases can be accessed.

When looking for anything on the Internet, you should make use of search engines like Google and Yahoo, as well as subject directories. Look in the Internet Resources area of the website for the NHCC Library for connections to informative articles on many topics.

Step 4: Assess the reliability of your sources

Tips on evaluating the authority and quality of the information that you have located can be found in the CARS Checklist for Information Quality, which can be found here. Your professor anticipates that you will present information that is credible, truthful, and dependable, and you have every right to anticipate that the sources you consult will provide the same kind of information. This stage is of utmost significance when working with online resources, the majority of which are not held in high esteem for their dependability.

The fifth step is to take notes.

Conduct research using the sources that you have selected and make notes of the information that will be beneficial to the writing of your paper. Always make sure to keep a record of the sources you consult, even if there is a possibility that you won’t end up using one or more of those sources. When it comes time to create a bibliography, you will thereafter require information such as the author, title, publisher, URL, and others.

The next step is to compose your paper.

Start by putting the facts you’ve gathered into some kind of order. The next step is to create a rough draught, which involves putting your ideas down on paper in a manner that is not complete. This phase will assist you in organising your thoughts and determining the overall structure of the paper you intend to write. Following this step, you will make as many changes to the draught as you believe are necessary in order to produce a final output that can be handed in to your instructor.

Step 7: Accurately cite your sources in your work.

Cite your sources and make sure to give credit where credit is due.

Citing or recording the sources that you used in your study has two purposes: first, it ensures that the authors of the materials that were utilised receive the credit that is due to them, and second, it enables the individuals who are reading your work to replicate your research and access the sources that you have mentioned as references. Two of the most common methods for citing sources are the MLA and APA styles.

Plagiarism occurs when you fail to properly credit the work of others. There is no excuse for plagiarism!

Step 8: Checking the Proofs

The last thing you need to do in order to complete the procedure is to proofread the document you’ve produced. Check the text for any mistakes in punctuation, grammar, or spelling by reading it through and checking it. Check to see that you have appropriately cited any sources that you used. Check that the point you want the reader to take away from what you’ve written has been conveyed in as much detail as possible.

Extra research pointers are as follows:

Find out the background information first, then use sources that are more particular, and work your way down from the general to the specific.

It is important not to overlook print sources because, in many cases, the printed information may be accessible more quickly and are just as beneficial as the online tools.