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General Research Guide: 1. Getting Started

Overview of research process

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    Beginning your research

    If you have an assignment

    • What is the end product going to be (a formal paper, an oral presentation, a PowerPoint presentation)?
    • How long does the final result need to be?
    • What kinds of resources are you expected to use in your research (scholarly journal articles, book chapters)?
    • How many of these resources are required?
    • Are any information sources prohibited (web pages, book reviews)?
    • If you have any questions about the assignment, ask your professor or TA for help.

    If you have to choose a topic

    • Choose a topic that is interesting to you.
    • Work with your professor or TA to develop ideas.
    • Talk with classmates about possible topics.
    • Consult your class notes, textbook, specialized encyclopedias, or the web for ideas
    • Be flexible, and broaden or narrow your topic as needed.

     

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