The process of research spans the entire writing process. This section will focus on the aspect of research in which credible sources are actively sought and in which there is an engagement in an existing scholarly conversation. This process often includes crafting an appropriate research question and then locating sources that will help with the exploring and answering of that question.

Context—What is Academic Research?

What is “Real” Research?
The University of Idaho’s Information Literacy Portal offers an explanation of the differences between the fact-finding research with which most students are familiar and "real" research that requires an open-ended question for which there is no ready answer. http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/info_literacy/modules/module2/2_1.htm

“What makes for Poor Research?”
This page on Colgate University Libraries’ website explains why it is necessary for students to dig deep when researching and to not be satisfied with the first things they find. https://sites.google.com/a/colgate.edu/getting-started/doing-good-research/what-makes-for-poor-research

Getting Started—Crafting the Research Question and Identifying Keywords

“Narrowing a Research Question”
The University of Idaho’s Information Literacy Portal offers specific strategies for narrowing a question that is too broad. These tips may be especially helpful when students find that their research terms are garnering a lot of unusable sources. http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/info_literacy/modules/module2/2_4.htm

“Broadening a Research Question”
The University of Idaho’s Information Literacy Portal offers specific strategies for broadening a question that is too narrow. When students “can’t find anything” on their topic, using these strategies may help. http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/info_literacy/modules/module2/2_3.htm

Using Keywords for Library Searches
This irreverent, memorable video from Kimbel Library explains the differences between keywords used in database searches versus those used in web searches. http://vimeo.com/12861706

Interactive Keyword Generation Tool
This link to the University of Texas at Austin’s interactive keyword generation tool allows students to work through a keyword-isolation process and then e-mail the results to themselves. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/keywords/

Strategy—Finding Sources

Search Strategies
The Bowling Green State University Libraries’ GSW1120 LibGuide’s “Search Stratigies” tab provides useful guidelines for using periodicals and databases to come up with research topic. http://libguides.bgsu.edu/content.php?pid=47134&sid=1473646

Fast Track
The Bowling Green State University Libraries’ Fast Track research guide gives students many useful options for finding numerous, relevant sources. This guide includes resources for finding sources using Google, Summon and specific databases. http://libguides.bgsu.edu/fast_track

Google Scholar Tips
The Bowling Green State University Libraries’ Distance Education LibGuide’s “Google Scholar Tips” tab offers pointers for starting research on the internet including pros and cons of utilizing Google for scholarly research. http://libguides.bgsu.edu/content.php?pid=242446&sid=2001940

“Secrets of My Research Success”
“This 35-minute interactive tutorial from the University of Maryland models the research process via the story of Quentin, a University of Maryland University College student. The tutorial takes Quentin through the various research process steps as he interacts with Mike, one of the UMUC librarians. Mike helps Quentin understand how to locate background information on his topic by showing him how to select search terms, create a search statement, choose appropriate databases to search, evaluate articles and Web sites and properly cite his sources.” http://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/research_tutorial.cfm

Quizzes
We apologize. This section is still under construction.

Back to Top