Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research

Here you will find a step-by-step guide to the research process and links to library resources that are likely to be useful for you. Which resources you use will depend on your topic and your field of study, so if you aren't sure where to search or what to use, ask a Librarian! 

What we think research and writing are like:

What research and writing are actually like:

There are 6 steps to getting started with your research

1. Understand your assignment
2. Choose a topic
3. Write a research question
4. Generate keywords
5. Find Background information
6. Begin searching for scholarly sources

To begin, go to the Starting Your Research guide and work through steps 1-4. 

Step 5: Find Background Information.

You need to locate reliable background information in order to

• Get an idea of what kind of information, generally, is out there on your topic
• Generate a list of search terms and keywords for future searches
• Find a few good bibliographies that will get you started on the research trail

Here are a few great places to find background information:

• Credo Reference
• Britannica Online
• Oxford Reference
• SAGE Knowledge
• WISE (Westminster's Library Catalog) 

Don't forget, research is an iterative process.  You'll likely have to continue refining your topic, your search terms, and your resources throughout your project.

When you are ready for Step 6: Searching for Scholarly Sources, Click Locating Sources on the left menu to begin!