There are 6 steps to getting started with your research
- Understand your assignment
- Choose a topic
- Write a research question
- Generate keywords
- Find Background information
- 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:
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 Capstone project.
When you are ready for Step 6: Searching for Scholarly Sources, Click Primary Sources or Secondary Sources on the left menu to begin!