Understanding Research

Research process
Select a topic
Refine a topic
Identify objectives Choose approach
Explore a topic
Plan a search
Evaluate info

Finding Books

Finding Articles

How Do I Plan My Search?

There are 3 basic steps to planning any search:

1. State your finalized topic in 1-2 sentences, in statements or questions
2. Identify major ideas (key concepts) in your topic sentence
3. Select other terms to describe these key concepts

The 1st step is typically completed by simply using the questions you formulate when determinine your objectives. This step helps you coalesce your thoughts and define the direction you take with your research.

The 2nd and 3rd steps help you to choose the appropriate words to use when you search for information on your topic, whether you use library catalogs, library datases, or search engines.

Now let's look at the rest of the steps in planning a search.
Next: How Do I Identify My Key Concepts?