Comm 110 Powell

What is Research Process?

A research process is a step-by-step approach for developing a research paper. It generally involves several activities

• developing a research question
• doing background research by identifying, locating, evaluating, and analyzing relevant information
• synthesizing the information to support your point of view
• presenting the information ethically by giving appropriate credit

Some activities might be simultaneous. You might develop and refine your question after locating and evaluating your sources. Your search for relevant sources may continue after you read and analyze some sources and refer to their references/bibliographies.

Which comes first--choosing a topic or doing research?    Is it a linear process or is it a cycle?  What are the components of the research process? 

Watch this video to learn more about exploring topics and building a research question.

  Video by NSCU Library  Published August 2014