The research process involves three principal stages:
1. Defining a topic
2. Determining information needs
3. Locating and retrieving information

I. Define a topic

There are various reference sources in the library to give you suggestions for a topic. Reference sources such as CQ Researcher, and Issues and Controversies on File deal with current controversial topics and both offer excellent indexes. After deciding on your topic, write it down as a search statement with at least two identifying concepts. You may need to narrow down your topic. The following are some questions that may help narrowing down your topic and formulating a specific query:

• Is your topic brand new or has it been discussed over a number of years?
• Is it a sub-division of a major field of knowledge?
• Is your topic global or is it relevant only in the United States?
• Is there a person, a group or an institution involved with your topic?

A. Sample topic statement with a clearly defined point of view:

Animal testing is a necessary cost for the greater benefits of mankind.

B. Sample search process:
Here, main concepts are identified first, followed by possible synonyms or related concepts to use.

Concept #1 animal testing

AND

Concept #2 benefits

AND

Concept #3 mankind

c. Synonyms/related concepts:

OR

Concept #1 animal rights

AND

Concept #2 cost

AND

Concept #3 human lives

OR

Concept #1 animal protection

AND

Concept #2 price

AND

Concept #3 human beings

II. Determine information needs

The scope and type of your assignment dictate your information needs. The following points may help you focus your need on specific sources of information:

• Type of assignment (e.g. short essay versus final project, etc.)
• Currency of information (is it relevant or irrelevant for your research?)
• Type of information (overview versus in-depth study)
• Type of publication (popular magazines versus scholarly journals)
• Type of formats (print, audio, electronic, etc)
• Viewpoints (neutral versus partisan viewpoints)

More suggestions at: http://www.lib.calpoly.edu/infocomp/project/outline/list_files/02of10.html

III. Access information

Once you have determined your information needs, the next step would be to locate and retrieve relevant information, using appropriate resources. Libraries have excellent on-site and online resources for users' research needs. Over the coming weeks, we will learn about these reference resources and how to use them. Reference sources provide excellent overview and background information on a particular subject. Information comes in various types (books or periodical articles) and formats (print or electronic). Depending on your information needs, you may need to use only the reference sources, or in-depth books, or both books and periodical articles to complete your research paper. Internet resources have been included as acceptable sources of information.

More about the research process is located at:

http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill1.htm