Librarian
What is research?
Research is a process of inquiry spanning the simple search for facts to the investigative study of complex ideas. It is more than gathering and summarizing sources. Research becomes a conversation between you and other researchers to whose work you respond. Your authority depends partly upon the sources that you identify in your research.
Research is a continuous process. Research is not a linear path. Library research is only one kind of research among others such as experimental, field, observational, and more.
Typically, the research process can involve:
- Identifying a research need and defining its scope
- Developing a claim, hypothesis, or question
- Selecting and using search tools appropriate to the research need
- Discovering the information most valuable for meeting the research need
- Reflecting on the experience of the research process
Topic choice:
- Should meet the course requirements
- Should fit the time allotted
- Should be interesting