research, education, information, sources, research paper

1. Preliminary steps
BEFORE you start your
research
Created by Carrie Gaxiola
Great Basin College Library
Elko, Nevada
August 2015

2. Research is a skill that you will get
better at with practice
Follow this guide for preliminary steps,
it will help you get organized
So grab a pencil for note taking
and get ready!

3. FIRST: THE ASSIGNMENT
•Read the assignment carefully
•Highlight requirements and
main guidelines
•When is it due?
•Do not wait, start early!

4. the assignment | cont…
• How long should this be? How
many words?
• How many pages? (again, read
directions carefully)
• How much information will you
need? How many sources?

5. next… subject
•Chose your subject for your research
•Formulate your subject
into a question(s):
what do you need to know?
•e.g., Does culture effect
health of the population?

6. subject cont…
•What do you already know? Where are
the gaps in knowledge?
•If you know very little of your topic, get familiar with the
terms used by professionals in the field, write down
other influencing or similar topics regarding your topic.
Please do not skip getting to know the background of
your topic, it is critical to good research.
TAKE NOTES DURING THIS PROCESS

7. for background information
•Infoplease.com (infoplease.com)
•Online Encyclopedias (GBC Subject
Guide for Encyclopedias)
•Internet Public Library
(www.ipl.org)
•Wikipedia (Wikipedia.org) Links are Live: click em!

8. background information cont…
•Blogs (blogger.com, blog.com,
wordpress.com…)
•Google Scholar (google scholar)
•Archive.org (archive.org)
•Pew Research Center (pewresearch.org)
Write down terms used, like terms, associations you
spot, any other interesting information that might assist
your searching later.

9. learning the basics of your topic
•Mapping out can
help organize
thoughts and the
components of
your topic

10. determine your information needs
•Please refer back to assignment
requirements to see what types of data you
need.
Do you need primary? Secondary? Tertiary?
•articles from journals? (Databases)
•Books?

11. Types
of
data:
Pin down the required sources!
Source information above: Slideshare: Dilip Barad, Professor at Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University at
Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar,India

12. identify where you will get your data
•Consult the subject guides on the library
website for recommended databases (for
journal articles)
•Use the GBC Library catalog to find books if
needed. If you are distant education student,
we will send the requested book(s) to you!

13. identify where you will get your data
• Articles: For journal articles, consult which database is
best for your subject (as mentioned above, this is located
on the library website  subject guides)
• Do you need peer reviewed scholarly articles? If so,
please see the tab on how to retrieve these (Database
Searching)
• Statistics: Census data (census.gov), Gallup.com, or
perhaps an industry collects what you are seeking? Ask a
librarian!

14. identify where you will get your data
•Primary Sources, Diaries or Historical Information:
Although you can get this data via databases or even
the library catalog most of the time, also check out:
• archive.org
• Library of Congress Archive findingaids.loc.gov
•search historic newspapers
•search for libraries who have digitized manuscripts on
your topic!

15. other tips for sources!!
•References/ works cited page of books,
articles, or other research!
•Read the references the
author used and you can find
great sources this way!
Don’t forget, if GBC does
not have a source you need,
let us know! We will see
if our library partners can lend it to you!

16. other tips for sources!!
•When you search databases, use filters that are
usually located at the side. You can filter out non-
scholarly articles, you can choose what dates of
publication are suitable for your research, and much
more!
Also, when you find a good article,
note the SUBJECT terms used.
Use them in your searches!

17. other tips for sources!!
•Serendipity If you are in the library, look at
books around the one you chose! Library of
Congress call numbers are arranged by
SUBJECT so you can browse!

18. YOU are READY to get started!
•Start your research!
•Use the library databases, eBooks, Encyclopedias, library
catalog
•Searching strategies and tips are listed in their own tab
“Database Searching” READ IT! It will help you!
•EVALUATE ALL SOURCES! See tab “Evaluating
Information”
If you are unsure about anything, please ask a librarian or
ask your professor for clarification.

19. Remember…
•Read the next tabs for more
guidance on database searching
and evaluating information
•GBC wants you to succeed!
•If you need help, please ask your professor or a
librarian
•Take your time, focus, and have fun learning!!!