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Introduction to the Research Process

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HELLO!

Lauren Dodd

Information Literacy

and First Year Experience Librarian

lauren.dodd@westpoint.edu

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HELLO!

Stacy Bloomingdale

Reference and Programming Librarian

stacy.bloomingdale@westpoint.edu

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🤔

A college education requires doing research.

What is research?
Why do we do research?
What does it mean to do research?

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Take a moment to reflect on your process for researching a major life decision, such as choosing to come to West Point.

How did you start your research?
What information did you need to make that decision?
Where did you find information you trusted?

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Research is gathering data and analyzing information to answer a question.

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Research is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process that occurs concurrently with the writing of your paper. That's why it's called REsearch--if done correctly, you'll conduct searches for information at least a few times during the writing process.

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Starting research...

Drowning in information
Need to form a strategy
Build from prior knowledge and background information

Creator: Justin Merriman | Credit: For The Washington Post

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Good Research Questions...

Fill in gaps on an issue
Research is like building with Legos -it builds upon itself through searching, browsing existing research, and asking questions

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Research Questions 101

I’m studying _____ to investigate _____ in order to understand _____.

When developing your research question there are 3 things to keep in mind:

One, the general topic or field you are researching
Two, the question or what you are trying to find out
And three, why this question is important

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Search Strategy

Brainstorm topic
Background research
Main concepts -> Keywords
Where will I search?

Write down where you search, how you search, and what you find

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Remember:

Start with what you already know. Begin by drawing upon your knowledge base.
Learn as you go! Be open to shifting your research as you discover new areas of knowledge.
Seek the experts. Don’t forget to ask for insights from instructors and librarians.
Be persistent and don’t get discouraged. Research can be challenging. If you don’t find something right away don’t give up.

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“Research teaches a man to admit he is wrong and to be proud of the fact that he does so, rather than try with all his energy to defend an unsound plan because he is afraid that admission of error is a confession of weakness when rather it is a sign of strength.” - H.E. Stocher

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