What Are You Trying to Figure Out?
Research works best when it is tackled with the true spirit of inquiry.
But you will need to understand your issue thoroughly in order to make a good argument.Think of your research in terms of questions you need to answer: you aren't just looking for information, you're looking for ANSWERS!
Also, keep in mind that good research and critically reading your sources of information will often lead you to more complex questions. So, tune into your natural curiosity and have fun.
It's important to begin your research learning something about your subject; in fact, you won't be able to create a focused, manageable thesis unless you already know something about your topic. Also, exploring a topic is much easier if you know something about it.
So, how do you start?
This step is important so that you will:
Reference sources are highly-credible sources filled with thorough yet concise discussions that let you know the “who, what, when, why, and where” information on your topic right at the start of your research.
Why search here? Use this database when you want to explore your topic from a global perspective or to analyze and understand the most important issues of the modern world with a global awareness.
What's included: You'll find news, global viewpoints, reference materials, country information, primary source documents, videos, statistics, and more.
Why search here? Use this database for preliminary reading as you start your research. You'll learn about your topic by reading authoritative topic overviews on a wide variety of subjects.
What's included: Gale eBooks is comprised of subject, specialized encyclopedias with articles written by scholars and experts.
Why search here? Use this database when you want to find comprehensive, unbiased reporting and analysis to get background information on issues in the news.
What's included: Overview reports of topics related to health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy in America.
Why search here? This is a great database to use when you want to explore different viewpoints on controversial or hot-button issues.
What's included: It includes pro/con articles, court cases, primary sources, videos, media, editorials, and news on more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture. Use the search or browse topics by subject or A to Z.
New knowledge inevitably leads to new questions. Think of a television program involving a criminal investigation. Experts arrive on the scene to answer a fundamental question: "What happened here?" But their investigation merely begins with that basic question. Soon they find themselves answering more specific questions in order to figure out what happened. Who all was involved with the crime? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Why did it happen? Were there any witnesses?
It is only by answering a series of smaller questions that they are ultimately able to see the big picture.
A researcher investigates a topic much like a detective investigates a crime. You may start off with an overriding question, but soon find yourself asking many more questions on your journey as you learn more about your topic and become more interested in it.
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If you want to learn more about research questions, try our guide, Developing Research Questions:
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You might also want to watch this short video explaining the benefits of research questions.