Pilgrim Library Getting Started With Research Introduction

Leo Migdal

-Dec 9, 2025, 5:10 AM

pilgrim library getting started with research introduction

According to the Association of College & Research Libraries: "Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating... This Research Guide covers why information literacy skills matter and how to get started with a research project, including understanding the process, choosing a topic, doing background research on that topic, developing a research... Use the purple tabs to the left to navigate to these topics. After completing this chapter, you should be able to… Library 1600: Introduction to College-Level Research Copyright © 2021 by Iowa State University Library Instruction Services is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Starting your research project is an exciting endeavor, but it can also be intimidating. Conducting research is a skill; it requires time, experience, and practice in order to become better at it. Everyone has to start somewhere and that's okay! The other pages on this guide are designed to provide you with introductions to the various, important stages in the research process. While they are a good starting point, keep in mind that if at any point you feel stuck or overwhelmed ask for help! Seeking assistance is a normal part of the research process and Wittenberg provides many resources to ensure your success.

See the contact information below for further information. As you begin working on your research poject it is important to remember that the research process is dynamic and circular. The research process is not linear; you will not be able to go from step 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 and be done with your project. Instead, you will frequently need to circle back and reevaluate, revise, and edit at multiple points. This does not mean you have done anything wrong! Instead, this is how everyone--from students to professors--engages with the research process.

As you engage with sources and become more knowledgeable in your area of interest you will need to revise the nature and scope of your project. Or set up an appointment by clicking the button below: The Writing Center is located on the first floor of Thomas Library and is a great resource for writers of all levels. Make an appointment to meet with a writing center advisor for one-on-one help with your paper. This guide will show you how to develop research interests and how to use the library’s resources to find information for your research papers. This guide includes instructions on how to use the library's catalog and databases, and provides directions for locating library resources, such as professional/scholarly journal articles and books.

Writing consists of several components. The best papers are the result of: The writing process begins with an idea and is narrowed down and pulled-together at the end. Use the tabs above to discover how to narrow and search for your topic, as well as how to use library resources. Videos and tutorials from the PG Library and our partners by topic: The videos and tutorials in this list cover why information literacy skills matter and how to get started with a research project, including understanding the process, choosing a topic, and beginning research.

The videos and tutorials in this list cover how information is created and the many different types of sources that students encounter while doing research. The videos and tutorials in this list cover the basics of searching for information, including choosing the right source, identifying keywords, and employing search techniques. The videos and tutorials in this list cover how to critically review the information you've found for accuracy and authority. Research needs and requirements vary with each assignment, project, or paper. Although there is no single “right” way to conduct research, certain methods and skills can make your research efforts more efficient and effective. If you have questions or can’t find what you need, ask a librarian.

The Library is the top resource when it comes to locating and accessing research materials. When using a book, article, report, or website for your research, it is important to gauge how reliable the source is. Visit these research guides for more information: When writing a research paper, it is important to cite the sources you used in a way that would enable a reader to easily find them. This guide provides an overview of the library research process. On each page, you will find an interactive tutorial as well as additional resources that will help you get started:

We recommend that you go through the guide in order, starting with the "Developing a Research Question" tutorial. The interactive modules on this guide are intended for undergraduate students beginning the research process, but they may be useful for students during any stage of their academic journey. Librarians are here to support you through your research process. Do not hesitate to get in touch. This is what we are here for. Find the best librarian to work with you on a topic and contact them directly, or book an appointment on their calendar.

Throughout much of higher education, students may be asked to conduct research for a presentation, paper, or a speech. This research can cover nearly every subject from English to history and even chemistry and math. This guide is designed to assist our students with understanding the research process and how they can prepare themselves for any research based assignment they receive throughout there college careers. To begin, we need to first define the Research Process. The image below, provides a basic 8 step layout for the research process: defining the topic, narrowing the topic, gathering background information, developing a research questions, creating a working thesis, searching for information, citing... Before beginning any kind of research, you should start start with reviewing your assignment instructions.

This will provide you with the necessary framework that will be the basis of how you will need to approach the actual research. The assignment instructions will let you know how you need to structure the assignment, what the format will be, what citation style you should use, how many resources you need to support your research... Often (but not always) research assignments consist of writing research papers, where you are given a specific topic and are then required to locate several resources to explain your position, thought, or idea on... Try not to get overwhelmed, remember to breathe and take it one step at a time. By taking some time to first understand your assignment instructions, you will help yourself build a kind of foundation or a starting point, from which the rest of the process can begin and flow... Other details to pay attention to in your assignment instructions include looking for the due date as this will give you a time frame of when you can start your research and when you...

This allows you to create a timeline to conduct certain steps of the process as well as allowing you time to determine when you should start looking for resources, how long you should take... Knowing and planning out a schedule for research will help you make sure that your assignment is completed on time, as well as help improve your own time management skills for future projects, both...

Pilgrim Library Getting Started With Research Introduction

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