How To Do Research
Research and writing are both processes of revision and editing. Follow these steps to make the research process go more smoothly.
Choose a Topic
Search for Sources
Evaluate Sources
Search Again
Take Notes and Write
Cite Your Sources
Additional Help
Choose a Topic
Successful topics pose interesting questions that can be answered. For example:
Do effective marketing campaigns use diverse media?
How did the films of Alfred Hitchcock influence future generations of filmmakers?
When does political theater influence public opinion?
These examples all include a question and research should be able to provide answers for these questions.
Unsuccessful topics either do not pose questions, or present questions which are really opinions rewritten as questions. Unsuccessful questions cannot be answered, usually because they are based on opinion, not fact. For example:
Martin Scorsese was the greatest director of his generation.
Is theater the best art form for communicating emotion?
A good test to see if a question is really a question is to try to rephrase it. If you are unable to ask the question any other way,chances are, it's not really a question.
Rephrasing questions can also help turn a less successful topic into a more successful topic. For example: "Martin Scorsese was the greatest director of his generation" is not a very good topic, but rephrasing that question to ask, "How did Martin Scorsese's work influence the filmmakers of the 1970s?" is a stronger topic.
Search for Sources
Different library tools help you find different kinds of information. The Emerson College Library buys or subscribes to books, magazines, journals, CDs, DVDs, and databases geared towards the type of research that Emerson students do. Using these selected resources can make the research process go faster.
Before you begin searching, ask what kinds of information you need to find. Do you want detailed analysis? Brief facts? Industry trends? What types of sources are likely to include the kinds of information you are looking for?
Books
Books are good sources for in-depth analysis, case studies and specific information on a topic. Reference books, like subject-specific encyclopedias, put topics into context, offer theory, and provide bibliographies of key works on topics. You can search the Library's book collection for sources on a topic by using the Library Catalog.The Library Catalog includes Emerson College Library's holdings for books, journals and audiovisual materials. If you have trouble finding a book on the shelf, ask a librarian.Note: The catalog is shared with 8 other members of the Fenway Libraries Online (FLO), which means you may see items from these libraries in your search results. If you would like to borrow an item from one of these libraries, you can either go to the library yourself and check the book out with your Emerson ID card, or you can use the Place Request tab in the catalog and have the item delivered to the Emerson College Library.
Articles
Popular magazines, such as Time and Newsweek, often contain current information and opinions on events and issues. Scholarly journals, such as The Journal of Popular Culture, include original research and observations, with research to back up arguments and claims. The Library subscribes to more than 90 online databases which allow you to search for different kinds of articles on a variety of topics. Use the Library's Articles and More page to find the list of databases available for you to search. To identify useful databases, search Databases by Subject and choose a subject that matches your research topic. Journal articles can be found in print, on microfilm, or online. For tips on finding journals, consult the How To Find a Journal guide.
Evaluate Sources
Each time you come across an information source, you determine its value to your research project. Evaluating sources as you move along the research process makes research faster, helps you identify what is useful in the sources that you have, and alerts you to additional sources you will need.
To evaluate sources, ask questions.
Who wrote this source? What are the author's qualifications or experiences on this topic?
Who is the intended audience?
What is the purpose of this source? To give factual information? Influence opinion?
Who published or sponsored this source?
What point of view is the article taking? Do you have any information on the point of view of the author, publisher or producer?
What about the facts? Are there statistics, history, references? Any indication where these facts come from?
Is there a bibliography?
What is the date on the source? Does timeliness matter for your topic?
Is this information verifiable? Can you find other sources that offer the same facts or opinions?
What did you get that was useful from this source? What questions or issues remain after reading this source?
Is this source relevant? What makes it relevant? Just because a source is about your topic, it might not really be relevant to your argument or aspect of the topic.
Think of these questions not so much as a list, but as a guide. As you look over each source, read not just for information, but as a critic as well. Many professors will require scholarly sources for research. Judging if a source is scholarly can be difficult, especially if the source comes from the Internet. For more information about finding scholarly material, see Identifying and Locating Scholarly Sources.
Search Again
After you have spent some time evaluating your sources, go back and search again. This time, you will have a different idea of the kinds of information or specific sources that you need to find. Go back and revisit books, articles, and other sources.
Take Notes and Write
After you have found sources, it is time to begin taking notes. The Library has several sources which can help you with your writing. For one-on-one help writing and editing your paper, contact the Writing and Academic Resource Center.
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers [X] LB2369.G53 2003
Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide [X] LB2369.L4 1999
The College Student's Research Companion [X] Z710.Q37 2000
Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations [X] LB2369.T8 2007
Cite Your Sources
You are not done with a research paper until your "Works Cited" page is finished. Keeping careful notes on your sources as you write will help you avoid plagiarism. Many of the books on the research process include information on citing sources and creating bibliographies.
At Emerson, most professors request that you use either MLA (Modern Language Association) or APA (American Psychological Association) style formats. For full information on these citation styles refer to the latest editions located behind the Library's reference desk.
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers [X] LB2369.G53 2003
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association [X] BF76.7.P83 2001
For more information on using MLA or APA style, take a look at the How To Cite References guide. The Library subscribes to NoodleBib, software that lets you create and manage citations and bibliographies.
Additional Help
Librarians are available at the Reference Desk during the following hours to help you with any research or reference questions you may have.
Monday through Thursday from 9:30 am until 11:00 pm
Friday from 9:30 am until 6:00 pm
Saturday from noon until 6:00 pm
Sunday from noon until 9:00 pm
You may also Contact Us by phone, email and Instant Messenger or make an appointment for individual research help with a librarian.
