Research Strategy

This guide outlines a process for conducting research that can be applied to most assignments. Other helpful websites and books are listed at the end of the guide.

Remember, the best help you can give yourself is to start early.

1. The Basics
   You have a research assignment, but what does “research” mean? Research is:
   
   
   • Asking questions
   • Gathering information
   • Assessing or evaluating information
   • Organizing and then presenting the information
     
   
   
2. Selecting a Topic
   Try to find an issue or topic that interests you. A good topic is:
   
   
   • Narrow: focuses on the essential element of the topic
   • Challenging: engages the reader or encourages debate
   • Grounded: can be argued from fact, not just belief
   
   
3. Background Information
   Start by looking through:
   
   
   • general encyclopedias
   • subject specific encyclopedias
   • dictionaries
   • almanacs
   • course textbooks
   • lecture notes
   
   These will give you a basic overview of the topic and may provide lists of other books or articles you could consult during your research.
   
   
4. Refining Your Topic
   You will probably need to narrow the focus of your topic since most are too broad to be covered in a research paper. Sometimes, however, a topic is so narrow in scope there is little information available. In this case, you will need to expand your focus.
   
   

   Go from a general topic, to a more specific topic and then hone it to the precise topic that you will research. For example:

   • The general topic - environmental impact of oil refineries
   • The more specific topic - environmental impact of oil refineries in urban areas
   • Your precise topic - health effects of oil refineries in urban areas.
   
   

   State your topic as a question. This will help you formulate your thesis or the main purpose of your topic. This will usually be stated at the beginning of your paper. For example, you might pose the question:

   • “What are the health effects on urban residents near oil refineries?”

   In addition, you can brainstorm other questions that might have bearing on your topic, such as:

   • How many urban refineries are there?
   • What chemicals are used or produced during refinement?
   • Are there studies comparing resident’s health before and after a refinery has opened?
   
   
5. Shape your Search Strategy
   Once you have your research question, you can begin to look for information:
   
   
   • Look in the library catalogue for books, videos and other resources
   • Look in library databases for articles, books and other information
   • Search the Internet for authoritative websites

   How do you do this? There are 3 steps!

   • Identify the key concepts and terms in your research question “What are the health effects on urban residents near oil refineries?”
     • Health
     • Urban
     • Oil
     • Refineries
     
     
   • Think of related terms for these concepts
     • health - wellness, illness, sickness
     • urban - city, town, residential, neighbourhood
     • oil - petroleum, gas, energy
     • refinery - plant, production processor

     TIP: Use quotation marks to search for exact phrases, such as: “oil refineries”.

   • Combine terms using Boolean operators. These apply whether using a catalogue, database or internet search engine
     • AND - narrows and locates items that have ALL your search terms

       Example: health AND urban AND oil

     • OR - broadens and locates items that have ANY of your terms

       Example: urban OR city OR residential

     • NOT - excludes items by eliminating a concept

       Example: urban NOT rural
       Combine your operators for more exact searching
       Health AND (urban OR city OR residential) AND (“oil refineries”)

   It is a good idea to consult with a librarian about your search strategy and the best places to search for your information.

6. Evaluate your Information
   Okay, so now you have a few resources you might use for your assignment. Now you need to decide whether the information is reliable and useful to you. The Evaluating Information: Are My Sources CRAAP? guide can help you make these choices, but here are the key considerations:
   
   
   • Is the information relevant to your topic?
   • Is the date of publication appropriate?
   • Is the author qualified?
   • What is the author’s purpose?
   • Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
   • Are there references and/or footnotes?

   You should also consider your use of scholarly and popular publications in your research. Generally, scholarly articles - those written by experts for academic periodicals - add more weight, or importance, to your research than articles found in popular magazines. See the guide Types of Journals for more information.

7. Begin Writing
   Now it is time to begin writing. If you need guidance on writing the research project consult with your instructor. As well, a librarian can help find books and other resources to assist you.
   
   The resources suggested below can also provide you with more information on research and academic writing.
   

   Selected Websites
   Writing a research paper
   From the University of Alberta Libraries. Brief overview with lists of guides and handbooks.

   Seven Steps of the Research Process
   From Cornell University Library. Provides a comprehensive overview of research with links to expanded discussion from each step.

   For More Information...

   Accessing some resources may require an ID# and PIN.

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