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Getting Started with Research

tutorials and videos to help students gain information literacy skills for effective research.

Choosing an interesting research topic is your first challenge in the research process. Sometimes your professor may help with this by assigning a topic or providing a list of potential topics.  Nonetheless, here are some tips to get started:

  • Choose a topic that you are interested in! The research process is more relevant if you care about your topic.
  • Narrow your topic to something manageable.
    • If your topic is too broad, you will find too much information and not be able to focus.
    • Background reading can help you choose and limit the scope of your topic. 
    • Review the guidelines on topic selection outlined in your assignment.  Ask your professor suggestions.

Video: Choosing a Topic

Video: How to Narrow Your Topic

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