How to Become a Professional Researcher

Step #1: Ask good questions

It is important before you start your research, to spend some time thinking about your topic. By identifying key themes, you will be able to develop a better idea of what your research might look like.

Start by trying to answer the following questions:

What don’t you know about this topic?

Why is it important?

Why are you interested in it?

Step #2: Figure out what kind of information you need

Consider your assignment and its purpose. Are you writing an overview of a topic or taking a stance on an issue? Who will be reading it? There any many different types of resources and answering this question will tell you what kind of resources you should use.

Research articles are best for writing about new developments in a field. They are the gold standard for papers in the sciences because they are written by experts, for experts.

Review articles are like research articles in that they look at a specific field. They are useful for learning what has been done previously and what the trends are.

Popular articles cover very current topics. They are written by journalists for the general public.

Books and encyclopedias are best for getting an overview on a topic.

Step #3: Find the research you need

The Library's website is a great place to start your research because our resources are a higher quality than what you can find free on Google.

The big search box is called Summon. It is a "Google-like" tool that searches many DelVal databases (and the book catalog) at the same time. It is a nice time saver, and it often uncovers resources that you might otherwise have overlooked.

Summon This link opens in a new window
A research tool that searches all DelVal databases simultaneously. Contains books, ebooks, dvds, online videos, journals, magazines, newspapers, conference proceedings, and more.

We also have many other databases, which are organized by subject, which might be better for your research.

How to Make your Paper Great

Step #4: Make sure it is good

Does this match what I have found elsewhere?

Important characteristics:

A qualified author will have a background in the field they are writing about. The authors should not show bias. Opinions are backed by research and evidence.

A current publication date is something within the last 10 years typically. This can be shorter in the sciences.

A bibliography or other references are important because they let us know where the author is getting their information from.

Evaluating Reliable Sources
Learn to evaluate sources critically and identify what will help you with your research. (QUIZ)

Step #5: Organize your thoughts

Now that you have some research you want to use, outline what you need to understand and deal with each piece individually. Identify connections as you write

Find 1-2 resources to support each topic. You are unlikely to find one article or book that is going to cover everything you want to talk about.

Writing Center
The Writing Center is staffed by DelVal undergraduate peer tutors who help with writing assignments in all your courses. We view writing as a process that involves planning, reading, drafting, revising, and editing—writing with substance involves discovering your meaning through brainstorming, sharing, and getting lots of feedback.

Step #5: Join the Conversation

Read through the bibliography or works cited. Are there papers that are cited a lot? Are there other resources that might be useful to you?

Most of our databases include tools to help you find other people engaged in the conversation.

Look for areas of overlap in your reading. Keep these questions in mind:

Do any authors bring up the same points?
Do they agree or disagree?
Why does an author bring up a specific point, and how can you relate it to your own ideas about the topic?

EN 1201 - College Writing II (McCall)