• Research is always a multi-step process; don't fool yourself!
  
  
• Be aware that research is often inter-disciplinary.
  
  
• Think broadly about your topic, then narrow and refine the focus.
  
  
• Keep a record of EVERYTHING you find, and where and how you found it.

The topic is the idea that you are researching.

• Example:
  Pollution in the ocean

Brainstorm and concept map the topic.  Look at your topic from many different angles, and write down related topics and synonyms to the terms you come up with.  State your topic as a question.

• Example:
  How does pollution affect the ocean?

Refine your question.

• Example:
  How does oil pollution affect marine life in the ocean?

Now list the Key Concepts of the research question you have devised

• Examples:
  water, pollution, oil, marine life

How about the Library of Congress Subject Headings?

• Examples:
  Oil pollution of the sea
  Oil pollution of the water
  Marine invertebrates
  Marine animals
  Marine protozoa

List synonyms of the key concepts so that you can have more search terms to use. You can use a thesaurus to help develop your list.

• Example:
  Petroleum, trash, salt water, ocean animals

List the subject or fields of knowledge that might answer the questions you are researching.

• Example:
  Environment and Life Sciences, Oceanography, Fisheries, Natural Resources, Maritime Law, Biology, Aquaculture

How are they listed in the Library of Congress Classification System? Take a look at the URI guide to the classification system.

General and subject-specific encyclopedias provide a broad overview; books provide in-depth and historical background.

Explain the methods, resources and results of your search for background information. Did you have to or want to refocus or change the research question after your initial research foray?

List, in citation format, the sources you consulted for background information. Explain the usefulness or lack of usefulness for each of the sources. Use your evaluation criteria and annotation skills to do this.

Write along the way - write the steps you took to find your information and write your feelings about the process of finding and gathering the information for the research question.
 

You'll find more focused information in scholarly journals, newspapers, trade magazines, popular periodicals, Web sites, and experts in the field.

Evaluate all the information sources you find keeping in mind the source's purpose or intent, the authority or credentials of the author, the accuracy, timeliness, objectivity and appropriateness of the information,

Explain the methods, resources and all of the results of your search for periodical, Internet, and other current information. If it was useful, how so? If it wasn't useful, explain why not. Did you have to refocus the research question again due to what you found?

List, in citation format, the sources you consulted to focus the research. Explain the usefulness or lack thereof for each source. Use your evaluation criteria and annotation skills to do this.

Write again - write about how you found information and describe what you found. Write your feelings about the process.