how to do proper research online

Conduct High Quality Online Research: Process, Types, Tools, Tips & More

If there’s one constant in modern life it’s this: research. No matter the topic, it’s imperative that most of us conduct thorough research for a variety of purposes online.

We research products and options when we want to buy something. We research markets and competitors when we want to sell something. We research topics and exes when we want to know or learn something.

We do research on the internet for so many different reasons, it can be hard to think about “online research” as one task—but if you add it all up, many of us spend a lot of time doing research on the internet. So there’s some serious value in understanding how to do that research more thoroughly, accurately, and quickly.

In this article we will cover:

• PROCESS:  The online research process
• METHODS:  Research methods and strategies
• TYPES:  Some of the most common types of research you can do online
• TIPS:  7 tips for better online research
• TOOLS:  Research tools and companies to improve and expedite the research process
• RESOURCES:  35 great internet research resources
• DELEGATING:  How you can delegate your research to a virtual assistant (VA)

The Online Research Process in 6 Steps

Broadly speaking, the typical online research project goes through 6 key steps. While you probably don’t tick off all these steps every time you research something online, following them can help ensure your research is complete, accurate, and useful.

Let’s talk about what those steps are and why each one is worthwhile for just about any online research you do.

1. Choose and define your topic of interest

This first step is where you’ll get specific about just what it is you’re looking for. What’s your end-goal? Why are you conducting this research? What are you hoping to learn or achieve?

For market research, this might be developing a full understanding of the competitors in the space and their positioning. For product research, you might be trying to arrive at the best option for you to buy.

The key is to make a comprehensive list of the research questions you want to answer and the individual items that interest you. This list will help inform where and how you do your research and ensure you don’t wind up with a bunch of information that doesn’t help or interest you.

2. Determine which fields of study you’ll need to look into

This step will help you define and narrow down the type of journals, databases, websites, etc. that you’ll look to for information.

For example, if you’re doing product research and you want to know how valuable existing customers find a given product, you may turn to prominent third-party review websites. If you’re doing medical research, you may look into the relevant medical journals for your topic.

3. See what research has been done and conclusions have been drawn

Step 3 is likely the part of the process you most often associate with “research.” Now’s the time to dig into your research sources, read up on the topic, and look to see how other people have answered the questions you laid out for your research.

The important part of this step is to stay organized and on-task. It’s easy to get lost in all the information, so it’s best to have a clear process and to keep your sources and learnings organized.

4. Evaluate your sources and information

In today’s digital world, this step is even more important than the rest. No matter the topic of your research, you need to take the time to understand and evaluate your sources . Who’s writing about the topic? Why are they interested or invested in it? Do they have anything to gain from what they’re saying?

This step is when you can identify any biases you or your sources have. Think of these biases as gaps in your research—and fill them in with opposing viewpoints and additional information. ‍

5. Determine additional research data collection methods needed and conduct

Whether as a result of biases or something else, it’s not uncommon to find gaps in the research that’s already been done. When that happens, you may consider conducting your own primary research to help fill in those holes in your information.

For example, if you’re missing qualitative market research, you may choose to conduct an online focus group of consumers in that market. For medical research, filling in the gaps might mean conducting an extensive clinical trial. For research into your own customers, on the other hand, it might be as simple as sending out a brief online survey asking for feedback. You can also use online survey platforms to reach a broader base.

6. Organize your full body of research and draw conclusions

Once steps 1 through 5 are finished, you’re ready to start digging into your body of research and drawing your conclusions. This is where you’ll make a final decision on which product to buy or identify where in the market to position your own business, for example.

Online Research Methods & Strategies

When you think about “online research,” what sort of research method do you imagine? Many of us likely think about Googling and reading articles—and that is one method for doing research online. But it isn’t the only one—far from it.

Below are some of the other common online resources for research methods and strategies you can draw on during your research.

Content analysis and social media or social network analysis

Content analysis is the typical web search and read method of conducting research. In this case, you’re consuming secondary research that’s already been conducted and learning from that.

Focus groups

A focus group is when you bring together a group of people to take part in a guided discussion—often this discussion is about their experience with a particular product, brand, political campaign, ad, or TV series/movie. You might picture these happening in-person, but they can also be conducted online using video chat or conferencing software.

Interviews are similar to focus groups—you’re asking real people for very specific information. The difference is that interviews are more often done one-on-one versus in a group. Interviews can also follow a less conversational and more transactional question-answer approach.

Questionnaires and surveys

Questionnaires and surveys share the question-and-answer approach of an interview, but they aren’t typically done live or in real-time. Surveys can be emailed or mailed out to respondents or shared on social media. The respondent completes the questionnaire on their own time and returns it to the researcher when finished.

Web-based experiments

Web-based experiments follow a more regimented and traditional set of processes designed to yield scientifically significant results. There are three main types of experiments:

• Controlled experiments
• Natural experiments
• Field experiments

While the topic varies, many of these experiments can be adapted to take place online.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are a type of experiment most often done in medical and psychological research. In a clinical trial, the experiment is designed to answer a very specific set of questions. The classic example of a clinical trial is a drug or pharmaceutical trial—designed to answer whether a particular drug affects a given disease or injury.

Online ethnography 

In an ethnographic study, the researcher essentially lives among their research subjects and observes their behavior, social structures, and more. Ethnography is most commonly used in behavioral research like sociological and anthropological studies. Online ethnography simply refers to the method by which the researcher interacts with subjects—online.

Common Types of Online Research

Online research comes in all shapes and forms, but talking about “research” in the abstract can feel a little nebulous. To help you wrap your head around the kinds of online research we’re referring to for our purposes, here are some of the most common types of online research.

Basic Research

Basic research refers to broad studies and experiments done, not to answer a specific question or prove a hypothesis, but to create a foundation for additional studies or experiments.

For example, a study of how caffeine affects the brain would be considered basic research. Its results would increase general knowledge on the topic and likely inspire more specific experimentation.

Here’s another example of what basic research looks like—and how it can often blend into applied research:

• EXAMPLE: via Verywell Mind
• RESEARCH: To start, “researchers might conduct basic research on how stress levels impact students academically, emotionally, and socially.” That might involve content analysis of existing research on the topic, empirical research around students’ moods and performance, and interviews or surveys completed by the students themselves.
• FINDINGS: At the end of the basic research process, researchers have a better understanding of how stress impacts students—but they don’t know why stress has those effects or how to change or solve the effect.
• CONCLUSIONS: Because of that, “the results of these theoretical explorations might lead to further studies designed to solve specific problems. Researchers might initially observe that students with high stress levels are more prone to dropping out of college before graduating. As a result, scientists might then design research to determine what interventions might best lower these stress levels. Such studies would be examples of applied research.”

Quantitative Research

Quantitative research involves studying something using statistical or mathematical techniques and it’s used to understand how often a particular phenomenon occurs. The “quantitative” part of this type of research refers simply to numbers.

Here’s a common example of what quantitative research looks like in action:

• EXAMPLE: via QuestionPro
• RESEARCH: “If any organization would like to conduct a customer satisfaction (CSAT) survey, a customer satisfaction survey template can be used. Data can be collected by asking a net promoter score (NPS) question, matrix table questions, etc.”
• FINDINGS: The survey method above provides “data in the form of numbers that can be analyzed and worked upon.”
• CONCLUSIONS: “Through this survey, an organization can collect quantitative data and metrics on the goodwill of the brand or organization in the mind of the customer based on multiple parameters such as product quality, pricing, customer experience, etc.”

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research , on the flipside, focuses more on observations and non-numerical qualities. It’s used to answer questions about how and why phenomena occur, versus how often.

Here’s an example of what a typical qualitative research study looks like:

• RESEARCH: “A bookstore owner who is looking for ways to improve their sales and customer outreach. An online community of members who were loyal patrons of the bookstore were interviewed and related questions were asked and the questions were answered by them.” 
• FINDINGS: “At the end of the interview, it was realized that most of the books in the stores were suitable for adults and there were not enough options for children or teenagers.”
• CONCLUSIONS: “By conducting this qualitative research the bookstore owner realized the shortcomings and the feelings of readers. Through this research now the bookstore owner can keep books for different age categories and can improve his sales and customer outreach.”

Market Research and Competitive Research

Market research and competitive research refer to gathering information about a particular industry and the companies currently doing business in it. It often involves mapping out the positioning of competing companies or products and is usually done by the companies in the market (or those hoping to be).

Here’s what a typical market research study looks like:

• EXAMPLE: A software company is looking to launch a new product into an unfamiliar market.
• RESEARCH: They conduct research to figure out the features their product will need, what price will be competitive, and where in the market there’s an opportunity to serve an underserved segment of consumers. Research includes basic informational research about competitors, their products, and pricing, content analysis of industry publications, and focus groups with potential customers.
• FINDINGS: The company finds that a small but dedicated segment of consumers in the market have a particular need that isn’t being met by any of the current competitors in the space.
• CONCLUSIONS: They design their product to solve that specific issue and create marketing and advertising campaigns targeted toward only that small niche market.

Customer Research

Customer research is when a business seeks to learn more about their customers (or their competitors’ customers). Often, customer and consumer research are included in the overall market research process we mentioned above.

Here’s what a typical customer research study looks like:

• EXAMPLE: via Hotjar
• RESEARCH: A software company wanted to learn more about what their customers needed from their software, and how they could build a better product and customer experience. They used on-page surveys on their website and some observational research to dig deeper into their customers.
• FINDINGS: Based on their research, the company created in-depth customer personas that exemplified their 3 most common customers, who they are, and what challenges they face.
• CONCLUSIONS: Based on what the company learned about challenges faced by one particular customer segment, they improved a particular feature of the product to improve that customer’s experience. 

Other Common Types of Research

• Comparative research , done primarily in the social sciences, refers to studies that compare a given data set across different geographic locations or cultures. For example, a study may look at the differences in poverty between the U.S. and Canada.
• Medical research can make up a wide range of studies and experiments. The most obvious example is clinical drug trials, which are run to determine the efficacy and safety of new pharmaceuticals. But medical research can also involve observational studies to better understand new diseases and other basic research.
• Legal research most typically refers to two scenarios: 1) finding an answer to a particular legal question or decision that needs to be made and 2) looking for precedent to support a legal argument.
• Product research refers to research done by companies to better understand what their customers are looking for. It can be done during the ideation or new product development phase or to further improve an existing product.
• Empirical research data is collected by observation. In other words, it’s a record of someone’s experience, defined via the 5 senses. For example, an experiment done to figure out if listening to happy music improves subjects’ moods would be considered empirical research.
• Descriptive research is done with the intention of better understanding something. Customer and consumer research are often done in a descriptive way—describing customers and their attributes rather than trying to explain or quantify them.
• Experimental research refers to a more rigid research process than many other research types listed here. In experiential research, researchers follow the research method. They utilize strictly controlled experiments in which one variable is altered and the results either support or refute a specific hypothesis.
• Exploratory research is similar to basic research. It’s done with the goal of better understanding a given problem or phenomenon, and its findings typically inform further research to solve the problem.

Tips for Better, Faster Online Research

Whether you’re new to conducting research online or you’ve been doing it for years, there are always tips and tricks you can employ to streamline, strengthen, and refocus your research process. With that in mind, here are our top tips for conducting high-quality research online.

Know the Information You’re Looking For

With all of the information available on the internet, it’s really easy to get lost. Maybe you end up chasing down rabbit holes or trying to answer new questions every time they arise. Either way, you’re distracted from answering the original questions you set out to.

That’s why it’s so important to get clear about what those questions are, and hold yourself to researching those answers. This is what steps 1 and 2 in our online research process above are designed to help with.

Get Clear About Your Goal for Researching

While similar to the previous tip, defining your goal for research is more action-oriented. When you get answers to the questions outlined above, what will you do with them? All the questions you seek to answer with your online research should serve this overarching goal—helping you make a decision or choose your next course of action.

For example, your goal for travel research might be to choose and book a destination for your next family vacation. For competitive research, your goal may be to identify a niche audience to target within your industry.

Check the Abstract First

If you’re using scientific papers, medical studies, legal reviews, and other academic research, you know you’re in for some dense, lengthy reading. So before you commit to reading anything, check out the abstract first. If you don’t find anything compelling in the abstract, you can safely skip that paper.

Have a System and Stay Organized

As we mentioned before, the internet completely changes the stakes when it comes to research. There’s almost no limit to the amount of research you can do. That’s why it’s vital that you create a system for determining which information you’ll look at, plus how and where you’ll store it. Here are a few suggestions for staying organized:

• Create Google Drive folders to store PDFs and other documents
• Create a designated folder in your Bookmarks to store websites and URLs
• Use a reference management software (like Mendeley ) designed to help organize extensive research
• Delegate the organizing part to a virtual assistant (VA)

Get Started with a Virtual Assistant

Avoid analysis paralysis.

Online research can be incredibly valuable in helping you make informed decisions on a whole range of topics—but it is possible to take research too far, ending up with way more information than you can adequately process. Avoiding analysis paralysis is the only way to ensure your research makes your life easier, instead of the other way around.

Clearly outlining your goals and questions to answer is a good first step in avoiding analysis paralysis. The second part comes down to recognizing when you have enough information to make a decision. Once that happens, it’s usually time to set the research aside and act.

Evaluate Your Sources and Check Your Own Biases

In the time of #fakenews and corporation-funded scientific research, it’s more important than ever to evaluate your sources for online research. To start, just get in the habit of paying attention to who ran the study, wrote the paper, or created an article.

From there, you can look deeper into their objectivity (or lack thereof). Ask yourself whether the researcher has something to gain or lose from the information they’re sharing. Are they interpreting objective information through their own angle? Equally important: how current is the information presented?

In addition to evaluating the objectivity of your research sources, it’s even more important to identify and be aware of your own biases toward the subject matter.

Delegate Research to a Virtual Assistant

Whether you lack the time, expertise, or just desire to conduct thorough online research, there are many reasons to delegate your research to someone else. Online research, in particular, can easily be handled by a virtual assistant ( more on that later! )

Research Tools and Resources to Help with Your Online Research

When the time comes to dive into online research, most of us default to starting with an internet search on Google, followed by trying different search terms and combing through endless search result listings. That’s a fine place to start, but there are also tons of other reputable databases and search engines that can help you get straight to the most accurate and up-to-date research on just about any topic.

Below, we recommend 13 tools that can help you find reputable sources, organize your research, and even conduct your own primary research.

For General Research Articles

• Google Scholar and Google Books
• Library of Congress and LexisNexis
• Project Gutenberg
• Student’s Online Research Guide via AllConnect
• Yale University Research Guides by Subject

Academic Journals

• AcademicJournals.org

For Specialized Research

• Medical: BioMed Central , The Lancet , New England Journal of Medicine , NCBI (Nat’l Center for Biotechnology News)
• Legal: American Law Reports
• Business and industry: Nielsen and Pew Research Center

Online Research Management and Organization

Online research companies.

• 20|20 Research
• Facts ‘n Figures

Virtual Research Assistant Companies

Other great online resources for research.

If you’re looking for more info on various aspects of researching online, here are a few more top-notch resources you can reference.

• For psychological, sociological, and other behavior research: Psychology.org
• For business (market, competitive, and new product) research: QuestionPro
• For market research: Inc.
• To better understand online research and “big data:” Online Research Methods, Quantitative by Hocevar and Flanagin
• On conducting your own survey research: SurveyMonkey
• For legal, news, and public records: LexisNexis online library

Delegating Research to a Virtual Assistant

The advice and resources above are enough to turn anyone into a pro online researcher—but do you really have the time or desire to do your own research online? Regardless of how well done, effective internet research always requires one big investment: time . There’s no getting around the time investment it takes to conduct valuable online research.

Instead of investing that time out of your own busy schedule, you could outsource your online research efforts to a virtual assistant (VA). That way, you get the benefit of making informed decisions without spending days or even weeks wading through abstracts and research articles.

When you work with a Delegated virtual research assistant:

• You can hand-off basic research, competitor and market research, comparative research and more from day one
• You can work with your VA and train them to handle more specialized types of research like medical and legal

In both cases, as your VA gains experience working with you, they’ll get better and better at pulling together exactly the kind of research and insights you’re looking for. Some aspects of research they can tackle include:

• Pulling together research articles and data
• Research annotation and summaries
• Research management and organization
• Various aspects of conducting primary research

How does this work?

We know that delegating something as broad and nebulous as “research” can feel a little foreign if you haven’t outsourced it before. Most of the concerns we hear from people are very quickly quelled by the time savings that come with delegating their research.

That said, if you’re feeling unsure, here are a few of the questions we hear frequently:

How does all this work?

Your Delegated VA is available to you whenever you need them. They can pull together research articles and sources, organize and annotate them, present research summaries and conclusions, and help with many of the tasks involved with conducting your own primary research.

What kind of research can a Delegated VA handle?

Delegated VAs can handle these types of research right off the bat:

• Basic research
• Market research
• Competitive research
• Comparative research
• Data research
• Information research

That said, with a little guidance and training from you, our VAs can take over just about any kind of research you need done.

How will my VA know what information to look for?

Initially, your VA will base this judgment on the information you provide to them. Any information you ask for, they’ll pull together for you. For basic research, they’ll be able to handle most anything you need.

For more specialized research areas (like medical and legal research), your VA may need a little more help from you in the beginning. Rest assured, after a few projects, they’ll be able to handle just about everything you can throw at them.

Can my VA handle next steps after research is done?

If you provide your Delegated VA with the access and information they need to take the next step, they can do that—whether that’s booking a trip based on travel research, purchasing their recommended product, or something else entirely.

How will my VA communicate with me?

Your Delegated VA will communicate with you any way you prefer. If you choose to communicate via Slack, email, phone, or morse code, your VA will work with your preferences to streamline communication.

Wrapping Up

Whether it’s product research, medical research, or something else entirely, conducting thorough and accurate research online takes time—and going without isn’t a great option either.

If you don’t have the time, desire, or expertise to perform your own internet research, you can easily turn the keys over to a virtual assistant. With a little guidance, they can handle a lot more than you may think.

Then, you can spend less time Googling around and more time acting on your research findings.

Glossary of Online Research Terms to Know

Research problem and research question: The central question your research sets out to answer, or the central problem your research sets out to solve.

Correlation: A connection or relationship between two variables.

Causation: A connection or relationship between two variables where a change in one variable creates a change in the other.

Findings: The results and conclusions of your research.

Scientific method: An empirical, step-by-step method whereby hypotheses are formed and experiments/observations either affirm or disprove the hypothesis.

Sampling method: A method for collecting data from a small sample of a given population.

Research methodology: The specific techniques and procedures you use to identify and analyze information about your topic.

Control group: A group within an experiment to which no changes are made in the variable being studied. Control groups are used for comparison to better identify how changes in a variable affect the other group.

Experimental group: The group within an experiment which is changed or manipulated.

Primary research: Data collected directly by you, the researcher.

Secondary research: Data previously collected by other researchers.

Hypothesis: An educated guess or theory about how an experiment will turn out.

Abstract: A brief summary of the contents of a research paper or study.

Bias: Assumptions made without credible evidence, often that skew the ultimate outcome of a study. Bias can be caused by beliefs held by the researcher or by errors in sampling or data analysis.

Kiera's a content writer who works with SaaS and ecommerce companies. Located in Boston, MA, she loves cinnamon coffee and a good baseball game. Catch up with her @Kieraabbamonte or KieraAbbamonte.com.

Start growing your business and reducing overhead with Delegated

1. meet your assistant
, 2. create a workflow
, 3. start delegating
, other resources.

Guide to Time Management Skills

Guide to Email Management

Guide to Scheduling Like a Pro

Loved by top companies and entrepreneurs.

Specialized Tasks

15 Steps to Good Research

• Define and articulate a research question (formulate a research hypothesis). How to Write a Thesis Statement (Indiana University)
• Identify possible sources of information in many types and formats. Georgetown University Library's Research & Course Guides
• Judge the scope of the project.
• Reevaluate the research question based on the nature and extent of information available and the parameters of the research project.
• Select the most appropriate investigative methods (surveys, interviews, experiments) and research tools (periodical indexes, databases, websites).
• Plan the research project. Writing Anxiety (UNC-Chapel Hill) Strategies for Academic Writing (SUNY Empire State College)
• Retrieve information using a variety of methods (draw on a repertoire of skills).
• Refine the search strategy as necessary.
• Write and organize useful notes and keep track of sources. Taking Notes from Research Reading (University of Toronto) Use a citation manager: Zotero or Refworks
• Evaluate sources using appropriate criteria. Evaluating Internet Sources
• Synthesize, analyze and integrate information sources and prior knowledge. Georgetown University Writing Center
• Revise hypothesis as necessary.
• Use information effectively for a specific purpose.
• Understand such issues as plagiarism, ownership of information (implications of copyright to some extent), and costs of information. Georgetown University Honor Council Copyright Basics (Purdue University) How to Recognize Plagiarism: Tutorials and Tests from Indiana University
• Cite properly and give credit for sources of ideas. MLA Bibliographic Form (7th edition, 2009) MLA Bibliographic Form (8th edition, 2016) Turabian Bibliographic Form: Footnote/Endnote Turabian Bibliographic Form: Parenthetical Reference Use a citation manager: Zotero or Refworks

Adapted from the Association of Colleges and Research Libraries "Objectives for Information Literacy Instruction" , which are more complete and include outcomes. See also the broader "Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education."

How-To Geek

How to research a topic online.

Online research is a crucial skill, whether you're working on an academic paper, writing a blog post, or just trying to learn something new about your houseplants.

Quick Links

Organize your information early on, start broad and collect a lot of information, decide what's important, and narrow things down, optimize your google search, go further than google, double-check your research, what if you find conflicting information.

Online research is a crucial skill, whether you're working on an academic paper, writing a blog post, or just trying to learn something new about your houseplants. But it's not always easy when you're tackling a complicated or niche topic.

Organizing your information can help you save time, and it can save you from forgetting or misremembering anything that you've learned from your research. You should keep a link to every webpage that you visit from the start to the very end of your research. It's best to write down a little bit of information for each link so that you remember why you saved them and what kind of information that you could take from them. You should also save any PDF's or images related to your research because you can use them as valuable primary sources.

If you need to organize a lot of data across multiple devices, consider using a note-taking app like  Evernote , OneNote , or Google Keep . They're all great for keeping track of web pages, PDF's, photos, and whatever else you need for your big project.

If you're just trying to knock out a short essay or learn something about DIY woodworking, then you probably don't need to grab a dedicated note-taking app unless you already use one. You might find it easier to cut and paste web pages into a Word or Google Doc file and save any PDFs or images to your local or cloud storage drive. Just make sure that you keep your files organized  and take notes for all of your sources.

In the end, you'll probably only use a handful of the links that you save. But if you're publishing a blog post or writing an essay, you need to be able to double-check and cite all of your sources. Otherwise, you might end up creating a lot of extra work for yourself later.

When researching, it's tempting to dive straight into the first exciting thing that you find. But you should try to start as broad as possible. Otherwise, you might miss out on some fascinating pieces of information and end up with a poor understanding of your topic.

That's why you should try to find a lot of information on your topic, more than you think that you'll need. A good way to start broad is to search Google for general terms related to your topic. If you're researching the difference between sunflowers and tulips, then you should learn a bit of information about each flower before going deeper.

Of course, Wikipedia is also a fantastic place to begin your research. You can use Wikipedia to find a lot of general information on your topic, and you can use it to find related topics or primary sources that may be useful as you go deeper into your research.

Once you've collected a broad swath of data, you need to review everything and decide on what to focus. Don't just go for the first thing that sounds interesting to you. Try to find any new relationships between the different pieces of information that you've gathered.

Let's say that you're researching an author, like Mark Twain. You found in your broad research that he was in the Civil War and that some of his stories take place in the antebellum south. On their own, those two pieces of information are boring and hard to care about. But when you put them together, it's clear that there may be a tantalizing relationship that's worth some in-depth research.

It's okay to research a relationship that seems obvious or well-known, especially if you're writing a blog, doing personal research, or doing a rudimentary history paper. But if you want to find something unique, then you need to think about how to narrow your research.

Okay, you're ready to do some more in-depth research. Now what? If you're looking into something that's kind of unique, then you may have trouble finding some good search results on Google.

That's why you need to use some  Google Search Operators  to get the most out of your Google searches. There are a lot of search operators that you can use, and they're all pretty straightforward. But there are a few that are especially useful for doing online research.

If you need to look up exact phrases or names on Google, then you can put them in quotation marks. For example, if you search the phrase "mole people" on Google, then you'll only find pages that contain the word "mole" followed by the word "people."

"Mole people"

The idea of starting broad and then narrowing your search applies to searching the web, too.

For example, if your search for "mole people" include too many results related to New York, then you could use a minus sign to exclude those results. This is what it would look like:

"Mole people" -"New York"

Note that we also used quotation marks around "New York" in that search because we want the whole phrase excluded.

If you hit a point in your research where you can't find any new websites to visit, then you should try to switch up your Google search. Try using variations on the same search terms, and change which Search Operators you're using. Sometimes the slightest change in your search will give you wildly different results.

Sometimes Google's expertise won't be enough for you. If you're working on a full academic paper or writing a deep-dive blog post, then you may need to look through some magazines, academic papers, or old books. You know, "primary sources."

Some websites, like  Project Muse and JSTOR , are an excellent resource for periodicals, academic papers, and other primary sources. You can usually access them through your University or public library. There's also some free alternatives to these websites, like Google Scholar  and SSRN .

But if you're writing a deep-dive on dairy advertisements, then you're going to need to find some old catalogs, magazines, periodicals, and posters.  Google Books  is an excellent resource for this kind of material.

You can also use Wikipedia to find some primary sources. At the end of every Wikipedia article, there's a "References" table. This table tells you the sources for all of the information in the article. If you come across a juicy bit of information while reading a Wikipedia article, then there's usually a small number that links to the reference table.

It's good to look into all of these resources because they usually come up with different results for the same search. They also tend to have built-in advanced search functions, which are useful for topics that are unique or niche.

Once you've completed your research, you need to make sure that all of your information is accurate. You can save yourself a lot of heartbreak by double-checking all of your research before doing any writing.

Go and reread all of your sources, because there's a chance that you misinterpreted what they're saying. Of course, you're not the only person that can misread a source, so it's good to check any citations that you find on a website.

You should also consider how you used Google to research your topic. If you included any bias in your search terms, then there's a chance that the information that you gathered will reflect that bias. Try searching Google with a variety of search terms and  Google Search Operators .

There are also fact-checking websites that you can use to make sure that your information is accurate. Websites like  Factcheck.org  or Snopes  are pretty fantastic; just don't use them as your only fact-checking resource.

Sometimes you'll spend a lot of time double-checking all of your research, and you'll realize that things don't seem to line up. In this situation, it's tempting to stand behind some information that may not be entirely factual. After all, it's a lot easier to go along with inaccurate information than to redo your entire research process.

But you should never write or publish any information unless you're confident that it's accurate. If you run into conflicting information while researching a topic, go back to the drawing board or try to spin the pieces of contradictory information in your favor.

For example, if you find a lot of conflicting eyewitness accounts while researching the Titanic, then you can quickly turn those conflicting accounts into an exciting piece of information. You could even go back and do some in-depth research into who made those eyewitness accounts, and how they shaped the public's opinion on the sinking of the Titanic. Hey, that could be a book.

Image Credits: 13_Phunkod /Shutterstock, fizkes /Shutterstock

Instantly enhance your writing in real-time while you type. With LanguageTool

Get started for free

How to Properly and Effectively Conduct Research in Five Steps

Researching is a valuable skill that can help you in school, work, and beyond. This blog post breaks down the research process into five easy-to-follow steps to teach you how to conduct research properly and effectively.

Conducting Research: Table of Contents

What is Research?

Steps to Conducting Research

In an age where misinformation is rampant, knowing how to correctly conduct research is a skill that will set you apart from others. This blog post goes over what research is and breaks down the process into five straightforward steps.

What Is Research?

The word research is derived from the Middle French word “recerche,” which means “to seek.” That term came from the Old French word “recerchier,” meaning “search.” But what exactly is being sought during research? Knowledge and information.

Research is the methodical process of collecting and analyzing data to expand your knowledge, so you can have enough information to answer a question or describe, explain, or predict an issue or observation.

Research is important because it helps you see the world as it really is (facts) and not as you or others think it is (opinions).

The meaning of research may sound quite heavy and significant, but that’s because it is. Proper research guides you to weed out wrong information. Today, having that skill is vital. Below, we’ll teach you how to do research in five easy-to-follow steps.

It’s essential to note that there are different types of research:

• Exploratory research identifies a problem or question.
• Constructive research examines hypotheses and offers solutions.
• Empirical research tests the feasibility of a solution using data.

That being said, the research process may differ based on the purpose of the project. Take the measures below as a general guideline, and be prepared to make changes or take additional steps.

Also, keep in mind that conducting proper research is not easy. You should start with a mindset of being ready to use a lot of time and effort to obtain the information you need.

1. Prepare for Research

Preparing for research is an extensive step in itself. You must:

• Choose a topic or carefully analyze the assignment given to you.
• Craft a research question and hypothesis.
• Plan out your research.
• Create a research log.
• Transform your hypothesis into a working thesis.

2. Understand and Evaluate Sources

Once you have meticulously prepared for research, you should have a thorough understanding of the different types of sources. Doing this helps you learn which types would best fit your research project.

• Primary sources provide direct knowledge and evidence based on your research question.
• Secondary sources provide descriptions or interpretations of primary sources.
• Tertiary sources provide summaries of the primary or secondary sources without providing additional insights.

The data and information you’re seeking can be found in various mediums. The following list shows the types most commonly used in academic research and writing:

• Academic journals
• Books and textbooks
• Government and legal documents

The information you need doesn’t always have to come in the form of printed materials. It can also be found in:

• Multimedia (like radio and television podcasts, or recorded public meetings)
• Social media

Evaluate Your Sources

You must evaluate your sources to ensure that they are credible and authoritative. The information you find on websites, blogs, and social media is not as reliable as that found in academic journals, for example. Always verify the information you find, and then verify again!

To evaluate sources, you should:

• Find out as much as you can about the source
• Determine the intended audience
• Ask yourself if it is fact, opinion, or propaganda
• Analyze the evidence used
• Check how timely the source is
• Cross-check the information

3. Use the Library, Internet, and Conduct Field Research

So, where can you find all these sources? The library is a good place to start because the library staff may be able to guide you in the right direction as to where you should begin your research. If you’re a student, your school library can provide access to:

• Reference works
• Encyclopedias
• Almanacs and atlases
• Catalogs and databases
• And countless books

The internet does provide easy and fast access to all sorts of data, including incorrect information. That’s why it’s important to verify everything you find there. However, the internet is also home to reliable and credible information.

You can find trustworthy sources online, including scholarly works on Google Scholar , for example. Government sites, like the Library of Congress, provide online collections of articles. There are also many websites for reputable publications, such as the New York Times . Make sure to include the latest information on the specific topic.

Lastly, you can also conduct research by collecting data yourself. You can do this in the form of interviews, observations, opinion surveys, and more.

Don’t Forget

Update your working bibliography as you conduct your research, and keep track of everything in your research log!

4. Think Critically and Takes Notes

When you’re researching, it’s important to read everything through a critical lens—don’t just accept what you see at face value. Always ask yourself questions like:

What’s the main idea?

What are the supporting ideas?

Who is the intended audience?

What’s the purpose?

Is there anything else I need to know that was left out?

Take as many notes as you can and look up anything confusing or unclear.

5. Decide on How To Integrate Sources Into Your Research Paper

Now that you have all the information you need, it’s time to figure out how you are going to integrate sources into your research paper.

Are you going to quote your sources directly? Doing so can help you establish credibility, but be sure to limit this, as your research paper should be mainly your ideas and findings (based on theoretical framework). You can also paraphrase or summarize your sources, but make sure to precede them with the author of the source.

If you’re using visuals in your research project, make sure to include them seamlessly. Ensure that there’s a purpose for the visual content (it can demonstrate something better than words alone can). Add the visual immediately after an explanation of it, and take some time to clarify why it’s relevant to the research project.

The most important part of this step is that you do not plagiarize! Always cite your sources. The only information that need not be cited is:

• Common knowledge
• Your findings from field research

Research Takes Time

The truth is that if you want to conduct proper research, you must be willing to dedicate a significant amount of time to it. And properly conducted research is essential to a well-written and credible research paper.

In other words, there are no cutting corners when it comes to research. However, as an advanced, multilingual writing assistant, LanguageTool can take care of the grammar, spelling, and punctuation aspects of your research project. It can help you in paraphrasing sentences to align with the formality required for an academic paper while also ensuring simplicity, conciseness, and fluency when necessary.

LanguageTool lets you focus on the most important aspects of writing a research paper—research and writing—while it focuses on correcting all types of errors. Its advanced technology can also help you avoid plagiarism through paraphrasing. In this case, it’s imperative that if you use this feature, you still include the source in the references or works cited page.

LanguageTool is free to use! Give it a try.

Lunsford, Andrea A. The Everyday Writer with Exercises , 2010.

Types of Sources - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University. “Types of Sources - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University,” n.d. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/research_overview/sources.html.

General Guidelines - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University. “General Guidelines - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University,” n.d. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/evaluating_sources_of_information/general_guidelines.html.

Ryan, Eoghan. “Types of Sources Explained | Examples & Tips.” Scribbr, May 19, 2022. https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/types-of-sources/.

Unleash the Professional Writer in You With LanguageTool

Go well beyond grammar and spell checking. Impress with clear, precise, and stylistically flawless writing instead.

Works on All Your Favorite Services

• Thunderbird
• Google Docs
• Microsoft Word
• Open Office
• Libre Office

We Value Your Feedback

We’ve made a mistake, forgotten about an important detail, or haven’t managed to get the point across? Let’s help each other to perfect our writing.

How to Research: Ultimate Guide [+Online Tools]

The ability to effectively research is a skill that every student needs to succeed in their educational career. However, most people don’t really understand what research entails. Does it mean spending hours at your university library exploring archives? Or is searching for information online from the comfort of your home enough? And why can’t you just rely on Wikipedia, after all?

Our specialists have created this guide for students who feel lost when putting together an essay, paper, or presentation. Here, we will describe how to research in a detailed, step-by-step manner. We have also provided links to useful tools and resources that will help you along the way. First of all, let’s cover the definitions.

❓ What Is Research?

• Develop a Topic
• Look Through Sources
• Evaluate the Sources
• Write Your Paper
• Cite Your Sources

💡 9 Online Tools for Research

Research refers to the systematic process of discovering information and developing knowledge. We use it to understand new topics and to gain more insight into known issues. This happens through the collection and analysis of relevant data. The ability to research efficiently is one of the most fundamental skills in academia.

Any type of research will include the following features:

• A sound hypothesis on which the rest of the study is based. It will be either proven or disproven by the evidence gathered.
• Systematic investigative methods . These are controlled and follow a pre-established set of rules.
• Logical analysis . It follows a set procedure that involves deductive and inductive reasoning.
• Empirical data based on actual observation and evidence.
• Analytical study of the findings . This ensures in-depth exploration and minimizes mistakes.
• Creation of new questions and new lines of inquiry about the subject via the research.

With that being said, a research paper is more than just the sum of its sources. Its primary purpose is to analyze or argue a particular perspective. In the end, your thoughts and ideas should be the ones you investigate. The evidence you discover during the research process will be the basis for your hypothesis.

There are three universal purposes of research that you should know about:

📚 How to Research: Step-by-Step Guide

As all the definitions you need are covered, we can proceed to learn about the process itself. We have developed this guide so that you won’t have any trouble conducting your research. In the image below, you can see all the required steps.

In the following sections, you will examine each step in detail. Also, you’ll see the reasons why our tips are practical and how to find sources for your research. Good luck!

1. Develop a Topic

1.1. pick or create a topic.

The first step to research is landing on the right idea. This process isn’t always easy, especially when you aren’t familiar with the chosen area of study. However, don’t fret. You can always change your topic later.

Let’s explore how to select your first research idea.

Research is always conducted for a particular reason. It will always relate to writing a paper, creating a project, validating existing results, etc. Your research depends on the goal of your assignment.

The answers will help you define the direction of your work:

• Do you have a list of pre-assigned topics? Can you come up with one yourself?
• What is the due date for your work? How much time does that leave for research?
• What is the scope of your assignment? (Presentation length, number of words/pages, etc.)
• Are there any specific requirements regarding the sources that you are allowed to use?
• Is it essential to use recent information and current sources?

When you have the answers to all the key questions, you can think of your topic. The following tips will help you:

• Choose an idea that is relevant to your assignment. Usually, your instructor will give you detailed instructions before you start working. If you are unsure about your guidelines, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
• Ensure that there are enough resources for you to use. When you think of an idea, do a quick preliminary search. It will allow you to determine whether there is enough available information on your topic. Take time to validate those resources and make sure they’re reliable.
• Search for a topic that is not too broad or too narrow. This step directly correlates with the one above. If you are finding too much general information, narrowing down your search might be a good idea. However, if you struggle to find credible sources, it could be a sign to broaden your topic.
• Try to be original. Restating the same ideas that have been explored thousands of times could damage your grade. Chances are, your instructor has heard it all before and isn’t all that interested in hearing it again. Yet, choosing an unconventional approach with a fresh perspective might earn you extra credit for creativity.
• Aim to find an area that will be interesting to explore. If you find a topic that you, personally, are curious about, researching it will be much more pleasant. This way, when you start writing or searching for information, you might actually enjoy the process.

1.2. Formulate Research Questions

As soon as you have chosen a topic, take the time to format it correctly. Wording it as a question will ensure that your focus is precise and nuanced.

And here is how you create research questions:

Step 1 : Do some research.

Take a look at the most recent discussions and debates on your selected topic. You can check out academic journals and scholarly conferences. Keep your focus on the main arguments to acquaint yourself with the concepts.

Step 2 : Try narrowing down your topic.

It is a lot more effective to target a single dimension of a broader topic than to tackle everything. To do this, try focusing on a particular aspect, such as a specific location or time period. You can also aim to discuss certain debates or issues that exist within the topic.

Step 3 : Keep your audience in mind.

There is a difference between crafting a presentation for your classmates and writing a research paper. Your audience will determine the level of detail that goes into your question.

Step 4 : Ask questions.

Once you have considered the above steps, it is time to begin asking yourself questions. Make sure they’re open-ended and start with ‘why,’ ‘how,’ or ‘what.’

Step 5 : Evaluate your questions.

After you come up with a couple of ideas, jot them down on paper. Look back at all the requirements for a successful research question. Which one of them will be the most effective for your assignment?

1.3. Choose a Research Strategy

To develop constructive research questions, you will need to conduct an initial survey of your resources. Take everything you’ve learned so far as your foundation. Now, you will need to create an efficient strategy for your further actions.

Your research strategy will depend on the following:

1.4. Figure out Keywords

With your research questions, strategy, and some background info covered, it will be easier to determine the keywords . They will help you look for resources and locate your work in the future. Over here, see how to work with keywords.

Once you have a selection of keywords, you can improve them by doing the following:

• Break them into related concepts. By the end, you should have four or five columns with associated keywords.
• Choose one keyword from each column. Use your library’s search engine to look them up. Don’t forget to type ‘AND’ in-between the words. It will narrow down the search so that only articles containing all the selected keywords will appear.
• Explore the results! Don’t be afraid to try several different combinations. You should also make sure to list all those keywords that bring you the most valuable results.
• If you don’t have enough results, try using fewer keywords. Alternatively, you can try to make your keywords broader.
• If you have too many results, try using more keywords. Alternatively, you can try to make your keywords narrower.
• Pay attention to which articles are the most relevant to your needs. Make sure to save them and skim them for a list of keywords. Write them down, and create a new list!
• Once you have exhausted your first list, you can create another one. Run another search following these steps. Don’t forget to note down the relevant materials – you’ll need them for your citations!

1.5. Improve Your Topic

As we mentioned above, you can change and refine your topic as many times as you need before you begin writing. That is why in this section, we will talk about how to polish and improve your idea. At the very least, we’ll give you tips on how to format it correctly.

First of all, we need to make sure that your topic is researchable. To accomplish this, answer the 5 ‘w’ questions :

• Why are you choosing this particular topic? How is it interesting or different from the rest? What is your stance on the matter?
• What are the main issues your topic is trying to explore? Is it controversial? What other opinions and questions exist on the subject?
• Who is talking about the topic? What points of view exist, and who is giving them? What is their agenda?
• When was this topic discussed? Is the issue recent or historical? Does the time frame matter?
• Where lays the importance of your topic? Is it debated on an international, national, or local level? Is there a particular place that is more affected than the rest of the world?

After answering these questions, you need to evaluate your idea from these two perspectives:

• Is your topic too broad?

It may happen if you find far too much information on the subject that doesn’t seem relevant. You will want to narrow it down and include some specifics, such as:

• Place (country, city, street, part of the world, etc.);
• Time (year, era, century, etc.);
• Populace (ethnicity, gender, age, occupation, etc.);
• Event or characteristic (historical occurrence, institutional perspective, etc.);
• Individual or group (a particular point of view, specific person or persons, etc.).
• Is your topic too narrow?

If you are discovering too few sources to build a proper case, your topic is too narrow. Try to broaden it using the following methods:

• Remove some of the specifics (place, time, populace, etc.).
• Expand some of the specifics (place, time, populace, etc.).
• Use synonyms to reword your topic.
• Look in other databases to broaden your horizons.
• Consider looking into a less current issue (the newer an idea is, the harder it is to find sources).

2. Look Through Sources

2.1. determine possible sources.

By this time, you most probably looked for background information on your topic a couple of times. Now it’s time to look for more specific info.

For starters, get the keywords you’ve chosen and see if there is enough information available. You can start by checking appropriate titles in the online libraries. Look for sources in encyclopedias and dictionaries to overview what books or articles you can use.

You can use the following websites for this purpose:

• Oxford English Dictionary
• Wordreference.com
• Encyclopedia Britannica Online
• Oxford Reference Online

Apart from encyclopedias and dictionaries, there are, of course, other places you can check. For instance, you can search for books in your local or university library . When you look through the text on the shelf, pay attention to the books nearby – they can become useful too in the subject area.

Additionally, you can find information in your textbooks and assigned readings. Use your library’s electronic databases that keep magazines and newspapers on the topic. In case you are not sure how to do that, ask your librarian. Also, use search engines to locate materials on the Internet. These types of sources will be helpful when looking for generic information.

2.2. Skim Some Books

When it comes to using books for your research, both hard and electronic copies work as well. In this section, we will tell you how to use them for your research.

If you are a student, you probably do not have time to read every single book. When working on a short paper, essay, or presentation with limited time, you are simply looking for citations. Luckily, there is no need to waste your time examining each book thoroughly. Skimming is enough to understand if the source works for you or not.

To get the needed information in the book, look at the following elements:

• Title Page. There, you can find all the essential details about the book, the author’s name, title, the publisher’s name, the date of publication, etc.
• Table of Contents. This part provides you with a list of all the chapters in the book. You can get a general idea of what topics the author covered.
• List of Illustrations. In some books, authors use illustrations, tables, drawings to support the arguments and the facts. Looking through them can help you see the stats or some other facts quickly.
• Preface or Introduction. Usually, this part of the book provides the author’s intentions and the purpose of the book. Read it to see whether the book’s topic is necessary for your research.
• Bibliography. This part of the book provides a list of materials that the author used. You can check the bibliography for additional resources or references.
• Index. Skimming an index is excellent for identifying where the relevant information is located in the book. It can also give you some additional keywords that might be helpful for your research.

How to Find Books: Free Resources

You can find paperback books in your school’s library or ask your professor if he can lend you some helpful resources. To look for ebooks, we recommend using one of the following services:

For more free books and textbooks, check out the list of online learning resources for different subjects.

2.3. Find Relevant Articles

Scholarly articles are essential parts of every research. Even small argumentative essays usually contain citations from these resources. Here, we will explain how to work with them.

But first, you have to understand how to differentiate based on where these articles are being published. There are two types:

• Peer-reviewed journals

These journals include articles written by an expert in the field. Another expert (experts) read the article and provided feedback. Thus, the author implemented the needed changes based on the review.

• Scholarly journals

Experts write articles for these journals. They address the papers to other academics in the same field. Usually, scholarly journals are written by professional associations or academic press.

Usually, students can use academic and scholarly journals interchangeably. However, you should ask your instructor to explain if sources called “academic” are acceptable.

Not to read every single piece of writing, you need to learn how to identify if the article is credible or not. For that, pay attention to the following elements:

• Author. Look out for the author’s degrees and credentials. Additionally, see if they are a member of any association or work at a university or official organization.
• Intended audience. Understanding the article’s aim is essential. If the author intends to entertain and inform the general public, it may not be the best source for a student. You can still read and learn from without citing.
• Publication type. Some of the ways to recognize the type are:
• Go online and read the sections’ “aims and scope.”
• Check the visual appearance. If the article has colorful images and graphics, it is most probably written for the general public.
• Structure. You can also look at the length and formatting of the article. If it has a clear organization with headings, then most probably, the piece is scholarly. Same with the size. Short papers (with less than five pages) in general are likely to be not academic articles.
• Style. Examine the language, the point of view, and the tone of the article. If the document has many technical terms and professional jargon, then it is usually scholarly or peer-reviewed. Ask yourself what level of education one needs to comprehend the text entirely.

If all of the following parameters fit your expectations, you can only start by reading and analyzing the article.

How to Find Articles: Free Resources

Not sure where to look for articles? Check the following resources that our team recommends:

2.4. Examine Useful Databases

If you still don’t know what sources to use, you can study databases. These collections contain many high-quality books and articles and conference presentations, video lectures, illustrations, etc. In this section, see how to use them and how to benefit from doing this.

A database is a collection of stored and structured information, usually controlled by a dates management system (DBMS). Information is generally modeled in rows and columns in different tables. Thus, even your university’s online library can be considered a database.

Here are some crucial tips on using databases:

• AND ➡️ when you want to use both terms.
• OR ➡️ when you can choose either time.
• NOT ➡️ when you want to exclude words.
• Type asterisks, exclamation points, and questions marks. If you don’t use asterisks and wildcards, some databases will not provide the search you need. They are also beneficial in making your search more specific.
• Look out for the “subject search” option. This way, you will search for information located on the heading field. It is possible due to a system called controlled vocabulary .
• Improve your keywords. Try to be creative with your key phrases and words. Look for all the possible ways to express your topic by using synonyms and associated concepts.
• Try using parentheses . When you look for complex queries, use parentheses. They will allow you to group terms together.
• Search for clues. Carefully look for tips and hints in the results. Analysis of the trends, indications, and numbers can help you understand the information better.
• Check the stacks . Stacks are linear data structures that follow a specific pattern. As collections of elements, they can help you with one particular search.
• Look through different databases. You can look across other databases and combine what you’ve found. The more data you will consider, the more precise your results are.

Free Databases to Use for Research

There are many open-access databases that you can use when conducting your research. Our experts previously mentioned a lot of those in the sections about ebooks and scholarly articles.

Here are some more databases that you can find to be helpful:

We also recommend looking at the available open databases prepared by the University of California at Santa Barbara and Elmira College .

2.5. See Other Websites

Besides search engines and databases, there are other online resources that you can use as a starting point for your research. The only issue is that you might not know if the information is legit.

These websites are suitable for academic research:

• Educational sites (*.edu)
• Government sites (*.gov)
• News sites (CNN, NBC News, FOX News, etc.)
• Professional, nonprofit organizations (Unicef, WWF, etc.)
• General informative websites (Wikipedia)

Of course, you can use online resources for research. They are especially great when you’re looking for background information or defining the topic. Yet, one thing to keep in mind is to choose the websites and data from them carefully.

Here are some cons of using these online sources:

• Unreliable. Anyone can write websites, and they are rarely checked for accuracy, bias, and credibility. They are also regularly filled with old content.
• Chargeable. A lot of websites are free of charge. Yet, very often, to read the full article or cite the page you need, you have to pay.
• Tricky to cite. Most websites do not have any citation tools, so it can be hard to add them as references.
• Unstable. Websites are usually not permanent. Both the content and the address change – the link might not be available later on.

Free Websites to Use for Research

Using different websites for background information search and a general understanding of a given topic makes total sense. But when needed, you can use them for actual research.

For this purpose, we recommend the following websites:

3. Evaluate the Sources

3.1. select what sources to use.

By this step, you have collected many sources for your work. Now is the time to sort through them and get rid of the ones you don’t need. Here, we will explain how to choose appropriate sources for your research.

When checking the quality and credibility of a source, use this checklist:

3.2. Take Notes

When you have sorted through your sources, you can start reading through them at length. You will still have the opportunity to filter out unneeded information. To accomplish this, we recommend marking down the relevant fragments that you will use in your work.

We advise you to study your sources in the following order:

Step 1 : Skim through the text.

Don’t immediately spend an excessive amount of time reading paragraphs and paragraphs of text. First, run through the source to identify the most relevant passages and headings. Note any words or terminology that catch your eye. It will allow you to form a rough idea of the author’s main arguments.

Step 2 : Ask questions.

After you finish skimming through the text, write down any questions that formed in your mind. Make sure that you keep them relevant to your topic. These questions will help you figure out what information you are hoping to obtain from the source.

Step 3 : Underline or highlight.

It’s time to read the source actively. Grab a highlighter or a pen and note down anything that seems relevant or interesting. Pay special attention to the passages that caught your eye earlier. Once you find answers to your questions (or think of even more questions), make sure to jot them in the margins.

Step 4 : Summarize .

As you have finished reading, write down a quick summary of your findings. Do this immediately after you finish while the information is still fresh in your mind. Organize your notes and look up any terminology that isn’t familiar. Also, take a quick look at the bibliography provided by the source – you could find something useful!

Step 5 : Write down key information.

Before moving on to the next source, don’t forget to note everything you need for the bibliography. Write down the title, the author’s name, the publisher, and the date of publishing. If you are using a website, save the URL. Double-check which citation format you’re required to use.

4. Write Your Paper

4.1. formulate your thesis.

A thesis statement is often referred to as the heart of your work since it contains the main idea and stance of the author. The writing process starts with figuring out what you want to say. State it in one sentence, referring back to all the research that you have conducted thus far.

Here are a few tips you could use in writing a compelling thesis statement based on your research:

• State your point clearly. Your argument needs to be explicit and direct. Remember that you will have to address it within the limited confines of your work. There isn’t the space to consider too many points of view. That is why your audience must be clear on the direction your debate is going to follow.
• Be specific. You have to ensure that your wording is as clear-cut as possible. The thesis needs to state the exact idea you will be exploring. If you formulate it too vaguely, the content of your work will be all over the place. Polish your thesis until it becomes specific to your argument.
• Question what you think. To accomplish this, you will need to keep your target audience in mind. Consider what views your readers must have to understand the point you are trying to make. Your statement must be grounded to those who don’t necessarily have the same ideas as you.
• Showcase a strong position. Don’t forget that your thesis statement is a reflection of your comprehension of the topic. While it must be clear and coherent, it should also advance your unique position on the matter. Instead of simply making an observation about something, don’t hesitate to take a stance.

Formulating a successful thesis statement takes time and practice. It is likely that you will not get it completely right on your first try. If you feel like you need some training or require examples, try using our thesis statement generator .

4.2. Outline Your Paper

If you have reached this stage in your work process, it means that you have everything you need. You have composed a strong thesis statement and have your notes and arguments beside you. Now, you have to put them together in a logical order. This way, your reader will see your thought process clearly.

To organize your paper , try this approach:

• Determine the research problem. This isn’t just your thesis statement but is also the key to creating your title. It is the central point of your work. Try formulating it in a single sentence or phrase for efficiency.
• Identify the key arguments. Think of what points you are trying to make with your research. Very briefly note them in your introduction. You will proceed to explore and build on them throughout the rest of your paper.
• Formulate the first category. Consider which point you should cover first. Typically, it is a good idea to start with definitions and clarifications of any critical terminology. You may also want to introduce the background of a particular theory or concept you are exploring.
• Include subcategories if needed. For now, try listing them in the form of a bullet list. The subcategories should provide the basis and support the main points you’re making.
• Sum up and conclude. Once you have created the rough draft, tie everything together. Conclude your project and refer back to your thesis. Make sure that you haven’t strayed away from your research question in creating your outline.

If you have followed these steps, you should end up with a defined beginning, middle, and end. Naturally, different research papers will have carrying outlines. For example, a term paper will have a smaller number of subcategories than a dissertation. Moreover, some projects will require you to mention your research methods, results, etc. You can find more information on how to write an essay or another type of paper in specialized online guides.

4.3. Add Quotes and Examples

To prove that you aren’t making up arguments on the fly, you should provide supporting evidence. You have to refer back to your sources and cite articles and books found during your research.

You can cite a source as supporting evidence like this:

You will be rephrasing and analyzing others’ opinions on your chosen topic for most of your work. However, from time to time, a direct quotation is necessary to support your arguments. This is suitable in the following cases:

• You don’t want to lose the author’s original meaning by summarizing or paraphrasing their words.
• The language in the source material is very effective and would be weakened if you tried to reword it.
• The language that the author is using is important historically.
• The authority found in the source will lend more credibility to the point you are trying to make.

5. Cite Your Sources

Congratulations – your work is nearly finished! You have only a couple of steps left. To round up your research, compile a list of sources you have used. You should also indicate which parts you have cited in your text. That is what we are going to discuss in this section.

Simply put, a citation is used to refer back to the source material. You can cite anything, from an academic article or book to a video or even a viral tweet. This is how you give credit to the original author for their work.

There are a couple of ways to utilize citations in your work correctly:

• When employing quotations, summarizing, or paraphrasing in your text, use in-text citations . These must be placed directly in the body of the work in parenthesis, following the cited fragment. The in-text citations are always shortened, referring only to the author and the year of publishing. Sometimes, for larger works, the page number is also included.
• The full citations go into the references/works cited page at the end of your work. This is also sometimes referred to as a bibliography. These include various features, such as the title of the work, the author’s name, date of publishing, etc. Different citation styles require different elements to be mentioned. Make sure to double-check which one your institution expects you to use.

As we mentioned, while creating any academic work, you are expected to use references. You will have to choose a particular citation style or be directed to one by your instructor. This style will be used consistently throughout your work. Each one has its specific features and guidelines.

Here is what you can expect from them:

You can read more about each citation style if you follow the links for the related referencing guides .

In the previous sections, we have examined search engines, databases, and websites that you can use in your research. However, there are plenty of other online tools that can be very useful for your work process. We are going to talk about them here.

The following online tools can help you immensely while you research:

• ProCon.org is a website that allows you to consider several viewpoints on debatable issues. It features multiple controversial topics and lets the readers experience different sides of the arguments in a non-biased manner.
• Journal TOCs is a service that allows you to discover the newest academic papers as soon as they are available online. When writing about current events, it is essential to stay up-to-date, especially concerning research.
• EndNote is a multifunctional tool with many valuable features. It provides you with fast database search, automatic bibliography, and more. Research takes an incredible amount of time and effort, and this program is determined to save you time and resources.
• Paperpile is an extension for your browser and can be installed on your mobile devices as well. Tracking down and compiling your references can become a hassle – this is why Paperpile manages them for you.
• Zotero is another useful extension for your browser. It collects and organizes your research for you. It can also help you with the creation of your citations and allows you to collaborate with others.
• RefWorks is a tool that allows you to save your references from any webpage. It also helps you import them from online databases. You will be able to annotate and highlight your texts, as well as quickly search through them.
• Science Daily allows its readers to browse through all the latest news in several different spheres. Keeping up with updates in the scientific sphere is essential for any researcher, but especially those in the STEM fields. ScienceDaily is a must-have if you need to save time.
• DeepDyve gives you access to different current research articles for a limited time. A large number of valuable sources online are locked behind a paywall. It tends to be troublesome and expensive. DeepDyve allows you to check articles for free to see whether you need them for your research or not.

Thank you for your attention! We hope that you are now feeling more prepared to approach research in any sphere. Share this page with other students who you think could use our guide.

🔗 References

• Basic Steps in the Research Process – North Hennepin Community College
• How to Do Research A Step-By-Step Guide: Get Started – LibGuides at Elmira College
• Conducting Research: the Process – Research Guides at Washington University in St. Louis
• Research Process: Select your Topic – Nash Library & Student Learning Commons at Gannon University
• Developing Research Questions – Research & Learning Online, Monash University
• How to Write a Research Question – Guides at The Writing Center, George Mason University
• Research Process Step by Step: Identify Keywords – Subject and Course Guides at University of Texas at Arlington
• Start Your Research: Evaluate Your Info – Library Guides at University of California, Santa Cruz
• 19 Notetaking Tips for College Students – Post University
• Writing a Paper: Outlining – Academic Guides at Walden University
• How to Outline – Purdue Online Writing Lab, College of Liberal Arts, Purdue University
• What Is Research: Definition, Types, Methods & Examples – QuestionPro
• Thesis Statements – The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 5 Steps to Create the Perfect Outline – Brandon Ramey, Herzing University
• How to Cite – University of Arizona Libraries
• The Research Process: How to Cite – LibGuides at Franklin & Marshall College
• Share via Facebook
• Share via Twitter
• Share via LinkedIn
• Share via email

Productive tips of information in advancing research skills. I recommend this content to all potential professionals. Thanks for your anticipatory contribution to all the budding academic and research communities.

This is strictly a rich content that goes along way in advancing the research prowess more importantly to the budding researchers. Thank you so much for this.

We are glad to hear your opinion! Thank you, Benard!

• Harvard Library
• Research Guides
• HKS Library & Research Services

Start Your Research

The essentials, find articles.

Google Scholar ( connect to Harvard Library )

Find Grey Literature

Think Tank Search

Discover More

• Book an in-person meeting at https://ken.sc/meet-a-librarian-in-person
• Book a virtual meeting at https://ken.sc/meet-a-librarian-virtual

Other Recommended Library Resources

• Social Science Premium Collection (Harvard Login) Database collection covering the social sciences. Includes PAIS for public policy research. See also Academic Search Premier (Harvard Login) and Web of Science (Harvard Login) .
• Business Premium Collection (Harvard Login) Articles from over 1000 academic management, marketing, and general business journals. See also Business Source Complete (Harvard Login) .
• Legistorm Pro (Harvard Login) Timely and comprehensive database of contact and biographical information for congress and congressional staff. This resource also includes social media activity, news, and press releases.
• Economist Intelligence Unit (Harvard Login) Country, industry, and risk data and analysis. See also our guide to Country Information Sources .
• ProQuest Congressional (Harvard Login) Coverage includes Bills and Laws, Committee Prints, Congressional Record Bound, CRS Reports, Hearings, & Legislative Histories. See also CQ Press Library (Harvard Login) .
• Sage Research Methods (Harvard Login) Research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE's book, journal and reference content.
• Last Updated: Aug 7, 2023 9:10 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/hks/research

Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy

• Follow us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Criminal Justice
• Environment
• Politics & Government
• Race & Gender

Expert Commentary

Research strategy guide for finding quality, credible sources

Strategies for finding academic studies and other information you need to give your stories authority and depth

Republish this article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License .

by Keely Wilczek, The Journalist's Resource May 20, 2011

This <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org/home/research-strategy-guide/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://journalistsresource.org">The Journalist's Resource</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://journalistsresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-jr-favicon-150x150.png" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

Knowing how to conduct deeper research efficiently and effectively is a critical skill for journalists — especially in the information age. It is, like other facets of the profession such as interviewing, a matter of practice and establishing good habits. And once you find a successful routine for information-gathering, it will pay dividends time and again.

Journalists need to be able to do many kinds of research. This article focuses on creating a research strategy that will help you find academic studies and related scholarly information. These sources can, among other things, give your stories extra authority and depth — and thereby distinguish your work. You can see examples of such studies — and find many relevant ones for your stories — by searching the Journalist’s Resource database . But that is just a representative sample of what exists in the research world.

The first step is to create a plan for seeking the information you need. This requires you to take time initially and to proceed with care, but it will ultimately pay off in better results. The research strategy covered in this article involves the following steps:

Get organized

Articulate your topic, locate background information.

• Identify your information needs

List keywords and concepts for search engines and databases

Consider the scope of your topic, conduct your searches, evaluate the information sources you found, analyze and adjust your research strategy.

Being organized is an essential part of effective research strategy. You should create a record of your strategy and your searches. This will prevent you from repeating searches in the same resources and from continuing to use ineffective terms. It will also help you assess the success or failure of your research strategy as you go through the process. You also may want to consider tracking and organizing citations and links in bibliographic software such as Zotero . (See this helpful resource guide about using Zotero.)

Next, write out your topic in a clear and concise manner. Good research starts with a specific focus.

For example, let’s say you are writing a story about the long-range health effects of the explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant based on a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives titled, “The Chernobyl Accident 20 Years On: An Assessment of the Health Consequences and the International Response.” (The study is summarized in Journalist’s Resource here .)

A statement of your topic might be, “Twenty years after the Chernobyl disaster, scientists are still learning the affects of the accident on the health of those who lived in the surrounding area and their descendants.”

If you have a good understanding of the Chernobyl disaster, proceed to the next step, “Identify the information you need.” If not, it’s time to gather background information. This will supply you with the whos and the whens of the topic. It will also provide you with a broader context as well as the important terminology.

Excellent sources of background information are subject-specific encyclopedias and dictionaries, books, and scholarly articles, and organizations’ websites. You should always consult more than one source so you can compare for accuracy and bias.

For your story about Chernobyl, you might want to consult some of the following sources:

• Frequently Asked Chernobyl Questions , International Atomic Agency
• Chernobyl Accident 1986 , World Nuclear Association
• Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment , New York Academy of Sciences, 2009.
• “Chernobyl Disaster,” Encyclopedia Britannica, last updated 2013.

Identify the information you need

What information do you need to write your story? One way to determine this is to turn your overall topic into a list of questions to be answered. This will help you identify the type and level of information you need. Some possible questions on consequences of the Chernobyl accident are:

• What are the proven health effects?
• What are some theorized health effects?
• Is there controversy about any of these studies?
• What geographic area is being studied?
• What are the demographic characteristics of the population being studied?
• Was there anything that could have been done at the time to mitigate these effects?

Looking at these questions, it appears that scientific studies and scholarly articles about those studies, demographic data, disaster response analysis, and government documents and publications from the Soviet Union and Ukraine would be needed.

Now you need to determine what words you will use to enter in the search boxes within resources. One way to begin is to extract the most important words and phrases from the questions produced in the previous step. Next, think about alternative words and phrases that you might use. Always keep in mind that different people may write or talk about the same topic in different ways. Important concepts can referred to differently or be spelled differently depending on country of origin or field of study.

For the Chernobyl health story, some search keyword options are: “Chernobyl,” “Chornobyl”; “disaster,” “catastrophe,” “explosion”; “health,” “disease,” “illness,” “medical conditions”; “genetic mutation,” “gene mutation,” “germ-line mutation,” “hereditary disease.” Used in different combinations, these can unearth a wide variety of resources.

Next you should identify the scope of your topic and any limitations it puts on your searches. Some examples of limitations are language, publication date, and publication type. Every database and search engine will have its own rules so you may need to click on an advanced search option in order to input these limitations.

It is finally time to start looking for information but identifying which resources to use is not always easy to do. First, if you are part of an organization, find out what, if any, resources you have access to through a subscription. Examples of subscription resources are LexisNexis and JSTOR. If your organization does not provide subscription resources, find out if you can get access to these sources through your local library. Should you not have access to any subscription resources appropriate for your topic, look at some of the many useful free resources on the internet.

Here are some examples of sources for free information:

• PLoS , Public Library of Science
• Google Scholar
• SSRN , Social Science Research Network
• FDsys , U.S. Government documents and publications
• World Development Indicators , World Bank
• Pubmed , service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine

More quality sites, and search tips, are here among the other research articles at Journalist’s Resource.

As you only want information from the most reliable and suitable sources, you should always evaluate your results. In doing this, you can apply journalism’s Five W’s (and One H):

• Who : Who is the author and what are his/her credentials in this topic?
• What: Is the material primary or secondary in nature?
• Where: Is the publisher or organization behind the source considered reputable? Does the website appear legitimate?
• When: Is the source current or does it cover the right time period for your topic?
• Why: Is the opinion or bias of the author apparent and can it be taken into account?
• How: Is the source written at the right level for your needs? Is the research well-documented?

Were you able to locate the information you needed? If not, now it is time to analyze why that happened. Perhaps there are better resources or different keywords and concepts you could have tried. Additional background information might supply you with other terminology to use. It is also possible that the information you need is just not available in the way you need it and it may be necessary to consult others for assistance like an expert in the topic or a professional librarian.

Keely Wilczek is a research librarian at the Harvard Kennedy School. Tags: training

About The Author

Keely Wilczek

How to Conduct Research Online

Electronic resources are abounding, and they can be of very high quality. The best way to find peer-reviewed, high-quality journal articles for your online research is to access them through your online library, or to purchase the articles through an article provider.

However, there are excellent sources that are both accurate and of high quality on the Web, and they are often free and not password protected.

Search Online Degree Programs

Whether you are looking for journal articles, monographs, factual information, or high-quality publicly available resources, the same principles apply. Narrow your topic, make sure your search terms are relevant and focused, make sure your articles and your topic are in alignment, examine your sources for bias and distortion, and finally, make sure that your research provides sufficient support and background for your argument.

Let's expand these online research tips and look at them again. It is useful to look at each of them individually and to think about how and why you will be engaged in activities.

Define Your Topic.

Narrow it down, but don't constrain it too much. Develop a solid thesis statement that gives you room to develop an argument. This is a great time to do brainstorming. Clusters, mind maps, concept maps, decision trees, and free-writing are all very effective.

Determine What Fields of Study Your Online Research Question Will Address.

Identifying the fields of study will help you determine which journals and subject or field-specific databases to search for your online research.

Make a List of Items That Interest You About the Topic.

For example, you may be required to write an essay on an aspect of Hamlet in your English class . At first, you feel overwhelmed. Later, however, you think about the characters and situations that most interested you and you recall that Ophelia's speech and then her subsequent death were interesting to you. You wondered about the psychological state, and how she was perceived by the others in the play. Does her situation illustrate something essential about the human condition? You don't have any idea, but you'd like to explore it. So, you start by looking into what others have said about Ophelia in Hamlet . You find that her madness and death reflect and reinforce the overall themes of death, madness, murder, and betrayal. How does Ophelia's madness contrast with Hamlet's? You start jotting down ideas and key words. These will help you develop search terms and to focus your search by going to the correct types of journals and publications.

Narrow Your Topic.

This requires another round of brainstorming, but this time you will be focusing on what others have written. List terms, ideas, and concepts that occur to you, and then focus on the subcategories that you find most interesting.

Then, use the list to narrow your topic. Avoid worn-out subjects and ones that are too narrow or too broad.

What Have Others Said?

As you conduct preliminary research in the library, you will find books and articles on your topic. As you read the material, try to form an idea of what the major issues have been in the discussions about your topic.

For example, if your topic is on how stem cells could treat Lou Gehrig's Disease, you will need to have an idea of who the first people who started researching the topic. You will also need to identify the sides of the argument. Who is for it? Who is against it? Why? What are the issues?

Once you have a sense of the main players, you can start to do searches based on author name as well as key words or topics.

Ironically, in some cases, you may even have to be aware that the site may not have the original version of the information you're citing. They may, in actuality, be borrowing from another site. This is particularly the case with Web sites and services that subscribe to Weblogs or where the information is mirrored because they have chosen to pull the entire article in the feed.

Evaluate Your Material.

How do you determine if a source of information is of high quality? Even if you are obtaining your data from a library database such as Lexis-Nexis, you should be aware that the articles contained in the newspapers they have in their database could be biased.

If it has advertising or links indicating that the owner is a member of an affiliate program on it, does such activity automatically make the site untrustworthy? In the past, it might have been an automatic disqualifier to see links to advertising, sponsors, or affiliate programs that pay the Website owner a few cents for referrals. However, one can not make such assumptions now. In fact, the presence of affiliate links may indicate that the Website is a labor of love, and that there are no ideological or commercial ties. Further, the lack of commercial ties may actually be a negative factor because it may mean that the enterprise is so profitable, or the ideological motivations are so strong that there are numerous well-endowed backers, or a highly successful business model.

Here are a few considerations as you evaluate your sources for online research.

• Refereed journals. This is an academic journal that requires all articles to be reviewed by experts in the field. They require revisions and will reject articles if they do not meet standards.
• Books and serial monographs. In this case, it depends on the publisher and whether or not they evaluate, judge, and critique the material to assure that only the most reliable are published.
• Series sponsored by an association or reputable group. These are very common in the humanities, particularly in the hosting of content in the public domain.
• Wikis and collaborations. Variable quality. They can be extremely good and reliable, but the quality, quantity, depth, and breadth will be variable, as will be the scope of the contributions. There can be bias, distortion, or gaps (lacunae) in information.
• Weblogs and personal/corporate Web sites. Some are absolutely brilliant. Others are dismal. One can use the information, but it must be approached with care and extreme caution.
• Term paper repositories. Needless to say, we have not mentioned termpapers.com and other places that will sell you a term paper, or will allow you to share term papers with others. These are not the only unreliable sources of information in the Internet. It goes without saying that you should not use these, unless you're just determined to commit academic misconduct. You could cite them correctly, but they probably aren't the best source, unless your paper is about the traffic in term papers online.
• Summaries, overviews, and study guides. I, like everyone else, love Pink Monkey. However, I would think twice before actually citing it in a paper. I think that the best way to use Pink Monkey, Cliff Notes, Wikipedia, etc. is as a point of departure. Use them to gain an appreciation of your subject and to orient yourself. However, the information can be very imprecise and inaccurate, particularly in their plot summaries. They leave out details and discussion points that may be precisely the ones that you need.
• Student postings, peer-to-peer downloads of notes, texts, etc. These are excellent if you're interested in seeing how students write papers, and they can serve either as guides or as cautionary tales.
• Parody Web sites. Believe it or not, some students have actually cited information from parody sites as fact! The Onion.com comes to mind. This is a site that masquerades as a legitimate news site, but is, in fact, pure parody. How can you tell if a site is a parody, or so biased that the information it contains is unusable? Compare the information with others. Does it seem outlandish or extremely biased? Look at least three or four sites.

Organize Your Sources, Articles, and Notes.

After you have found your articles, be sure to organize them so that you have a sense of where they will go in your paper. Keep your primary thesis in mind, and the points you are trying to make and will support with evidence and research findings from your articles.

This is a good time to return to your outline and to start mapping out where you plan to use your sources and citations.

Create an Annotated Bibliography.

As you download and read your articles during your online research, you can keep track of them by creating an "electronic notebook" which would consist of a citation of your sources. Create an entry for each source. Use the appropriate style (MLA, APA, CBE, Chicago, etc.). After you have completed that, be sure to write a one-sentence overview/summary of the article and how it relates to your topic.

If you're unsure how to cite references check out our guide on How to Avoid Plagiarism .

Update Your Outline.

Re-examine your thesis. Look at your argumentation structure. Does each paragraph and subsection help support your thesis? How does your research fit? Determine where you have gaps, redundancies, or where your sources take you on a tangent.

Fill in the Gaps.

Make a list of the places in your paper where you need additional support for your argument. Then, after eliminating redundancies, map where you need to fill gaps, and where your argument needs additional support.

Fill Out The Form to Get Matched to Schools For Free!

How to Do Research: A Step-By-Step Guide: Get Started

• Get Started
• 1a. Select a Topic
• 1b. Develop Research Questions
• 1c. Identify Keywords
• 1d. Find Background Information
• 1e. Refine a Topic
• 2a. Search Strategies
• 2d. Articles
• 2e. Videos & Images
• 2f. Databases
• 2g. Websites
• 2h. Grey Literature
• 2i. Open Access Materials
• 3a. Evaluate Sources
• 3b. Primary vs. Secondary
• 3c. Types of Periodicals
• 4a. Take Notes
• 4b. Outline the Paper
• 4c. Incorporate Source Material
• 5a. Avoid Plagiarism
• 5b. Zotero & MyBib
• 5c. MLA Formatting
• 5d. MLA Citation Examples
• 5e. APA Formatting
• 5f. APA Citation Examples
• 5g. Annotated Bibliographies

Research Essentials Video Tutorials

Related guides.

• Elmira College Writing Center Get one-on-one assistance for all types of writing.

Recommended Websites

• Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL)

Research Process Overview

Step 1.  Develop a topic Select a Topic | Develop Research Questions | Identify Keywords | Find Background Information | Refine a Topic

Step 2. Locate information Search Strategies | Books | eBooks | Articles  | Videos & Images | Databases | Websites | Grey Literature

Step 3. Evaluate and analyze information Evaluate Sources | Primary vs Secondary | Types of Periodicals

Step 4. Write, organize, and communicate information Take Notes | Outline the Paper | Incorporate Source Material

Step 5. Cite sources Avoid Plagiarism | Zotero & MyBib | MLA | APA | Chicago Style | Annotated Bibliographies

For research help,  use one of the following options:

Ask the GTL

• Next: Step 1: Develop a Topic >>
• Last Updated: May 29, 2024 1:53 PM
• URL: https://libguides.elmira.edu/research

- News, tips, inspiration you can trust to thrive in today’s digital age.

Search form

8 tips for effective internet research.

Whether you are a blogger, scientist, student, journalist or anyone in-between, learning how to use the internet for research is essential.

Online research gives credence to your work, augments your knowledge, and boosts your chances for professional success.

Proper research proves to readers or even listeners that you are not just making stuff up.

So, how do you use the internet properly and effectively for research?

How to Use the Internet for Research

Online research is not mere Googling or casual Web browsing. Anyone can Google, but few can draw the best results from the abundance of material posted online.

If you want to nail your online research, you need to learn some key skills for performing effective internet searches.

Here are eight tips to help you nail your online research each time.

1. Know what kind of research you want to do first.

There are two basic types of online research you can do: Soft research and hard research .

• Hard research is used for looking up factual, scientific, objective topics where statistics, numbers and other rigorous evidence is required.
• Soft research is used for opinion-based topics, such as something trendy mentioned in the news. Soft research is, of course, easier to do than hard research.

Knowing exactly what kind of research on the internet you want to do beforehand enables you to narrow down where to look for that information.

If you want opinion pieces on some current event in the news, you can head straight to newspapers like the New York Times to find what you want.

If, on the other hand, you want hard statistics on some aspect of the U.S. population, you can go straight to websites like the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics ( BLS ), or you can search for relevant reports like the United States census reports.

The more exactly you know what you are looking for, the easier it will be to find it.

2. Make a list of keywords you will use in your online search.

Think about the topic you are researching and come up with different ways of expressing the same idea in less than four or five words. For example, if you are trying to find out everything you can about NSA spying, NSA spying is an obvious keyword phrase you could list down to start with. However, you should not stop at that.

Expand your keywords list to find more pertinent information on the topic. For example, you could expand your keywords to include phrases like Impact of NSA spying US or NSA spying Europe and so on, depending on the information you seek. Just take some time to clearly define your primary keywords on paper or in your head.

3. Enclose keywords in quotation marks.

Enter your primary keywords in Google, enclose them in quotation marks , and then hit search. Quotations allow you to refine your search in Google and find the exact word or set of words (keywords) you are looking for.

For example, if you want to find out all you can about the world’s fastest animal, you will probably type into Google the keywords: the world’s fastest animal . In this case, Google could bring up, say, 42,600,000 web page results.

However, when you enclose your keyword phrase with quotations, Google may return some 2,360,000 search results that contain the exact keywords you used. This latter number is still large, but you get more refined search results.

4. Use the minus sign (-).

The minus sign or a dash (-) is another way to filter unwanted words in search and refine your search results.

For example, if you are searching for information about jaguar the animal, typing into Google Jaguar will return a huge number of web pages many of which are about Jaguar the luxury speed car. However, if you type into Google the keywords jaguar -car , the search engine will filter out pages about cars and bring up the pages you want about jaguar the animal.

Google has more search modifiers like intitle: that help you refine your search and make searching more precise. Read more on these modifiers on Google Guide and Google search operator page .

5. Try specialized search engines.

Google may be your favorite search engine, but it is not the only search engine out there. Sometimes you will get better results researching your topic using specialized search engines .

For example, some websites prevent Google from indexing their pages for different reasons. Some of these websites have quite useful web pages, but the pages only exist in what is often known as the "invisible web."

Try specialized search engines like Scholarpedia ,  Google Patent Search ,  Internet Archive , Jooble, Squool Tube, and Congress.gov to research your topic and get information you may be missing. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you unearth in the invisible web.

6. Skim through search results web pages.

When you use a search engine, you will get a web page listing results. Skim through the text below each link in the results page to find out what the linked page is about. This can save you time clicking on irrelevant pages. It's frustrating and time-wasting to wait a few seconds or so for a page to load, only to find it is not helpful.

Angle towards pages with URLs ending with .gov , .edu and .org for hard research as these tend to be more authoritative, non-profit-making sources. Websites ending in .com are commercial in nature and some may not be entirely upfront with their information or motives.

7. Bookmark, bookmark, bookmark!

Every time you come across an interesting link, bookmark it. Even if you are not sure how exactly the link is important, bookmark it anyway. A link can easily be deleted from bookmarks, but stumbling upon an especially useful link does not happen everyday.

Create a new folder for each topic you are researching and bookmark links in to their respective folders. This way you can easily retrieve the links you need for each research topic.

8. Review your bookmarks.

Go through all your bookmarks and sort them according to relevance and credibility. Not all information you find online will be accurate, up-to-date or relevant. Highlight any important bits or parts of links you do find useful. Draw from the useful links and write down some notes in preparation for putting them together in your own written piece later.

If you find a page has too many disrupting advertisements, spelling mistakes or unusual pop-ups, fonts and colors, be careful about trusting the information in it. Discard links that are not useful and credible enough for your purpose.

In conclusion

Don't forget to keep the details of all authors, URLs, and titles of web pages you decide to use or refer to safely. You may need to retrieve this info later, say, when you want to give credit to your sources.

Remember, giving credit to your sources protects you from possible plagiarism violations, proves to readers you actually did your research well, and ultimately helps build trust and credibility.

George Mathews is a journalist, content strategist, and staff writer at WebWriterSpotlight.com . He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, and has over a decade of experience creating helpful web content. He covers various topics from human interest stories to productivity and career development.

Related stories.

Why the Internet Is the Best Source of News

Ways the Internet Is Indispensable to Entrepreneurs

How the Internet Has Revolutionized Industries and the Way We Live

Internet Provider Comparison Sites Can Help Your Business

Trolls Dominate Online Discussions, Future of the Internet Not Great (Research)

Google’s New Literacy Program Is Helping Kids “Be Internet Awesome”

New Internet Safeguards Could Put Web Users at Risk

View the discussion thread.

Share this article

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER  

Get our best content, news, tips, and inspiration in your inbox free.

Join Over 20,000 Subscribers!

Get our best content, tips, and inspiration free in your inbox.  Subscribe ››

Most read this week

Got a story or tip for us?

Here's how to submit it →

Latest posts

How to develop a winning mindset and live life to the fullest.

IT Outsourcing: What Are the Risks?

Why (and When) to Consider Recruiting Internationally for Your Business

Despite bad press about immigrants and expat workers, recruiting workers from across the world can be key to your business’ success.

10 Tips for Cold-Pitching Stories to Big Publishers [Infographic]

How to Manage an Employee Skills Matrix (Best Practices)

• Load 5 More Stories ▽

Contributors blogs

Blog here »

Stay Cool During Summer Without Air Conditioner with These 7 Hacks

What You Must Ask Before Buying Your First Diamonds

7 Diseases That CBD Oil Is Helping to Treat Right Now

Different Types of Doctors and What They Do

How to Identify Fake Influencers and Save Your Brand from Hoaxes

How to Support Sick Employees Battle COVID-19

Motion Graphics Animations: Key Things to Know

Like this content subscribe for updates.

EXPLORE MORE ...

News & Features   ›

5 Trending #Sustainability Hashtags (& Ways to Live a Greener Life)

Employability Mid-Pandemic: Job Searches Rise While Career Searches Plummet

Why Hotdesking and Homeworking Are Crucial Engagement & Retention Tools

Tech & Trends   ›

Impressive Technological Advancements in the Boating Industry

Overcoming Cultural Differences in Outsourced Software Dev Teams

How to Leverage Technology for Flawless Event Planning

Arts & culture   ›.

Is Offset Printing the Future for Indie Authors?

30 Old English Words We Should All Be Using

How to Teach Kids the Real Meaning of Christmas

Business & Economy   ›

How to Create a Culture of Safety for a Secure & Productive Workplace

How to Streamline Part Traceability in Electronics Manufacturing

A Guide to Finding the Right Co-Working Space

Health & Style   ›

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Table Fan

How to Identify (and Deal) with Imposter Syndrome

Supplements That Are Important for Pregnancy

7 tips for effective research online

Wondering how to make the most of your research time and hit your deadlines? Check out our 7 top tips for effective research online

1. Have a question in mind

It might sound strange but the most effective way to research online is to know the answer you’re looking for. When any single search term can bring up millions of results, you’re guaranteed to find irrelevant content. Having a specific question and answer in mind helps you narrow it down and quickly get rid of the content that doesn’t matter. Write the question down (or use it as your Wakelet collection title) so that it acts as a constant reminder. And be ruthless; if an article, blog or video doesn’t answer that question, it shouldn’t be part of your research.

2. Keep to a schedule

Starting a big research project can be overwhelming. You’re faced with an endless number of potential sources and a looming deadline. One technique that I’ve also found helpful is to implement a research schedule. Take a step back and put a timeline in place. If your work is due in six weeks, for example, do you need to have a draft in five and an outline in four? Work backwards until you have a research period marked out. Then look at your diary – can you spend three hours in the library during free periods and block out a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon? When you have this dedicated research time in place, it’ll help you stay focused.

3. Organize, organize, organize

When you’re researching online, you’ll likely gather a lot of information, quickly. You need to be organized from the start, before you get buried in links! Luckily, Wakelet can help. Why not create a collect for each source type (articles, videos, blogs, for example) or break it down by topic? You can even use the Notes feature to remind yourself why you saved that source or which section of the article will be most useful when you revisit your research. And best of all, you’re not just left with a list of links – your bookmarks will be visual, engaging, and easily identifiable.

4. Follow where the research takes you

The most effective researchers don’t limit themselves. As long as you’re discerning with the sources you save, it’s worth taking a chance and following an unfamiliar lead. If a helpful article cites a paper by an academic you’ve not heard of or a speech you’ve never seen, add those to your research list. In the same way that you might investigate the bibliography of a textbook, the sources mentioned in online content can be just as useful, help to expand your research, and offer an alternative perspective to more familiar sources.

5. Gather info as you go

So, you have your timetable sorted and you’ve been setting aside dedicated research time but someone just tweeted an article that could be really relevant and you’re in the park eating lunch – what do you do? Thanks to Wakelet, you don’t have to wait ‘til you get home or like the Tweet but let it get lost in your timeline by the time you’re sitting down to research again. Instead, use the Wakelet app to quickly and easily add any piece of content into your collections. With the share extension, it only takes a couple of clicks and your content will be there, waiting for you, as soon as you’re back on your desktop at home.

6. Evaluate your sources

While you shouldn’t limit your research, you do need to be discerning when it comes to online sources. After all, almost anyone can get their work published online, whether they’re uploading their own videos to YouTube , writing on their own blog, or expressing themselves in 280 characters on Twitter . And it can be tough to tell fact from fiction. Be vigilant and assess every source – even the most credible – with a critical eye. Ask yourself, is the author writing from a particular perspective? Is their account backed up by other sources? Do they have an ulterior motive? Question yourself and your sources regularly.

7. Don’t limit what you look for

Talk about research and most people think about academic journals, articles written by professors, and official records. These are, of course, all important sources but, in the modern digital age, you shouldn’t discount other forms of media. YouTube is home to a host of documentary-standard videos, podcasts are often helmed by respected investigative journalists or leaders in their field, and historic minstrels can be found on Spotify. Enrich your research by making the most of these more unusual sources.

Related Articles

How i use wakelet: by tanvir singh.

Read about how Tanvir is using Wakelet for his not-for-profit, and for recording his academic...

Harness The Power of Wakelet For Research

Curate your research project into Wakelet collections!

How to use Wakelet in the workplace

Do you struggle to get organized? Need a new way to present research and showcase your successes?...

Basic Steps in the Research Process

The following steps outline a simple and effective strategy for writing a research paper. Depending on your familiarity with the topic and the challenges you encounter along the way, you may need to rearrange these steps.

Step 1: Identify and develop your topic

Selecting a topic can be the most challenging part of a research assignment. Since this is the very first step in writing a paper, it is vital that it be done correctly. Here are some tips for selecting a topic:

• Select a topic within the parameters set by the assignment. Many times your instructor will give you clear guidelines as to what you can and cannot write about. Failure to work within these guidelines may result in your proposed paper being deemed unacceptable by your instructor.
• Select a topic of personal interest to you and learn more about it. The research for and writing of a paper will be more enjoyable if you are writing about something that you find interesting.
• Select a topic for which you can find a manageable amount of information. Do a preliminary search of information sources to determine whether existing sources will meet your needs. If you find too much information, you may need to narrow your topic; if you find too little, you may need to broaden your topic.
• Be original. Your instructor reads hundreds of research papers every year, and many of them are on the same topics (topics in the news at the time, controversial issues, subjects for which there is ample and easily accessed information). Stand out from your classmates by selecting an interesting and off-the-beaten-path topic.
• Still can't come up with a topic to write about? See your instructor for advice.

Once you have identified your topic, it may help to state it as a question. For example, if you are interested in finding out about the epidemic of obesity in the American population, you might pose the question "What are the causes of obesity in America ?" By posing your subject as a question you can more easily identify the main concepts or keywords to be used in your research.

Step 2 : Do a preliminary search for information

Before beginning your research in earnest, do a preliminary search to determine whether there is enough information out there for your needs and to set the context of your research. Look up your keywords in the appropriate titles in the library's Reference collection (such as encyclopedias and dictionaries) and in other sources such as our catalog of books, periodical databases, and Internet search engines. Additional background information may be found in your lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve readings. You may find it necessary to adjust the focus of your topic in light of the resources available to you.

Step 3: Locate materials

With the direction of your research now clear to you, you can begin locating material on your topic. There are a number of places you can look for information:

If you are looking for books, do a subject search in One Search . A Keyword search can be performed if the subject search doesn't yield enough information. Print or write down the citation information (author, title,etc.) and the location (call number and collection) of the item(s). Note the circulation status. When you locate the book on the shelf, look at the books located nearby; similar items are always shelved in the same area. The Aleph catalog also indexes the library's audio-visual holdings.

Use the library's  electronic periodical databases  to find magazine and newspaper articles. Choose the databases and formats best suited to your particular topic; ask at the librarian at the Reference Desk if you need help figuring out which database best meets your needs. Many of the articles in the databases are available in full-text format.

Use search engines ( Google ,  Yahoo , etc.) and subject directories to locate materials on the Internet. Check the  Internet Resources  section of the NHCC Library web site for helpful subject links.

Step 4: Evaluate your sources

See the  CARS Checklist for Information Quality   for tips on evaluating the authority and quality of the information you have located. Your instructor expects that you will provide credible, truthful, and reliable information and you have every right to expect that the sources you use are providing the same. This step is especially important when using Internet resources, many of which are regarded as less than reliable.

Step 5: Make notes

Consult the resources you have chosen and note the information that will be useful in your paper. Be sure to document all the sources you consult, even if you there is a chance you may not use that particular source. The author, title, publisher, URL, and other information will be needed later when creating a bibliography.

Step 6: Write your paper

Begin by organizing the information you have collected. The next step is the rough draft, wherein you get your ideas on paper in an unfinished fashion. This step will help you organize your ideas and determine the form your final paper will take. After this, you will revise the draft as many times as you think necessary to create a final product to turn in to your instructor.

Step 7: Cite your sources properly

Give credit where credit is due; cite your sources.

Citing or documenting the sources used in your research serves two purposes: it gives proper credit to the authors of the materials used, and it allows those who are reading your work to duplicate your research and locate the sources that you have listed as references. The  MLA  and the  APA  Styles are two popular citation formats.

Failure to cite your sources properly is plagiarism. Plagiarism is avoidable!

Step 8: Proofread

The final step in the process is to proofread the paper you have created. Read through the text and check for any errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Make sure the sources you used are cited properly. Make sure the message that you want to get across to the reader has been thoroughly stated.

Additional research tips:

• Work from the general to the specific -- find background information first, then use more specific sources.
• Don't forget print sources -- many times print materials are more easily accessed and every bit as helpful as online resources.
• The library has books on the topic of writing research papers at call number area LB 2369.
• If you have questions about the assignment, ask your instructor.
• If you have any questions about finding information in the library, ask the librarian.

Contact Information

Craig larson.

Librarian 763-424-0733 [email protected] Zoom:  myzoom   Available by appointment

Get Started

How to Conduct Effective Research: Tips and Tricks for Beginners

• 11 July 2023

Introduction

Research serves as the foundation for advances in every conceivable subject and is the cornerstone of progress. Starting a research journey can be intimidating for novices. But if you have the correct tools and approaches, it may be a worthwhile endeavor. This blog article seeks to instruct new researchers on how to conduct fruitful research by offering helpful advice and strategies to help them become productive researchers.

1. Define Your Research Question

Determining your research question is the first stage in conducting successful research. A well-crafted question gives you direction and helps you focus your efforts on a certain objective. Ask a question that is as specific as you can. A better inquiry may be, “How is climate change affecting crop production in California?” rather than, “What are the effects of climate change?”

2. Develop a Research Plan

A roadmap is essential for effective research. Describe your strategy while considering the type of information you require, potential sources, and a rough time frame. You can effectively manage your time by taking this step, which will also give your research structure and keep you on track.

3. Understand the Types of Research

There are two basic categories of research: primary and secondary. Primary research is when you collect your own first-hand information, such as through surveys or experiments. Using information gathered by another person, such as data from books, papers, or scholarly articles, is known as secondary research. Knowing the difference can help you choose the approach that best fits your research issue and available resources.

4. Use a Variety of Sources

Your research’s scope and depth are constrained if you rely solely on one type of source. Utilize a variety of credible websites, books, scholarly articles, podcasts, and even multimedia sources like documentaries. Remember that the trustworthiness of your study is influenced by the caliber of your sources.

5. Learn How to Use Databases Effectively

Your time will be much reduced if you learn how to use databases. Scholarly articles can be found in abundance in databases like JSTOR, PubMed, and Google Scholar, among others. Recall that various databases have various advantages; thus, investigate a few to determine which ones best meet your requirements.

6. Master Effective Search Techniques

The research process can be significantly sped up by using excellent search techniques. Learn how to broaden or narrow your search using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), phrase searching using quotation marks, and truncation symbols. You can quickly uncover additional pertinent sources using these methods.

7. Evaluate Your Sources

Information is not all created equal. Always assess the trustworthiness and veracity of your sources. Verify the author’s credentials, the publishing date, and the veracity of the information. Websites with the.edu,.gov, or.org extensions are usually more trustworthy than those with the.com extension.

8. Keep Track of Your Sources

To properly reference your sources and prevent plagiarism, keeping track of them is crucial. Making a system (such as a spreadsheet) where you enter all the relevant citation data as you go is an excellent practice. Also very beneficial are reference management programs like EndNote, Mendeley, or Zotero..

9. Take Effective Notes

Making thorough notes can help you remember knowledge and draw connections across sources. To improve understanding, try to summarise the main ideas in your own words. To show the data and connections, you can also utilize charts, mind maps, or colors.

10. Analyze and Synthesize Your Findings

Making meaning of the information you have gathered involves analysis and synthesis. You must comprehend the situation, evaluate many points of view, spot trends, and reach conclusions. The development of your arguments or the development of your hypotheses depends on this step.

11. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Finally, if you are stuck, don’t be afraid to seek for assistance. Teachers, classmates with more expertise, and librarians can all offer helpful advice. Keep in mind that even experienced researchers occasionally require help.

One size does not fit all when it comes to research. Different projects call for various approaches and plans. However, you can become a successful researcher by defining your question, creating a plan, utilizing a variety of sources, learning efficient search strategies, evaluating your sources, keeping track of references, taking good notes, analyzing and synthesizing data, and asking for assistance when necessary. The most crucial advice is to always be curious and to keep learning. Enjoy your research!

It’s important to keep in mind that understanding how to perform excellent research is a journey that requires constant practice, learning, and development. Research can be a fulfilling and enlightening experience as you gain experience and get more familiar with the procedure. Wishing you well as you pursue your research!

Share This Post:

Leave feedback about this cancel reply.

• Quality 5 4 3 2 1
• Price 5 4 3 2 1
• Service 5 4 3 2 1

How To Write A Research Paper

Step-By-Step Tutorial With Examples + FREE Template

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Expert Reviewer: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | March 2024

For many students, crafting a strong research paper from scratch can feel like a daunting task – and rightly so! In this post, we’ll unpack what a research paper is, what it needs to do , and how to write one – in three easy steps. 🙂 

Overview: Writing A Research Paper

What (exactly) is a research paper.

• How to write a research paper
• Stage 1 : Topic & literature search
• Stage 2 : Structure & outline
• Stage 3 : Iterative writing
• Key takeaways

Let’s start by asking the most important question, “ What is a research paper? ”.

Simply put, a research paper is a scholarly written work where the writer (that’s you!) answers a specific question (this is called a research question ) through evidence-based arguments . Evidence-based is the keyword here. In other words, a research paper is different from an essay or other writing assignments that draw from the writer’s personal opinions or experiences. With a research paper, it’s all about building your arguments based on evidence (we’ll talk more about that evidence a little later).

Now, it’s worth noting that there are many different types of research papers , including analytical papers (the type I just described), argumentative papers, and interpretative papers. Here, we’ll focus on analytical papers , as these are some of the most common – but if you’re keen to learn about other types of research papers, be sure to check out the rest of the blog .

With that basic foundation laid, let’s get down to business and look at how to write a research paper .

Overview: The 3-Stage Process

While there are, of course, many potential approaches you can take to write a research paper, there are typically three stages to the writing process. So, in this tutorial, we’ll present a straightforward three-step process that we use when working with students at Grad Coach.

These three steps are:

• Finding a research topic and reviewing the existing literature
• Developing a provisional structure and outline for your paper, and
• Writing up your initial draft and then refining it iteratively

Let’s dig into each of these.

Need a helping hand?

Step 1: Find a topic and review the literature

As we mentioned earlier, in a research paper, you, as the researcher, will try to answer a question . More specifically, that’s called a research question , and it sets the direction of your entire paper. What’s important to understand though is that you’ll need to answer that research question with the help of high-quality sources – for example, journal articles, government reports, case studies, and so on. We’ll circle back to this in a minute.

The first stage of the research process is deciding on what your research question will be and then reviewing the existing literature (in other words, past studies and papers) to see what they say about that specific research question. In some cases, your professor may provide you with a predetermined research question (or set of questions). However, in many cases, you’ll need to find your own research question within a certain topic area.

Finding a strong research question hinges on identifying a meaningful research gap – in other words, an area that’s lacking in existing research. There’s a lot to unpack here, so if you wanna learn more, check out the plain-language explainer video below.

Once you’ve figured out which question (or questions) you’ll attempt to answer in your research paper, you’ll need to do a deep dive into the existing literature – this is called a “ literature search ”. Again, there are many ways to go about this, but your most likely starting point will be Google Scholar .

If you’re new to Google Scholar, think of it as Google for the academic world. You can start by simply entering a few different keywords that are relevant to your research question and it will then present a host of articles for you to review. What you want to pay close attention to here is the number of citations for each paper – the more citations a paper has, the more credible it is (generally speaking – there are some exceptions, of course).

Ideally, what you’re looking for are well-cited papers that are highly relevant to your topic. That said, keep in mind that citations are a cumulative metric , so older papers will often have more citations than newer papers – just because they’ve been around for longer. So, don’t fixate on this metric in isolation – relevance and recency are also very important.

Beyond Google Scholar, you’ll also definitely want to check out academic databases and aggregators such as Science Direct, PubMed, JStor and so on. These will often overlap with the results that you find in Google Scholar, but they can also reveal some hidden gems – so, be sure to check them out.

Once you’ve worked your way through all the literature, you’ll want to catalogue all this information in some sort of spreadsheet so that you can easily recall who said what, when and within what context. If you’d like, we’ve got a free literature spreadsheet that helps you do exactly that.

Step 2: Develop a structure and outline

With your research question pinned down and your literature digested and catalogued, it’s time to move on to planning your actual research paper .

It might sound obvious, but it’s really important to have some sort of rough outline in place before you start writing your paper. So often, we see students eagerly rushing into the writing phase, only to land up with a disjointed research paper that rambles on in multiple

Now, the secret here is to not get caught up in the fine details . Realistically, all you need at this stage is a bullet-point list that describes (in broad strokes) what you’ll discuss and in what order. It’s also useful to remember that you’re not glued to this outline – in all likelihood, you’ll chop and change some sections once you start writing, and that’s perfectly okay. What’s important is that you have some sort of roadmap in place from the start.

At this stage you might be wondering, “ But how should I structure my research paper? ”. Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here, but in general, a research paper will consist of a few relatively standardised components:

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology

Let’s take a look at each of these.

First up is the introduction section . As the name suggests, the purpose of the introduction is to set the scene for your research paper. There are usually (at least) four ingredients that go into this section – these are the background to the topic, the research problem and resultant research question , and the justification or rationale. If you’re interested, the video below unpacks the introduction section in more detail. 

The next section of your research paper will typically be your literature review . Remember all that literature you worked through earlier? Well, this is where you’ll present your interpretation of all that content . You’ll do this by writing about recent trends, developments, and arguments within the literature – but more specifically, those that are relevant to your research question . The literature review can oftentimes seem a little daunting, even to seasoned researchers, so be sure to check out our extensive collection of literature review content here .

With the introduction and lit review out of the way, the next section of your paper is the research methodology . In a nutshell, the methodology section should describe to your reader what you did (beyond just reviewing the existing literature) to answer your research question. For example, what data did you collect, how did you collect that data, how did you analyse that data and so on? For each choice, you’ll also need to justify why you chose to do it that way, and what the strengths and weaknesses of your approach were.

Now, it’s worth mentioning that for some research papers, this aspect of the project may be a lot simpler . For example, you may only need to draw on secondary sources (in other words, existing data sets). In some cases, you may just be asked to draw your conclusions from the literature search itself (in other words, there may be no data analysis at all). But, if you are required to collect and analyse data, you’ll need to pay a lot of attention to the methodology section. The video below provides an example of what the methodology section might look like.

By this stage of your paper, you will have explained what your research question is, what the existing literature has to say about that question, and how you analysed additional data to try to answer your question. So, the natural next step is to present your analysis of that data . This section is usually called the “results” or “analysis” section and this is where you’ll showcase your findings.

Depending on your school’s requirements, you may need to present and interpret the data in one section – or you might split the presentation and the interpretation into two sections. In the latter case, your “results” section will just describe the data, and the “discussion” is where you’ll interpret that data and explicitly link your analysis back to your research question. If you’re not sure which approach to take, check in with your professor or take a look at past papers to see what the norms are for your programme.

Alright – once you’ve presented and discussed your results, it’s time to wrap it up . This usually takes the form of the “ conclusion ” section. In the conclusion, you’ll need to highlight the key takeaways from your study and close the loop by explicitly answering your research question. Again, the exact requirements here will vary depending on your programme (and you may not even need a conclusion section at all) – so be sure to check with your professor if you’re unsure.

Step 3: Write and refine

Finally, it’s time to get writing. All too often though, students hit a brick wall right about here… So, how do you avoid this happening to you?

Well, there’s a lot to be said when it comes to writing a research paper (or any sort of academic piece), but we’ll share three practical tips to help you get started.

First and foremost , it’s essential to approach your writing as an iterative process. In other words, you need to start with a really messy first draft and then polish it over multiple rounds of editing. Don’t waste your time trying to write a perfect research paper in one go. Instead, take the pressure off yourself by adopting an iterative approach.

Secondly , it’s important to always lean towards critical writing , rather than descriptive writing. What does this mean? Well, at the simplest level, descriptive writing focuses on the “ what ”, while critical writing digs into the “ so what ” – in other words, the implications . If you’re not familiar with these two types of writing, don’t worry! You can find a plain-language explanation here.

Last but not least, you’ll need to get your referencing right. Specifically, you’ll need to provide credible, correctly formatted citations for the statements you make. We see students making referencing mistakes all the time and it costs them dearly. The good news is that you can easily avoid this by using a simple reference manager . If you don’t have one, check out our video about Mendeley, an easy (and free) reference management tool that you can start using today.

Recap: Key Takeaways

We’ve covered a lot of ground here. To recap, the three steps to writing a high-quality research paper are:

• To choose a research question and review the literature
• To plan your paper structure and draft an outline
• To take an iterative approach to writing, focusing on critical writing and strong referencing

Remember, this is just a b ig-picture overview of the research paper development process and there’s a lot more nuance to unpack. So, be sure to grab a copy of our free research paper template to learn more about how to write a research paper.

You Might Also Like:

Can you help me with a full paper template for this Abstract:

Background: Energy and sports drinks have gained popularity among diverse demographic groups, including adolescents, athletes, workers, and college students. While often used interchangeably, these beverages serve distinct purposes, with energy drinks aiming to boost energy and cognitive performance, and sports drinks designed to prevent dehydration and replenish electrolytes and carbohydrates lost during physical exertion.

Objective: To assess the nutritional quality of energy and sports drinks in Egypt.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study assessed the nutrient contents, including energy, sugar, electrolytes, vitamins, and caffeine, of sports and energy drinks available in major supermarkets in Cairo, Alexandria, and Giza, Egypt. Data collection involved photographing all relevant product labels and recording nutritional information. Descriptive statistics and appropriate statistical tests were employed to analyze and compare the nutritional values of energy and sports drinks.

Results: The study analyzed 38 sports drinks and 42 energy drinks. Sports drinks were significantly more expensive than energy drinks, with higher net content and elevated magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C. Energy drinks contained higher concentrations of caffeine, sugars, and vitamins B2, B3, and B6.

Conclusion: Significant nutritional differences exist between sports and energy drinks, reflecting their intended uses. However, these beverages’ high sugar content and calorie loads raise health concerns. Proper labeling, public awareness, and responsible marketing are essential to guide safe consumption practices in Egypt.

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Print Friendly

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications

How to Do Research

Last Updated: March 13, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Matthew Snipp, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . C. Matthew Snipp is the Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor of Humanities and Sciences in the Department of Sociology at Stanford University. He is also the Director for the Institute for Research in the Social Science’s Secure Data Center. He has been a Research Fellow at the U.S. Bureau of the Census and a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. He has published 3 books and over 70 articles and book chapters on demography, economic development, poverty and unemployment. He is also currently serving on the National Institute of Child Health and Development’s Population Science Subcommittee. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. This article has been viewed 227,666 times.

The idea of doing research may seem daunting, but as long as you keep yourself organized and focus on the question you want to answer, you'll be fine. If you're curious and interested in the topic, you might even find it fun! We here at wikiHow have gathered answers to all your most common questions about how to do research, from finding a good topic to identifying the best sources and writing your final paper.

How do I find a topic to research?

• For example, if you're researching in the political science field, you might be interested in determining what leads people to believe that the 2020 US presidential election was illegitimate.

How do I get started on my research?

• For example, if you're researching the 2020 election, you might find that "absentee ballots" and "voting by mail" come up frequently. Those are issues you could look into further to figure out how they impacted the final election results.
• You don't necessarily have to use the overview articles you look at as resources in your actual paper. Even Wikipedia articles can be a good way to learn more about a topic and you can check the references for more reputable sources that might work for your paper.

What's the best way to keep track of my sources?

• Research papers typically discuss 2 or 3 separate things that work together to answer the research question. You might also want to make a note on the front of which thing that source relates to. That'll make it easier for you to organize your sources later.
• For example, if you're researching the 2020 election, you might have a section of your paper discussing voting by mail. For the sources that directly address that issue, write "voting by mail" in the corner.

What kind of notes should I be taking as I research?

• If you find something that you think would make a good quote, copy it out exactly with quote marks around it, then add the page number where it appears so you can correctly cite it in your paper without having to go back and hunt for it again.

How do I evaluate the quality of a source?

• Does the article discuss or reference another article? (If so, use that article instead.)
• What expertise or authority does the author have?
• When was the material written? (Is it the most up-to-date reference you could use?)
• Why was the article published? (Is it trying to sell you something or persuade you to adopt a certain viewpoint?)
• Are the research methods used consistent and reliable? (Appropriate research methods depend on what was studied.)

What if I'm having a hard time finding good sources?

• For example, if you're writing about the 2020 election, you might find tons of stories online, but very little that is reputable enough for you to use in your paper. Because the election happened so recently, it might be too soon for there to be a lot of solid academic research on it. Instead, you might focus on the 2016 election.
• You can also ask for help. Your instructor might be able to point you toward good sources. Research librarians are also happy to help you.

How do I organize my research for my paper?

• For example, if you're researching the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020 election, you might have sections on social distancing and cleaning at in-person voting locations, the accessibility of mail-in ballots, and early voting.

What's the best way to start writing my paper?

• Include an in-text citation for everything that needs one, even in your initial rough draft. That'll help you make sure that you don't inadvertently misattribute or fail to cite something as you work your way through substantive drafts.
• Write your introduction and conclusion only after you're satisfied that the body of your paper is essentially what you want to turn in. Then, you can polish everything up for the final draft.

How can I make sure I'm not plagiarizing?

• If you have any doubt over whether you should cite something, go ahead and do it. You're better off to err on the side of over-citing than to look like you're taking credit for an idea that isn't yours.
• ↑ https://www.nhcc.edu/student-resources/library/doinglibraryresearch/basic-steps-in-the-research-process
• ↑ Matthew Snipp, PhD. Sociology Professor, Stanford University. Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
• ↑ https://library.taylor.edu/eng-212/research-paper
• ↑ http://www.butte.edu/departments/cas/tipsheets/research/research_paper.html
• ↑ https://www.potsdam.edu/sites/default/files/documents/support/tutoring/cwc/6-Simple-Steps-for-Writing-a-Research-Paper.pdf
• ↑ https://www.umgc.edu/current-students/learning-resources/writing-center/online-guide-to-writing/tutorial/chapter4/ch4-05.html

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

About This Article

If you need to do research on a particular topic, start by searching the internet for any information you can find on the subject. In particular, look for sites that are sourced by universities, scientists, academic journals, and government agencies. Next, visit your local library and use the electric card catalog to research which books, magazines, and journals will have information on your topic. Take notes as you read, and write down all of the information you’ll need to cite your sources in your final project. To learn how interviewing a first-hand source can help you during your research, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Shenuka Ranawaka

Sep 16, 2016

Did this article help you?

Ismail El Omari

Mar 3, 2022

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Starting the research process

A Beginner's Guide to Starting the Research Process

When you have to write a thesis or dissertation , it can be hard to know where to begin, but there are some clear steps you can follow.

The research process often begins with a very broad idea for a topic you’d like to know more about. You do some preliminary research to identify a  problem . After refining your research questions , you can lay out the foundations of your research design , leading to a proposal that outlines your ideas and plans.

This article takes you through the first steps of the research process, helping you narrow down your ideas and build up a strong foundation for your research project.

Table of contents

Step 1: choose your topic, step 2: identify a problem, step 3: formulate research questions, step 4: create a research design, step 5: write a research proposal, other interesting articles.

First you have to come up with some ideas. Your thesis or dissertation topic can start out very broad. Think about the general area or field you’re interested in—maybe you already have specific research interests based on classes you’ve taken, or maybe you had to consider your topic when applying to graduate school and writing a statement of purpose .

Even if you already have a good sense of your topic, you’ll need to read widely to build background knowledge and begin narrowing down your ideas. Conduct an initial literature review to begin gathering relevant sources. As you read, take notes and try to identify problems, questions, debates, contradictions and gaps. Your aim is to narrow down from a broad area of interest to a specific niche.

Make sure to consider the practicalities: the requirements of your programme, the amount of time you have to complete the research, and how difficult it will be to access sources and data on the topic. Before moving onto the next stage, it’s a good idea to discuss the topic with your thesis supervisor.

>>Read more about narrowing down a research topic

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

So you’ve settled on a topic and found a niche—but what exactly will your research investigate, and why does it matter? To give your project focus and purpose, you have to define a research problem .

The problem might be a practical issue—for example, a process or practice that isn’t working well, an area of concern in an organization’s performance, or a difficulty faced by a specific group of people in society.

Alternatively, you might choose to investigate a theoretical problem—for example, an underexplored phenomenon or relationship, a contradiction between different models or theories, or an unresolved debate among scholars.

To put the problem in context and set your objectives, you can write a problem statement . This describes who the problem affects, why research is needed, and how your research project will contribute to solving it.

>>Read more about defining a research problem

Next, based on the problem statement, you need to write one or more research questions . These target exactly what you want to find out. They might focus on describing, comparing, evaluating, or explaining the research problem.

A strong research question should be specific enough that you can answer it thoroughly using appropriate qualitative or quantitative research methods. It should also be complex enough to require in-depth investigation, analysis, and argument. Questions that can be answered with “yes/no” or with easily available facts are not complex enough for a thesis or dissertation.

In some types of research, at this stage you might also have to develop a conceptual framework and testable hypotheses .

>>See research question examples

The research design is a practical framework for answering your research questions. It involves making decisions about the type of data you need, the methods you’ll use to collect and analyze it, and the location and timescale of your research.

There are often many possible paths you can take to answering your questions. The decisions you make will partly be based on your priorities. For example, do you want to determine causes and effects, draw generalizable conclusions, or understand the details of a specific context?

You need to decide whether you will use primary or secondary data and qualitative or quantitative methods . You also need to determine the specific tools, procedures, and materials you’ll use to collect and analyze your data, as well as your criteria for selecting participants or sources.

>>Read more about creating a research design

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

Finally, after completing these steps, you are ready to complete a research proposal . The proposal outlines the context, relevance, purpose, and plan of your research.

As well as outlining the background, problem statement, and research questions, the proposal should also include a literature review that shows how your project will fit into existing work on the topic. The research design section describes your approach and explains exactly what you will do.

You might have to get the proposal approved by your supervisor before you get started, and it will guide the process of writing your thesis or dissertation.

>>Read more about writing a research proposal

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

• Writing Strong Research Questions | Criteria & Examples

What Is a Research Design | Types, Guide & Examples

• How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

More interesting articles

• 10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project
• How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow
• How to Define a Research Problem | Ideas & Examples
• How to Write a Problem Statement | Guide & Examples
• Relevance of Your Dissertation Topic | Criteria & Tips
• Research Objectives | Definition & Examples
• What Is a Fishbone Diagram? | Templates & Examples
• What Is Root Cause Analysis? | Definition & Examples

What is your plagiarism score?

How to Do Proper Research

• First Online: 01 January 2014

Cite this chapter

• Kristian Samuelsson 6 ,
• Camilla Halewood 7 ,
• Andrew A. Amis 7 ,
• Sebastian Kopf 8 ,
• Eduard Alentorn-Geli 9 &
• Volker Musahl 10  

1049 Accesses

Proper research follows the “cycle of surgical research” described by Robert Salter (Fig. 15.1) [1]. The first step in a research project is recognizing an unsolved clinical problem. This requires researchers to work closely together with clinicians or have expertise in both fields. Nowadays, most universities offer MD/PhD programs to train so-called clinician scientists. This provides medical students from an early point in their career both the clinical and research methodological tools required to be successful in surgical research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

• Available as PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Compact, lightweight edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info
• Durable hardcover edition

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Surgical Research

Optimizing Research in Surgical Residents and Medical Students

Salter RB. Textbook of disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. 3rd ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999.

Google Scholar  

Sackett DL. Rules of evidence and clinical recommendations on the use of antithrombotic agents. Chest. 1986;89(2 Suppl):2S–3.

CAS   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Gray JA, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn’t. BMJ. 1996;312(7023):71–2.

Article   CAS   PubMed Central   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Committee IS, Audige L, Ayeni OR, Bhandari M, Boyle BW, Briggs KK, et al. A practical guide to research: design, execution, and publication. Arthroscopy. 2011;27(4 Suppl):S1–112.

Green S, Higgins JPT, Alderson P, Clarke M, Mulrow CD, Oxman AD. Cochrane reviews. Introduction: systematic reviews. In: Higgins JPT, Green S, editors. Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell; 2008. p. 3–9.

Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, Group P. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Ann Intern Med. 2009;18:264–9.

Article   Google Scholar  

Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow CD, Gotzsche PC, Ioannidis JPA, et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanations and elaboration. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151:W65–94.

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden

Kristian Samuelsson

The Biomechanics Group, Mechanical Engineering Department, Imperial College London, London, UK

Camilla Halewood & Andrew A. Amis

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Sebastian Kopf

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital del Mar – Parc de Salut Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona i Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

Eduard Alentorn-Geli

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Volker Musahl

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristian Samuelsson .

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

Istituti Ortopedico Rizzoli Clinica Ortopedica Traumatologica III, Bologna, Italy

Stefano Zaffagnini

Klinikum Brandenburg Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany

Roland Becker

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Gino M.M.J. Kerkhoffs

Clínica Espregueira Mendes, Porto, Portugal

João Espregueira Mendes

Orthopedic Surgery, University of Amsterdam Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

C. Niek van Dijk

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 ESSKA

About this chapter

Samuelsson, K., Halewood, C., Amis, A.A., Kopf, S., Alentorn-Geli, E., Musahl, V. (2014). How to Do Proper Research. In: Zaffagnini, S., Becker, R., Kerkhoffs, G., Espregueira Mendes, J., van Dijk, C. (eds) ESSKA Instructional Course Lecture Book. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-53983-1_15

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-53983-1_15

Published : 06 March 2014

Publisher Name : Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

Print ISBN : 978-3-642-53982-4

Online ISBN : 978-3-642-53983-1

eBook Packages : Medicine Medicine (R0)

Share this chapter

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

College Info Geek

How to Do Research in 7 Simple Steps

C.I.G. is supported in part by its readers. If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here.

It’s 2 am, and you’re on your fifth cup of coffee (or was it your sixth?). You’re crouched at a table in some dark corner of the library surrounded by fifteen open books. Equally as many tabs are open on your laptop, and you still haven’t written a word of the paper that’s due in 7 hours.

Many things can explain how you got to this point, including procrastination , poor organization , and a messy schedule .

Very often, however, the problem is a lack of research skills .

And it’s not your fault. High school does a poor job of teaching you how to do research, and most college classes do little better. It feels like you’re expected to figure it out through trial and error.

I think we can do better than that, however. In this guide, I’m going to show you the 7-step process for researching everything from a 10-page term paper to a final presentation. Not only will you learn how to do better research; you’ll also learn how to research more efficiently.

What Is Research?

Before we go any further, what  is  research?

At its core, research is an attempt to answer a question. This could be anything from “How can we reduce infant mortality rates?” to “Why does salt make food taste good?”

To answer your question, you consult books, academic papers, newspaper articles, historical records, or anything else that could be helpful. The broad term for these things is “sources.”

And, usually, once you’ve done the research, you present or summarize it in some way. In many cases, this means writing an essay or another type of scholarly paper, but it could also mean giving a presentation or even creating a YouTube video.

Even if you have no interest in academia, research is an extremely useful skill to learn. When you know how to do research, it’s much easier to improve your life and work more effectively . Instead of having to ask someone every time you have a question, research will help you solve problems yourself (and help others in turn).

Note:  Research can also mean conducting surveys, performing experiments, or going on archaeological digs. While these activities are crucial for advancing human knowledge, I won’t be discussing them here. This article focuses on the research you can do with only a library and an internet connection.

The 7 Steps of the Research Process

Research can feel overwhelming, but it’s more manageable when you break it down into steps. In my experience, the research process has seven main steps:

• Find a topic
• Refine your topic
• Find key sources
• Take notes on your sources
• Create your paper or presentation
• Do additional research as necessary
• Cite your sources

Let’s look at each of these steps in more detail.

1. Find a Topic

If you don’t have a topic, your research will be undirected and inefficient. You’ll spend hours reading dozens of sources, all because you didn’t take a few minutes to develop a topic.

How do you come up with a topic? My number one suggestion is to create a mind map.

A mind map is a visual way to generate ideas. Here’s how it works:

• Get a piece of paper and a pen. Make sure the paper isn’t too small — you want lots of room for your ideas.
• Draw an oval in the center of the paper.
• Inside that oval, write a super vague topic. Start with whatever your professor has assigned you.
• Draw lines from the oval towards the edges of the paper.
• Draw smaller ovals connected to each of these lines.
• Inside the smaller ovals, write more specific ideas/topics related to the central one.
• Repeat until you’ve found 3-5 topic ideas.

When I write it out step by step, it sounds kind of strange. But trust me, it works . Anytime I’m stuck on a writing assignment, this method is my go-to. It’s basically magic.

To see what mind mapping looks like in practice, check out this clip:

Want to create a digital mind map like the one Thomas uses in the video? Check out Coggle .

2. Refine Your Topic

Okay, so now you have a list of 3-5 topics. They’re all still pretty general, and you need to narrow them down to one topic that you can research in depth.

To do this, spend 15 minutes doing some general research on each topic. Specifically, take each topic and plug it into your library’s catalog and database search tools.

The details of this process will vary from library to library. This is where consulting a librarian can be super helpful. They can show you how to use the tools I mentioned, as well as point you to some you probably don’t know about.

Furthermore, I suggest you ask your professor for recommendations. In some cases, they may even have created a resource page specifically for your assignment.

Once you’ve found out where to search, type in your topic. I like to use a mixture of the library catalog, a general academic database like EBSCO Host , and a search on Google Scholar .

What exactly are you trying to find? Basically, you’re trying to find a topic with a sufficient quantity and variety of sources.

Ideally, you want something with both journal articles and books, as this demonstrates that lots of scholars are seriously engaging with the topic.

Of course, in some cases (if the topic is very cutting edge, for example), you may be only able to find journal articles. That’s fine, so long as there are enough perspectives available.

Using this technique, you’ll be able to quickly eliminate some topics. Be ruthless. If you’re not finding anything after 15 minutes, move on. And don’t get attached to a topic.

Tip: If you find two topics with equal numbers of sources available, ask your professor to help you break the tie. They can give you insight into which topic is super common (and thus difficult to write about originally), as well as which they find more interesting.

Now that you have your topic, it’s time to narrow down your sources.

3. Find Key Sources

If you’ve picked a good topic, then you probably have lots of sources to work with. This is both a blessing and a curse. A variety of sources shows that there’s something worth saying about your topic, and it also gives you plenty of material to cite.

But this abundance can quickly turn into a nightmare in which you spend hours reading dense, mind-numbing material without getting any closer to actually producing a paper.

How do you keep this from happening? Choose 3–5  key sources and focus on them intently. Sure, you may end up needing more sources, especially if this is a long paper or if the professor requires it. But if you start out trying to read 15 sources, you’re likely to get overwhelmed and frustrated.

Focusing on a few key sources is powerful because it:

• Lets you engage deeply with each source.
• Gives you a variety of perspectives.
• Points you to further resources.
• Keeps you focused.

4. Read and Take Notes

But what do you do with these sources, exactly? You need to read them the right way . Follow these steps to effectively read academic books and articles:

Go through the article and look at the section headings. If any words or terms jump out at you, make note of them. Also, glance at the beginning sentences of each section and paragraph to get an overall idea of the author’s argument.

The goal here isn’t to comprehend deeply, but to prime your mind for effective reading .

Write down any questions you have after skimming the article, as well as any general questions you hope the article can answer. Always keep your topic in mind.

Read Actively

Now, start reading. But don’t just passively go through the information like you’re scrolling through Tumblr. Read with a pen or pencil in hand , underlining any unfamiliar terms or interesting ideas.

Make notes in the margins about other sources or concepts that come to mind. If you’re reading a library book, you can make notes on a separate piece of paper.

Once you’ve finished reading, take a short break. Have a cup of tea or coffee. Go for a walk around the library. Stretch. Just get your mind away from the research for a moment without resorting to distracting, low-density fun .

Now come back to the article and look at the things you underlined or noted. Gather these notes and transfer them to a program like Evernote .

If you need to look up a term, do that, and then add that definition to your notes. Also, make note of any sources the author cites that look helpful.

But what if I’m reading a book?   Won’t this take forever?  No, because you’re not going to read the entire book.

For most research you’ll do in college, reading a whole academic book is overkill . Just skim the table of contents and the book itself to find chapters or sections that look relevant.

Then, read each of those in the same way you would read an article. Also, be sure to glance at the book’s bibliography, which is a goldmine for finding additional sources.

Note: The above method is a variation on the classic SQ3R method , adapted slightly since we’re not interested in taking notes from textbooks .

5. Create Your Paper or Presentation

“You can’t turn in raw research.”

Research is crucial to crafting a great paper or presentation, but it’s also a great way to procrastinate. I had classmates in college who would spend 8 hours researching a 5-page paper. That’s way too much!

At some point, you need to stop researching and start writing (or whatever method you’re using to present your research).

How do you decide when to stop researching? There’s no strict rule, but in general I wouldn’t spend more than 30 minutes per page of the final paper.

So if the final paper is supposed to be 10 pages, don’t spend more than 5 hours researching it.

6. Do Additional Research (As Necessary)

Once you’ve started writing the draft of your paper, you’ll probably find a few gaps. Maybe you realize that one scholar’s argument isn’t relevant to your paper, or that you need more information for a particular section. In this case, you are free to return to researching as necessary.

But again, beware the trap of procrastination masquerading as productivity! Only do as much additional research as you need to answer your question. Don’t get pulled into rabbit holes or dragged off on tangents. Get in there, do your research, and get back to writing .

To keep yourself focused, I suggest keeping a separate document or piece of paper nearby to note points that need additional research.

Every time you encounter such a point, make note of it in the document and then keep writing. Only stop when you can’t get any further without additional research.

It’s much better to get a full draft done first. Otherwise, you risk suffering a cognitive switching penalty , making it harder to regain your focus.

7. Cite Your Sources

Whether you’re creating an oral presentation, essay, or video, you’ll need to cite your sources. Plagiarism is a serious offense, so don’t take any chances.

How to cite your sources depends on the subject and the professor’s expectations. Chicago, MLA, and APA are the most common citation formats to use in college, but there are thousands more.

Luckily, you don’t need to painstakingly type each of your citations by hand or slog through a style manual. Instead, you can use a tool like Zotero to track and generate your citations. To make things even easier, install the Zotero Connector browser extension. It can automatically pull citation information from entries in an online library catalog.

Once you’ve collected all of your sources, Zotero can generate a properly formatted works cited page or bibliography at just the click of a button.

For help setting up and using Zotero, read this guide . If you need further assistance, ask a librarian.

Go Research With Confidence

I hope you now understand how to do research with more confidence. If you follow the procedures I’ve covered in this article, you’ll waste less time, perform more effective research, and ultimately have the material for a winning essay.

Curious about how to use your research to write a great research paper? Check out this guide .

Image Credits: picking book from shelf

© 2024 Curatorial Research Centre

How to do historical research online

Critical thinking and good research skills are fundamental curatorial skills..

Our CRC Guide on how to do research online will be useful to anyone wanting to methodically pursue a research topic but has limited or no access to physical libraries and collections. However, the research methodology applies whether you are researching digitally or directly with documents, books and media, or both. Whether you are a curator, librarian, archivist, scientist, genealogist, do family history, house history, oral history, local history, exhibition research, or want to decolonise , these resources will help you make a start. They are compiled primarily from a UK-based perspective but the resources each have international relevance. The research style is historical enquiry, rather than contemporary social research, say, on attitudes and opinions.

What you will need to get started:

• Laptop or computer with an up to date web browser such as Safari (Macs), Chrome or Firefox
• Experience of web searches
• Experience of taking screenshots
• Experience of bookmarking or converting web pages into PDFs
• Somewhere to keep notes
• Somewhere to keep files, including screenshots and images.

Part 1: Research methodology

1. Starting points

These are the who , what , when , where , how of your research topic and are important for framing your research. A simple research question starting with these words can do wonders for keeping you on track, e.g. What was William Colenso’s role in taking Cornish and British plant specimens to New Zealand , and vice versa?

My starting points are about looking for connections between people and places .

2. Make a list of keywords

Use paper and pen, a note app on your phone or computer, whatever you are comfortable with. Make a list of names of people, places – including different spellings or old names or names in relevant languages, dates – especially the life dates of a person to make sure you have found the right person, things and types of object or material and events. These will form the basis of your search terms. Keep refining as you go along:

• William Colenso, printer, publisher, missionary, plant collector, botany, Penzance
• Penzance Dole
• Waitangi Treaty, NZ; Māori Bible
• PZ Natural History and Antiquarian Society
• Morrab Gardens, NZ specimens e.g. Pohutukawa

Ask yourself, “Where did they get that information from?”

3. Follow the trail

By now you will have a few references and links from your starting points. Academic-style articles usually have footnotes or endnotes that you can follow, ask yourself, “Where did they get that information from?” What articles, books and websites are included in the bibliography? Follow links from websites (always keep a record, see below), look for citations especially from directly and indirectly quoted material, have a look at book indexes too for new keywords you can use. Your classic place to follow a trail of references, links and citations is Wikipedia . Does the article use decent sources of accurate information? Don’t go too far down this trail before stopping to collect and document.

4. Filter and refine

By now you will have probably started with a simple web search and been able to corroborate your initial starting points. Have you got the right person? Have you checked the dates? Are you in the right place? This is especially important when conducting comparative research across countries and regions. At the filter stage, begin refining your keywords, make a new list to pursue next, or use a ‘parking space’ in your note of keywords and ideas to research at a later date.

5. Save and collect

Researching online can get messy with many open tabs in your web browser, perhaps a desktop full of screenshots. Time to save and organise the most relevant information you’d like to return to when it comes to compiling your research into a blog post, article, application or whatever. Web pages, including pages of search results can be bookmarked via your browser. In your bookmark manager, usually found in the menu of your web browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox etc) you will have the ability to create a new folder. Create a new folder and name is something related to your topic, then save each page to that bookmark folder. For images you want to download, keep a note of their source (web address or URL) and if possible the photographer or creator of the image for later crediting and captioning.

Screenshots can be treated like you would cuttings in a scrapbook, rename the files to something meaningful, save them in a folder on your computer, Dropbox, OneDrive, GoogleDrive or wherever is convenient to you. You can also treat the screenshots as images and import them into your Photos or Camera Roll app if you have them. I then create an album related to my research so I can easily browse them. Some web browsers like Safari enable you to export an entire web page as a PDF which you can later save as a document. In all and any of these cases keep a record of the web address or URL and the date you accessed them.

6. Document and annotate

The best place to annotate the sources you have downloaded, clipped and shot is on those files themselves. Many online digital books and articles will already contain their citations on the documents themselves so in this case just keep a note of the date you have accessed them for your own references. Where relevant, include specific page numbers e.g. in PDF articles or books. For short runs of text you wish to excerpt or for transcriptions of, for example, newspaper articles, keep a note of the date of the article or excerpt, author and its publication, like newspaper name, book name. Copy and pasting works well from online PDFs that have undergone OCR but this is easiest from text on web pages. Warning: It is very easy to forget where you got a particular excerpt from so do not neglect recording the source before you move on.

Part 2: Search and discovery

7. effective web searching.

A web search will most likely be your where you will start your online historical research. Using your list of keywords (stage 2 above) you will most likely use Google.com as your search engine. Google searches are governed by all sorts of algorithms that can privilege certain web pages over others in the search results, and not necessarily based on those most relevant to your research. Be patient with your search results and look beyond the first three or four results. Alternative search engines are DuckDuckGo.com who operate a privacy-first policy that won’t track you across the websites you end up visiting. Others are Bing.com and Yahoo.com . There are other alternative search engines you could try too. Try a combination of 2-4 keywords. If you are searching for a person’s name try adding a keyword related to place, e.g. William Colenso Penzance or a keyword related to a theme or topic, e.g. William Colenso plants.

Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia, not a place where original research is published, but rather synthesises existing research published elsewhere.

8. Identify search results

Individual search results may take you directly to other repositories of information such as a Wikipedia article or a published article in an online library such as JSTOR or articles from specialist organisations and local history groups. To keep track, open up each search result in a new tab of your web browser and then make notes, bookmark, screenshot, export as you need. You are looking for well-referenced material, unless you are collecting opinions and ideas from specific people and organisations. Identifying digitised books, journal articles, blog posts written by knowledgeable people (which will or should contain references of some sort) will all help you on your way to following the trail. Remember: Wikipedia articles can be a great springboard. Wikipedia is an encyclopaedia, not a place where original research is published, but rather synthesises existing research published elsewhere, so bear this in mind when citing Wikipedia articles in your published research. Follow references and citations and see if you can get to the original source of that fact.

9. Navigating tl;dr

If you struggle to read an entire web page or online article because of its length and you are just curious about finding mention of your keywords, try the ‘search and find’ function on your computer. On a Mac this will be cmd-F and on a Windows PC this will be ctrl-F . Where a text has not been digitised with underlying OCR, try and locate the index. Historical journals will usually index contents of a run of journals covering several years.

10. Digital libraries, books and catalogues

The single best digital library on the web is the Internet Archive which also incorporates the Wayback Machine, an archive of defunct websites going back to the 1990s. You can access millions of digitised books, journals, magazines, videos, sound files, radio transcripts, documents and collections. It is definitely worth using the Internet Archive as your next base after general web searches, and if you see an archive.org search result, follow the trail. It is particularly useful for locating antiquarian journals and books now long out of print. A similar digital library of books in particular is the Hathi Trust . Google search results will also include digitised books relevant to your search. Although Google no longer engages in digitising books, there are millions that are still available and you could head straight to Google Books search to find out.

Many national libraries now have comprehensive catalogues of their holdings, and some of them digitised and directly accessible. To find UK-based holdings head to the catalogues of the British Library , National Library of Scotland and National Library of Wales . The Linen Hall Library maintains a catalogue of book holdings related to Northern Ireland. National Library of New Zealand , Library of Congress and National Library of Australia all provide free access to extensive holdings of digitised books, images and documents. The national libraries of other nations are also worth finding, depending on the topic you are researching. Remember, not everything to do with a region or area in the UK is necessarily held in UK collections, and vice versa. For a quick search of holdings across the UK’s academic and special collections libraries (many run by universities) head to Jisc’s Library Hub Discover , formerly known as Copac.

Note: Access to specific institutional and publishers’ repositories of any kind usually require a college, school or university login for free access, however you can still search the holdings and there are paid options. You should also check your local county or regional public library service to see what digital reference resources you can access via those.

11. Archives, manuscript and newspapers

National library catalogues will usually also search across archive and documentary (unpublished) material too, however most regionally-related archives and manuscripts will be found in county-specific or special collections-specific repositories. For example in Cornwall, the combined Cornish studies library and archives are held at Kresen Kernow . Public archives and records are usually under the auspices of the local authority so it’s worth starting there to see what catalogues and digitised material are available. For UK-based official records you will need to consult The National Archives where you will also be able to search across much of England’s other archives through Discovery (but the listings are not comprehensive so always follow up with a direct search at the relevant record office or archive service).

A huge body of British newspapers have been digitised and made searchable by content by the British Newspaper Archive . The archive is a phenomenal resource for primary source material on all manner of topics covered by regional and national newspapers. You can search for free but to download sheets you need a subscription. It is comparatively reasonable for around £80 per year. The Times (UK) maintains its own archive for which you need a separate subscription to the paper.

12. People, family and address research

Family history and genealogical research resources have exploded online over the last 20 years, with everything from birth, marriage death data, embarkation data (useful for any migration research), armed forces, participation in wars and campaigns. As a consequence of resources run commercially such as Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast.co.uk effective web searches will identify specific records from the website, such as a record of a baptism or marriage. However for research prior to 1911 (shortly it will be 1921) try searching the UK census which can help identify people at specific addresses, and also occupations and relationships. The National Archives links to publicly accessible census data from England, Wales, Channel Islands and Isle of Man from 1841. National Records of Scotland provide links to historical Scottish census data freely available also from 1841.

13. Picture research

Art or object-led research may require you to get interested in picture, sound and video research alongside your documentary word-based research. All major search engines now include image and video results, either naturally in your search results, or by selecting a tab that homes in on images, e.g. Google image search. Repositories for historical and historically-relevant imagery include Flickr.com which includes Flickr Commons , a searchable catalogue of photographs and imagery from public archives that are no longer in copyright and are freely given by custodian institutions such as the British Library or Library of Congress. Wikimedia Commons is another similar source. Search engines like Google include tools to help you filter out images according to their usage rights, which can be very helpful if you are looking for free to use imagery that just requires attribution. Individual institutional repositories for imagery, including paintings and photographs are worth heading to directly, such as ArtUK for art in UK public collections, National Portrait Gallery for portraits and images of people.

Look for specialist art and artists databases online, such as those based on schools, styles or regions, for example the Cornwall Artists Index . Some apps and image search engines enable searching by using an image, and like artefact research below, this could be, and will be, a useful tool when trying to find comparisons or confirm an identification.

14. Finding film, sound and music

For film and video footage head to YouTube or Vimeo . Libraries of film and video use these platforms to publicise their collections and provide clips or even whole videos, such as Pathé, BFI, defiant TV stations such as Thames TV. As film is generally more tightly controlled by owners of those items than images, it’s a good idea to get hold of them before contemplating any public use, but for your own research or teaching, please continue. For sound libraries, Soundcloud may have something for you, although it tends to be used by individuals sharing their own recordings of music and podcasts. However some oral history projects have used Soundcloud to provide access to recordings so worth a browse. The British Library Sounds Collection is an incredible resource to find historical recordings of language and accents, performances, music, nature and oral histories. Duke University maintains a list of repositories for research databases aimed at music research. Search for online film and sound collections in the region you are interested in too, e.g. cornishmemory.com contains over 36,000 photographs, sound clips and films related to Cornwall.

15. Historical maps, buildings and sites

Historical maps in the UK are dominated by the Ordnance Survey who tightly control access to modern-day and historical, now out of copyright, maps. However thanks to the National Library of Scotland , most of the 19th and early 20th century UK’s OS maps at 6″ and 25″ scales are available to search, as well as many others by other map-makers of the 17th to 20th centuries. Old Maps is also worth conducting a geographic search, particularly if you need to identify a specific building, field, river or street as its interface is more user-friendly than NLS’s. However you can’t download for free. If you are interesting in historic features such as listed buildings, scheduled monuments and sites in the landscape, try a search on Heritage Gateway (England), Archwilio (Wales) and Historic Environment Scotland and Northern Ireland Buildings Database .

16. Regional and political research

If your research has a large geographical focus and is based in the UK, try British History Online as a place to find historical editions of books such as some Victoria County Histories , maps, guides, calendars and other sources going back to the Middle Ages. These are normally publications which have or have had some connection with Government or Parliament and can provide a useful way into topics around local governance, colonialism, monarchy, constitution and specific political events. This digital library is based at the Institute of Historical Research , London, UK. Hansard is the official source of Parliamentary debates in the UK going back 200 years and cover debates in both the House of Commons and House of Lords. Historic Hansard 1803-2005 lets you search and browse chronologically. The History of Parliament Online might also help you research constituency history and MPs going back to the 14th century.

A more left-field idea that we have found useful in historical artefact and ephemera research is eBay .

17. Museum collections and artefacts

Museum objects, specimens and collections may not be the first thing that springs to mind when undertaking historical research, but if one of your starting points is a type of object or material, online museum collections can help identify and better understand the people and industries behind them. For art, we have already met ArtUK in no. 14 above. Large museums and cultural organisations such as the British Museum and the National Trust provide extensive object records via their websites. Other large and national museums have done the same so head to their websites to see what collections information they readily provide access to. Some have also contributed to Flickr Commons and this link goes to the list of institutions who have taken part. A superb source of knowledge for archaeological artefacts is Finds.org.uk , a database of items reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme in the UK.

An aggregator of online museum collections across Europe is Europeana . The UK used to have its own version called Culture Grid , maintained by Collections Trust. However it has been neglected for about a decade, and Collections Trust has recently announced its retirement, which is a shame as it is the only means we have of searching across several hundred UK-based public collections and was largely built from the efforts of mass digitisation projects in the early 2000s. Well worth using it now before it goes, although be aware of its limitations in terms of search.

A more left-field idea that we have found useful in historical artefact and ephemera research is eBay . Ebay has been around since the early days of the web and there is a veritable repository of past sales and listings. Use an eBay search and filter with ‘completed listings’. Also look out in your web search results for historical auction sales information via auction house websites. Many of these are restricted to subscriptions but some information about sales of art and artefacts is usually available, sometimes with useful photography.

In addition to databases of online sales or collections and aggregators of collections, there is significant reference information online that can help with the identification of materials, techniques and dating, such as for UK hallmarks on silver and gold. Makers marks for studio pottery might be found on the British & Irish Studio Pottery Marks website. For natural specimens such as geological minerals, try mindat.org . For any specialist type of material or object include the word ‘database’ to see if anything comes up relevant to your topic.

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA General Format 

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

MLA Style specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and citing research in writing. MLA Style also provides writers with a system for referencing their sources through parenthetical citation in their essays and Works Cited pages. 

Writers who properly use MLA also build their credibility by demonstrating accountability to their source material. Most importantly, the use of MLA style can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the purposeful or accidental uncredited use of source material produced by other writers. 

If you are asked to use MLA format, be sure to consult the  MLA Handbook  (9th edition). Publishing scholars and graduate students should also consult the  MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing  (3rd edition). The  MLA Handbook  is available in most writing centers and reference libraries. It is also widely available in bookstores, libraries, and at the MLA web site. See the Additional Resources section of this page for a list of helpful books and sites about using MLA Style.

Paper Format

The preparation of papers and manuscripts in MLA Style is covered in part four of the  MLA Style Manual . Below are some basic guidelines for formatting a paper in  MLA Style :

General Guidelines

• Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
• Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another. The font size should be 12 pt.
• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise prompted by your instructor).
• Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
• Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the “Tab” key as opposed to pushing the space bar five times.
• Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor may ask that you omit the number on your first page. Always follow your instructor's guidelines.)
• Use italics throughout your essay to indicate the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, provide emphasis.
• If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted).

Formatting the First Page of Your Paper

• Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested or the paper is assigned as a group project. In the case of a group project, list all names of the contributors, giving each name its own line in the header, followed by the remaining MLA header requirements as described below. Format the remainder of the page as requested by the instructor.
• In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.
• Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks. Write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.
• Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text. For example:  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas  as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking"
• Double space between the title and the first line of the text.
• Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number. Number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you omit the last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.)

Here is a sample of the first page of a paper in MLA style:

The First Page of an MLA Paper

Section Headings

Writers sometimes use section headings to improve a document’s readability. These sections may include individual chapters or other named parts of a book or essay.

MLA recommends that when dividing an essay into sections you number those sections with an Arabic number and a period followed by a space and the section name.

MLA does not have a prescribed system of headings for books (for more information on headings, please see page 146 in the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing , 3rd edition). If you are only using one level of headings, meaning that all of the sections are distinct and parallel and have no additional sections that fit within them, MLA recommends that these sections resemble one another grammatically. For instance, if your headings are typically short phrases, make all of the headings short phrases (and not, for example, full sentences). Otherwise, the formatting is up to you. It should, however, be consistent throughout the document.

If you employ multiple levels of headings (some of your sections have sections within sections), you may want to provide a key of your chosen level headings and their formatting to your instructor or editor.

Sample Section Headings

The following sample headings are meant to be used only as a reference. You may employ whatever system of formatting that works best for you so long as it remains consistent throughout the document.

Formatted, unnumbered:

Level 1 Heading: bold, flush left

Level 2 Heading: italics, flush left

Level 3 Heading: centered, bold

Level 4 Heading: centered, italics

Level 5 Heading: underlined, flush left

• Skip to main content
• Skip to FDA Search
• Skip to in this section menu
• Skip to footer links

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

•   Search
•   Menu
• For Consumers
• Consumer Updates

Tips to Stay Safe in the Sun: From Sunscreen to Sunglasses

Sun safety is always in season. It’s important to protect your skin from sun damage throughout the year, no matter the weather.

Why? Exposing your skin to the sun year-round means you are exposing it to ultraviolet radiation, which can cause sunburn, skin aging (such as skin spots, wrinkles, or “leathery skin”), eye damage, and skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the U.S.

Skin cancer is on the rise in the U.S. The National Cancer Institute estimates there were 100,640 new cases of skin melanomas and 8,290 related deaths in 2024. In 2021, there were an estimated 1.4 million people living with melanoma of the skin in the U.S. About 6.1 million people are treated for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common types of skin cancer, in the U.S. every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Sunscreen is one way to protect against the rise in skin cancer rates.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to evaluate sunscreen products to ensure that they are safe and effective. Although all sunscreens help protect people from sunburn, only broad-spectrum sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 help protect us from skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun.

Lower Your Risk for Sunburn, Skin Cancer, and Early Skin Aging

Sun damage to the body is caused by invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Sunburn is a type of skin damage caused by the sun. Tanning is also a sign of the skin reacting to potentially damaging UV radiation by producing additional pigmentation that provides it with some, but often not enough, protection against sunburn.

Spending time in the sun unprotected increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. People of all skin colors are at risk for this damage. You can reduce your risk by:

• Limiting your time in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.
• Wearing clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun, such as long-sleeve shirts, pants, sunglasses, and broad-brim hats. Sun-protective clothing is now available. (The FDA regulates these products only if they are intended to be used for medical purposes.)
• Using broad-spectrum sunscreens with an SPF value of 15 or higher regularly and as directed. (Broad-spectrum sunscreens offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays, two types of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.)

Consult a health care professional before applying sunscreen to infants younger than 6 months .

In general, the FDA recommends using broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, even on cloudy days. In addition:

• Apply sunscreen liberally to all uncovered skin, especially your nose, ears, neck, hands, feet, and lips.
• Reapply at least every two hours. Apply more often if you’re swimming or sweating. (An average-size adult or child needs at least one ounce of sunscreen, about the amount it takes to fill a shot glass, to evenly cover the body.)
• If you don’t have much hair, apply sunscreen to the top of your head or wear a hat.
• No sunscreen completely blocks UV radiation. So other protections are needed, such as protective clothing, sunglasses, and staying in the shade.
• No sunscreen is waterproof. Check the instructions on your sunscreen for information about its water resistance and reapplication instructions if you are sweating or going in the water.

Only sunscreens in lotion, cream, stick, gel, oil, butter, paste, spray, and powder dosage forms can be legally marketed. Sunscreen in all other dosage forms – including wipes, towelettes, body washes, and shampoos – cannot be legally marketed.

Read Sunscreen Labels

It is important to read the label carefully to ensure you get the most potential benefit from sunscreen use.

• Only products that pass the FDA’s broad-spectrum requirements, and therefore protect against UVA exposure, can be labeled “broad spectrum.”
• Sunscreens that are not broad spectrum or are broad spectrum but lack an SPF of at least 15 must carry a warning: “Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert: Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.”
• Water resistance claims, for 40 or 80 minutes, tell you how much time you can expect to get the labeled SPF-level of protection while swimming or sweating.
• Manufacturers may not make claims that their sunscreens are “waterproof” or “sweat proof.”
• Products may not be identified as “sunblocks” or claim instant protection or protection for more than two hours without reapplying.

Risk Factors for Harmful Effects of UV Radiation

People of all skin colors are potentially at risk for sunburn and other harmful effects of UV radiation, so always protect yourself. Be especially careful if you have:

• Blond, red, or light brown hair.
• Been treated for skin cancer.
• A family member who has had skin cancer.

If you take medications, ask your health care professional about sun-care precautions. Some medications may increase sun sensitivity. Even on an overcast day, up to 80%of the sun’s UV rays can get through the clouds. Stay in the shade as much as possible.

Protect Your Eyes With Sunglasses

Sunlight reflecting off sand, water, or even snow further increases exposure to UV radiation and raises your risk of developing eye problems. Certain sunglasses can help protect your eyes.

When choosing sunglasses:

• Choose sunglasses with a UV400 rating or “100% UV protection” on the label. These sunglasses block more than 99% of UVA and UVB radiation and provide the most protection against UV rays.
• Do not mistake dark-tinted sunglasses as having UV protection. The darkness of the lens does not indicate its ability to shield your eyes from UV rays. Many sunglasses with light-colored tints – such as green, amber, red, and gray – can offer the same UV protection as very dark lenses.
• Check to see if your tinted glasses have UV protection. If you are unsure, your eye care professional may be able to check for you. When you wear tinted glasses, your pupils dilate and can increase exposure of your retinas to UV light. Without UV protection, you are putting yourself at risk to harmful effects associated with solar radiation.
• Be aware that children should wear sunglasses that indicate the UV protection level. Toy sunglasses may not have UV protection.
• Consider large, wraparound-style frames, which may provide more UV protection because they cover the entire eye socket.
• Pricier sunglasses don’t ensure greater UV protection.
• Even if you wear UV absorbing contact lenses, wear quality sunglasses that offer UV protection.
• Even when you wear sunglasses, wearing a wide-brim hat and sunscreen can help further protect you from sun exposure.

Beware: Spray Sunscreens Can Be Flammable

Many spray sunscreen products contain flammable ingredients , like alcohol. Be careful when using these flammable products. Read and follow the warning label, and don’t use these sprays near an open flame, especially around children.

In addition, some spray sunscreens have been recalled because of benzene contamination and shouldn’t be used. Find out here if your sunscreen has been recalled.

Consumer Updates Email

Subscribe to receive Consumer Updates email notifications.

Reference Examples

More than 100 reference examples and their corresponding in-text citations are presented in the seventh edition Publication Manual . Examples of the most common works that writers cite are provided on this page; additional examples are available in the Publication Manual .

To find the reference example you need, first select a category (e.g., periodicals) and then choose the appropriate type of work (e.g., journal article ) and follow the relevant example.

When selecting a category, use the webpages and websites category only when a work does not fit better within another category. For example, a report from a government website would use the reports category, whereas a page on a government website that is not a report or other work would use the webpages and websites category.

Also note that print and electronic references are largely the same. For example, to cite both print books and ebooks, use the books and reference works category and then choose the appropriate type of work (i.e., book ) and follow the relevant example (e.g., whole authored book ).

Examples on these pages illustrate the details of reference formats. We make every attempt to show examples that are in keeping with APA Style’s guiding principles of inclusivity and bias-free language. These examples are presented out of context only to demonstrate formatting issues (e.g., which elements to italicize, where punctuation is needed, placement of parentheses). References, including these examples, are not inherently endorsements for the ideas or content of the works themselves. An author may cite a work to support a statement or an idea, to critique that work, or for many other reasons. For more examples, see our sample papers .

Reference examples are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Chapter 10 and the Concise Guide Chapter 10

Related handouts

• Common Reference Examples Guide (PDF, 147KB)
• Reference Quick Guide (PDF, 225KB)

Textual Works

Textual works are covered in Sections 10.1–10.8 of the Publication Manual . The most common categories and examples are presented here. For the reviews of other works category, see Section 10.7.

• Journal Article References
• Magazine Article References
• Newspaper Article References
• Blog Post and Blog Comment References
• UpToDate Article References
• Book/Ebook References
• Diagnostic Manual References
• Children’s Book or Other Illustrated Book References
• Classroom Course Pack Material References
• Religious Work References
• Chapter in an Edited Book/Ebook References
• Dictionary Entry References
• Wikipedia Entry References
• Report by a Government Agency References
• Report with Individual Authors References
• Brochure References
• Ethics Code References
• Fact Sheet References
• ISO Standard References
• Press Release References
• White Paper References
• Conference Presentation References
• Conference Proceeding References
• Published Dissertation or Thesis References
• Unpublished Dissertation or Thesis References
• ERIC Database References
• Preprint Article References

Data and Assessments

Data sets are covered in Section 10.9 of the Publication Manual . For the software and tests categories, see Sections 10.10 and 10.11.

• Data Set References
• Toolbox References

Audiovisual Media

Audiovisual media are covered in Sections 10.12–10.14 of the Publication Manual . The most common examples are presented together here. In the manual, these examples and more are separated into categories for audiovisual, audio, and visual media.

• Artwork References
• Clip Art or Stock Image References
• Film and Television References
• Musical Score References
• Online Course or MOOC References
• Podcast References
• PowerPoint Slide or Lecture Note References
• Radio Broadcast References
• TED Talk References
• Transcript of an Audiovisual Work References
• YouTube Video References

Online Media

Online media are covered in Sections 10.15 and 10.16 of the Publication Manual . Please note that blog posts are part of the periodicals category.

• Facebook References
• Instagram References
• LinkedIn References
• Online Forum (e.g., Reddit) References
• TikTok References
• X References
• Webpage on a Website References
• Clinical Practice References
• Open Educational Resource References
• Whole Website References

Language resources

Articles for business

Find 1-on-1 tutors

• Preply Blog
• Learn English

Learn English online for free

Improve your learning experience with the best resources on grammar, vocabulary, speaking and much more.

Effective ways to learn English online

Learn english online with our free english courses, english grammar courses.

No matter your level of proficiency, learning English grammar helps you build a solid foundation for communication, especially while speaking or writing. It's a crucial part of how you can learn English online effectively.

English speaking courses

Start with the basics, like introducing yourself and asking questions. Soon enough, you’ll think and speak English like a native – idioms and jokes included! With our resources, it's never been easier to learn English online.

English pronunciation courses

Learn how to pronounce sounds unique to the English language to ensure that other people understand you. By focusing on pronunciation, you can learn English online more thoroughly.

Free online English learning resources

English level test.

Find out your level of grammar with this easy 20-minute English placement test. This is a great starting point for anyone looking to learn English online.

Test your vocabulary

How many words do you know? Get an estimate in minutes with this simple tool. Enhancing your vocabulary is key when you learn English online.

Practice English free

Our grammar and vocabulary exercises are expertly crafted to suit English learners at all levels, helping you effectively learn English online.

Browse our English learning categories

English tips & resources.

Explore helpful resources created by experienced tutors and students.

• English speaking

Discover guides and exercises to improve your English pronunciation.

• English for kids

Inspire your kids to learn English as a second language.

• English vocabulary

Grow your English vocabulary so you’re ready to handle any topic.

• English grammar

Learn English grammar concepts, from irregular verbs to sentence structure.

• English tests

Prepare for English language tests like the TOEFL and IELTS by studying smarter, not harder.

• Business English

Take your career to the next level by honing your Business English skills.

• English reading

Enhance your English reading skills to confidently explore any subject.

• English writing

Improve your English writing skills to express yourself clearly on any topic.

• English listening

Boost your English listening skills to understand and engage with any conversation.

Latest from the blog

• April 1, 2024

A comprehensive guide to English language levels & how to level up!

Looking to improve your English language level? Our comprehensive guide will help you identify where you are & how to reach a higher CEFR level.

• February 27, 2024

The 12 best websites to learn English in 2024

Want to improve your English language skills online? View our picks of the best websites for learning English and get started today.

• March 7, 2024

Best apps to learn English: Get fluent with these 17 must-have apps (2024)

Discover the best English learning apps to help you become more fluent in English - all from your phone!

Free language practice videos

• English Phrases to Sound Like a Native Speaker
• How to Think Like A Native English Speaker
• How to Speak English Confidently and Fluently
• How to Prepare for a Job Interview in English

Business communication

• English for meetings
• Business English phone calls
• How to give a presentation
• How to Use the Future Simple in English
• Irregular Plural Nouns in English
• Either, Or, Neither, Nor: How to Use Them Correctly

How to learn English with Preply

Find your tutor

Use filters like pricing, availability, and country of origin to find the perfect match for your language goals.

Get a personalized learning plan

Your tutor will create an English learning plan based on your current level, goals, and schedule.

Learn at your own pace

Perfect your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills without the pressure to move on until you’re ready.

Why students love Preply

• Choose from 20,000+ tutors in every time zone
• Build your own learning schedule
• Filter tutors by what matters to you, like pricing, availability, and whether you want to learn British or American English

Personalized

• Take lessons customized to your current level and goals
• Learn at your own pace to make sure you retain new vocabulary, grammar, and other concepts
• Adjust your learning plan as you progress

• Progress faster with tailored language lessons
• Receive immediate, personalized feedback from an experienced tutor
• Learn with native English speakers to refine your pronunciation
• Grow in a 1-on-1 learning environment
• Get feedback and corrections from your tutor right away
• Practice speaking in real time to improve your conversation skills

• Save money compared to traditional in-person English classes
• Choose your tutor based on their pricing
• Get up to two free tutor replacements

I have been learning English with Luke for almost one month. He teaches me phrases and conversational knowledge with patience. I highly recommend him to everyone who wants to improve their oral English in a relaxing way.

Anastasia competently leads the lesson and correctly determines your initial level. Classes are positive, interesting and productive! Satisfied with the result. Thank you! I recommend.

Julia very patient teacher, always in a good mood. She is knowledgeable and experienced. Julia helped me with grammar and practice English.

Personalised 1-on-1 language learning with expert tutors worldwide

Enjoy personalized, one-on-one sessions from anywhere in the world.

Frequently asked questions

The internet can be a great resource when it comes to learning to speak English. The best approach depends on what you want to learn. If you're focused on vocabulary, apps that introduce commonly used words can be handy. Having a tutor is a great way to get regular practice if you want to learn to hold a conversation. You can also learn natural and fluent sentence structure. You can also use online forums to meet other English learners and get quick answers to your questions. If you want an easy way to start straight away, try listening to music with English lyrics.

Learning English online can be easily customized to your language goals and interests, right from the comfort of your own home. You can also learn on the go, whether commuting to work, waiting in line, or traveling.

There are lots of free resources online that can help supplement your learning, but they often work best as a complement to professional classes or tutoring. While apps and websites can be a great way to refresh your vocabulary, learning to speak English fluently requires lots of conversations! Having a personal tutor means having someone who will pick up on small mistakes so that your speech sounds more natural and also gives you the chance to ask questions and get instant feedback.

If you're looking for an English tutor online, you need to make sure you're looking at websites you can trust. Preply lets you look through multiple different tutor profiles so you can find a professional offering the skills, qualifications and areas of expertise you need. You can also compare different hourly rates for online English lessons so you can match your learning to your budget.

Learn another language

Learn a language with personalized 1-on-1 classes with our expert tutors from all over the world.

• Learn Japanese
• Learn French
• Learn German
• Learn Spanish

Online classes

Find classes that match your current language level and learning goals.

• English classes
• Spanish classes
• German classes
• French classes

All English articles

• English tips & resources
• February 8, 2024

The best English courses in NYC in 2024

We've evaluated different providers to bring you a list of the best English classes in NYC for different learning styles and goals.

• February 5, 2024

The best English courses in Singapore

Check out the pros, cons, & prices of top providers to find an English course in Singapore that'll take your skills to the next level.

• January 30, 2024

The best English courses in London

Want to learn English in the birthplace of the language? We’ve reviewed various options to bring you a list of the best courses for different learners.

• June 9, 2023

Different English accents from around the world

This article looks at some of the most common English accents worldwide. We look at the characteristics and patterns and give examples so you can familiarize yourself with them.

• October 23, 2023

Group learning online: Breaking the language learning mold

Forget traditional methods! In this article discover how group learning online can improve your language learning ability & help you hit your goals quickly.

• January 7, 2024

7 best English speaking classes online in 2024

Discover which language learning platforms offer the best spoken english classes online and learn how to make the most out of them.

• February 23, 2024

How to describe a person in English: A comprehensive guide

This comprehensive guide features essential grammar, top tips, and common adjectives to help you give concise descriptions like a pro. 

• February 19, 2024

Common English suffixes: Examples, pronunciation, and tips

Ready to boost your word power? Then check out this expert guide on must-know suffixes to master these magical word endings.

Common English words with prefixes: Examples, pronunciation, and tips

View this essential guide to the 30 most common prefixes in English, complete with their meanings and examples. Plus, get expert tips to help you master them!

Figurative language in English: What is it, and how can I use it?

Want to make people hang onto your every word, create cover letters that sparkle, and ensure your ideas inspire? Then check out this guide.

• October 6, 2023

“Whose” vs. “Who’s”: Understanding the difference so you never confuse them again

Learn everything about “whose” vs. “who’s,” including their differences and tips on how to use them correctly. Use Preply to find online English tutors to boost your grammar.

• September 18, 2023

Has vs. have: Understanding the difference and using them correctly

Has vs. have: Discover the key differences and learn how to use them correctly. This guide provides clear explanations and examples to understand the distinction between “has” and “have.”

120+ useful and impressive words for meetings

Check out our comprehensive list of impressive words for meetings, plus common buzzwords to avoid and helpful tips for running a business meeting.

• December 21, 2023

How to conduct a business meeting (with best practices)

Learn how to plan, schedule, and run a productive business meeting. Discover 5 best practices to maximize meeting productivity.

20 best international companies to work for

From Adobe to Workday, discover the best international companies to work for in 2023 that are hiring right now.

• January 8, 2024

The best online language classes for kids in 2024

Discover the best online language classes for kids. We share info on languages, age ranges, features, services & prices for a range of leading sites.

• June 2, 2023

How to teach a kid to speak English at home [12 tips from experts]

As a parent, you’re probably wondering “What can I do at home to support my child’s English education?” We asked Preply English tutors who specialize in teaching kids that very question, and this is what they said. 

• December 14, 2023

Online English classes for kids: Unlock your child’s potential

Want your child to experience the advantages of learning English? Look no further! This is the go-to resource for quality online English classes for kids.

• June 6, 2023

Preply and ETS: The perfect preparation option for your TOEFL iBT® exam

Preply and ETS have teamed up to bring you exclusive discounts and tutor preparation for the iBT® Exam. Find out more now!

• June 3, 2024

The 6 best online IELTS courses in 2023

We compare IELTS preparation courses and lessons so you can find the best fit for you. See prices, pros, cons and course features now.

• March 19, 2024

The 7 best online TOEFL courses in 2024

Analysis of the best TOEFL prep courses and lessons available online including their features, price, pros, and cons. Learn more now.

• May 31, 2024

How to improve listening skills in English: Tips, techniques, and resources

Learn how to improve listening skills in english with our step-by-step guide and list of resources, written by an expert ESL tutor.

English podcasts: 14 best podcasts for learning English in 2024

English podcasts are a great way to learn a language. Find a list of the best ones for beginners, advanced learners and tips to get the most out of them.

9 ESL games to make English learning fun and effective

There is a bunch of practical tools to accelerate the English learning process and make it fun. You’ll surely like these ESL games. Check them out!

English eBooks you can use to level up your English skills

Discover the best English-language eBooks for all levels, plus expert tips and tricks to boost your reading skills.

Learn English through story: 15 classic books for all skill levels

Learn English naturally by reading English stories! Check out these 15 classic stories in English (for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels).

Importance of reading: Why reading is such an important English language skill

Reading is an often-overlooked but critically important part of learning a language: we explore why it's so important.

How to write the date in English: Tips and techniques

Learn how to write the date in English, including the formats in different countries and calendar systems.

Mastering the art of essay writing in English

Unlock the art of essay writing in English. Read expert guidance on crafting engaging essays, mastering structure, coherence, and creating impactful introductions.

Contractions in English: How to use them confidently when speaking and writing English

Learn how and when to use contractions in English. This guide provides a detailed explanation of contractions and examples of common contracted words.

• English pronunciation

50+ English minimal pair examples for pronunciation practice

Practice your pronunciation, improve your comprehension, and distinguish commonly confused sounds in English with these minimal pair examples and activities.

10 English pronunciation practice exercises & printables

English pronunciation practice can be a challenging part of learning a new language, but our exercises and printables can help make practicing fun!

How to easily improve your English pronunciation and sound like a native

Working on your pronunciation skills is definitely worth the effort. Here are 8 effective strategies to help you sound like a local.

Our top authors

Adelaide is passionate about languages and has taught language classes for over 12 years. She teaches with a personalized approach, focusing on the specific needs of each student and taking advantage of their strengths. She is a Cambridge C2 proficient English speaker, C2 proficient Spanish speaker, and a native Portuguese speaker. Whether it's simple conversation practice, IELTS study, or an intensive course, get in touch with Adelaide!

Larry has been teaching English as a Foreign Language since 2008. Having spent 30 years as a British policeman, he teaches English not as an academic but as a communicator. He has degrees in Psychology, IT, Accounting, and English. Larry has experience in teaching IELTS, CAE, CPE, and Business English (including Accounting, Logistics, and Architecture).

Adam is a content marketing specialist with a passion for language. He's originally from Birmingham, England but now lives in Barcelona. He is currently learning Spanish on Preply with his tutor, Jordi.

Get the latest language tips

Awesome language learners get awesome language updates

By clicking Subscribe you agree to receive blog updates. More information can be found in our Privacy Policy

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Entire Site
• Research & Funding
• Health Information
• About NIDDK
• Diet & Nutrition

Changing Your Habits for Better Health

• Español

On this page:

What stage of change are you in?

Contemplation: are you thinking of making changes, preparation: have you made up your mind, action: have you started to make changes, maintenance: have you created a new routine, clinical trials.

Are you thinking about being more active? Have you been trying to cut back on less healthy foods? Are you starting to eat better and move more but having a hard time sticking with these changes?

Old habits die hard. Changing your habits is a process that involves several stages. Sometimes it takes a while before changes become new habits. And, you may face roadblocks along the way.

Adopting new, healthier habits may protect you from serious health problems like obesity and diabetes . New habits, like healthy eating and regular physical activity, may also help you manage your weight and have more energy. After a while, if you stick with these changes, they may become part of your daily routine.

The information below outlines four stages you may go through when changing your health habits or behavior. You will also find tips to help you improve your eating, physical activity habits, and overall health. The four stages of changing a health behavior are

• contemplation
• preparation
• maintenance

Contemplation: “I’m thinking about it.”

In this first stage, you are thinking about change and becoming motivated to get started.

You might be in this stage if you

• have been considering change but are not quite ready to start
• believe that your health, energy level, or overall well-being will improve if you develop new habits
• are not sure how you will overcome the roadblocks that may keep you from starting to change

Preparation: “I have made up my mind to take action.”

In this next stage, you are making plans and thinking of specific ideas that will work for you.

• have decided that you are going to change and are ready to take action
• have set some specific goals that you would like to meet
• are getting ready to put your plan into action

Action: “I have started to make changes.”

In this third stage, you are acting on your plan and making the changes you set out to achieve.

• have been making eating, physical activity, and other behavior changes in the last 6 months or so
• are adjusting to how it feels to eat healthier, be more active, and make other changes such as getting more sleep or reducing screen time
• have been trying to overcome things that sometimes block your success

Maintenance: “I have a new routine.”

In this final stage, you have become used to your changes and have kept them up for more than 6 months.

You might be in this stage if

• your changes have become a normal part of your routine
• you have found creative ways to stick with your routine
• you have had slip-ups and setbacks but have been able to get past them and make progress

Did you find your stage of change? Read on for ideas about what you can do next.

Making the leap from thinking about change to taking action can be hard and may take time. Asking yourself about the pros (benefits) and cons (things that get in the way) of changing your habits may be helpful. How would life be better if you made some changes?

Think about how the benefits of healthy eating or regular physical activity might relate to your overall health. For example, suppose your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is a bit high and you have a parent, brother, or sister who has type 2 diabetes . This means you also may develop type 2 diabetes. You may find that it is easier to be physically active and eat healthy knowing that it may help control blood glucose and protect you from a serious disease.

You may learn more about the benefits of changing your eating and physical activity habits from a health care professional. This knowledge may help you take action.

Look at the lists of pros and cons below. Find the items you believe are true for you. Think about factors that are important to you.

Healthy Eating

Physical Activity

If you are in the preparation stage, you are about to take action. To get started, look at your list of pros and cons. How can you make a plan and act on it?

The chart below lists common roadblocks you may face and possible solutions to overcome roadblocks as you begin to change your habits. Think about these things as you make your plan.

Once you have made up your mind to change your habits, make a plan and set goals for taking action. Here are some ideas for making your plan:

• learn more about healthy eating and food portions
• learn more about being physically active
• healthy foods that you like or may need to eat more of—or more often
• foods you love that you may need to eat less often
• things you could do to be more physically active
• fun activities you like and could do more often, such as dancing

After making your plan, start setting goals for putting your plan into action. Start with small changes. For example, “I’m going to walk for 10 minutes, three times a week.” What is the one step you can take right away?

You are making real changes to your lifestyle, which is fantastic! To stick with your new habits

• review your plan
• look at the goals you set and how well you are meeting them
• overcome roadblocks by planning ahead for setbacks
• reward yourself for your hard work

Track your progress

• Tracking your progress helps you spot your strengths, find areas where you can improve, and stay on course. Record not only what you did, but how you felt while doing it—your feelings can play a role in making your new habits stick.
• Recording your progress may help you stay focused and catch setbacks in meeting your goals. Remember that a setback does not mean you have failed. All of us experience setbacks. The key is to get back on track as soon as you can.
• You can track your progress with online tools such as the NIH Body Weight Planner . The NIH Body Weight Planner lets you tailor your calorie and physical activity plans to reach your personal goals within a specific time period.

Overcome roadblocks

• Remind yourself why you want to be healthier. Perhaps you want the energy to play with your nieces and nephews or to be able to carry your own grocery bags. Recall your reasons for making changes when slip-ups occur. Decide to take the first step to get back on track.
• Problem-solve to “outsmart” roadblocks. For example, plan to walk indoors, such as at a mall, on days when bad weather keeps you from walking outside.
• Ask a friend or family member for help when you need it, and always try to plan ahead. For example, if you know that you will not have time to be physically active after work, go walking with a coworker at lunch or start your day with an exercise video.

Reward yourself

• After reaching a goal or milestone, allow for a nonfood reward such as new workout gear or a new workout device. Also consider posting a message on social media to share your success with friends and family.
• Choose rewards carefully. Although you should be proud of your progress, keep in mind that a high-calorie treat or a day off from your activity routine are not the best rewards to keep you healthy.
• Pat yourself on the back. When negative thoughts creep in, remind yourself how much good you are doing for your health by moving more and eating healthier.

Make your future a healthy one. Remember that eating healthy, getting regular physical activity, and other healthy habits are lifelong behaviors, not one-time events. Always keep an eye on your efforts and seek ways to deal with the planned and unplanned changes in life.

Now that healthy eating and regular physical activity are part of your routine, keep things interesting, avoid slip-ups, and find ways to cope with what life throws at you.

Add variety and stay motivated

• Mix up your routine with new physical activities and goals, physical activity buddies, foods, recipes, and rewards.

Deal with unexpected setbacks

• Plan ahead to avoid setbacks. For example, find other ways to be active in case of bad weather, injury, or other issues that arise. Think of ways to eat healthy when traveling or dining out, like packing healthy snacks while on the road or sharing an entrée with a friend in a restaurant.
• If you do have a setback, don’t give up. Setbacks happen to everyone. Regroup and focus on meeting your goals again as soon as you can.

Challenge yourself!

• Revisit your goals and think of ways to expand them. For example, if you are comfortable walking 5 days a week, consider adding strength training twice a week. If you have limited your saturated fat intake by eating less fried foods, try cutting back on added sugars, too. Small changes can lead to healthy habits worth keeping.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.

What are clinical trials, and are they right for you?

Clinical trials are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. Researchers also use clinical trials to look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. Find out if clinical trials are right for you.

What clinical trials are open?

Clinical trials that are currently open and are recruiting can be viewed at www.ClinicalTrials.gov .

This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

The NIDDK would like to thank: Dr. Carla Miller, Associate Professor, Ohio State University