Middlebury Libraries
Research Process
Research is easier when you think of it as a process. Don’t try to find everything at once; your topic will
evolve as you learn more about it. You can save time by working through the process in these steps:
1. Craft a research question
Write your research topic as a question. This will help you narrow your topic and give you a few
search words. You'll find synonyms when you're searching. Write these down, too!
2. Search for background information
Background information will help you begin to understand your topic. Look for encyclopedias,
newspapers, popular magazines and books. The Middlebury Libraries Reference Research Guide
(http://go.middlebury.edu/refguide ) lists a variety of sources for background information.
3. Preview, evaluate and refine.
a) Take a quick look at your sources. Preview each by reading the abstract/summary, introduction
and conclusion. If you’re still not sure what the source is about, skim the beginning of each
section.
b) Evaluate the sources. Are they useful?
c) Refine your research topic. Now that you know more, what would points would you like to make in
your paper? Have your research questions changed? What more do you need to know?
4. Answer new or revised research questions
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
Scholarly journal articles can provide answers to more specific research questions. You can limit
a search in Summon (http://go.middlebury.edu/summon) to articles from scholarly publications.
Research guides (http://go.middlebury.edu/guides) will help you find discipline-specific research
databases.
5. Read, organize, write and revise
After you’ve read all of your sources more carefully, you’re ready to organize your thoughts and start
writing. Consider getting in touch with a Peer Writing Tutor (http://go.middlebury.edu/pwt) for advice.
6. Cite
Keep a record of your sources throughout the research process. Write down – or better yet, store
electronically – the citation information for each source, including author, title, page numbers, date,
and publisher. Take notes on what each source says (record page numbers so that you can find and
cite the information later), and how you might use the source in your paper. Citation tools like Zotero
and RefWorks make it easy to collect and organize your sources; find them in the Middlebury
Libraries Citation & Style Research Guide (http://go.middlebury.edu/citations). When you’re done
writing, citation tools also will help you create your notes and bibliography.
The “Honor Code and Academic Honesty” section of the College Handbook
(http://go.middlebury.edu/handbook) describes the honor code and why it's important.
If you need help at any point, ask a librarian! http://go.middlebury.edu/askus
Middlebury Libraries
Worksheet
This worksheet should help you complete the research process (see the steps on the previous page). If
you record your ideas and track your progress, you’ll always know what to do next.
1. Craft a research question: Turn your topic into a research question.
Research
question:
Your question will give you a few words to search for. Write them down.
Search words:
 ___________________
 ___________________
 ___________________
2. Search for background information: Where will you look for the basics about your topic?
Databases:
 ___________________
 ___________________
 ___________________
As you search, you’ll come across additional search words and synonyms. Write them down.
Search words and synonyms:
 _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________
 _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________
 _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________
3. Preview, evaluate, refine. Now that you know more, how has your research question changed?
New or revised
research question:
4. Answer new/revised research question: Where will you look for detailed or current information?.
Databases:
 ___________________
 ___________________
 ___________________
As you search, you’ll come across additional search words and synonyms. Write them down.
Search words and synonyms:
 _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________
 _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________
 _____________ or _____________ or _____________ or _____________
Remember to keep a record of the sources you find. (See Step 6 on the previous page.)