Research Process: Getting Started

Learning how to conduct research is one of the most important skills a student will learn at college or university.  Conducting research encompasses a number of different steps, some of which take a little practice to learn. However, being an effective researcher will not only benefit your schoolwork, but other areas of your life as well, including your personal and work life.

This guide will help you to start thinking about the research process, especially as it relates to using HC Library's resources, and resources on the Web.  A bibliography of resources for you to use to find out more information about the research process, writing a paper, and citing resources accurately can be found on the Bibliography tab.

To navigate this guide, use the tabs at the top. They are in a specific order, so it is a good idea to start at the top and work your way to the right, before moving to the second row of tabs, etc.

If you have any questions about this guide, please contact the HC Library.

This is a graphical representation of the steps involved in the research process. Remember that research is not necessarily a linear process and you may need to go back and repeat some of these steps.