The purpose of this website is to provide you with tips, suggestions and examples (see links in left hand column) of how to begin the research process, and when the research is completed, how to start the writing process. The processes described here outline several basic steps. Keep in mind that these steps are not exclusive of each other. In other words, work done in one area may necessitate you returning to a step that you have already "completed."
Many students have trouble breaking the research process into manageable steps? This new online Research Calculator breaks the process into five logical steps: Formulating a Question, Gathering Information, Organizing your information, Communicating or writing the paper, and Evaluating how you did and how you can improve. These 5 steps coincide with the Five Information Literacy skills which prepare students to efficiently and effectively find the information they need to meet their needs and the ability to critically evaluate that information. A list of these Five Information Literacy Skills can be found at the Association of College & Research Libraries.
In using the Calculator, students choose the format of their research product, (for example: essay, powerpoint, or video), and enter the due date for their assignment. The calculator estimates the dates by which each part of the assignment should be completed and provides a script for the research process in the form of questions and answers that create a short and simple guide for you. You can even have this research guide with due dates sent to your email address as reminders throughout the process.
This Research Calculator was adapted from the Assignment Calculator originally developed by the University of Minnesota libraries for undergraduate students.
