Research Process Overview
| 1. Start by defining what information you need/want to find. This question will guide your research. |
Do people with engineering degrees like their jobs? What jobs in the medical field do not require an M.D.? |
| 2. Break down your question into its essential concepts to identify keywords. | Do people with engineering degrees like their jobs? |
| 3. Brainstorm synonyms for each of your key concepts / keywords. You may have more success with one word than with another. |
engineering... mechanical, building, technology, manufacturing, architecture degree... diploma, education, bachelor, master like... satisfaction, enjoyment, benefits, balance jobs... work, occupation, career, profession |
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4. Decide which databases will have the information you seek. |
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| 5. Search by combining terms. This part is experimental. You will need to adjust - use different terms, combine terms in new ways, etc. until you find what you need. |  |
| 6. Look at the records for articles that seem promising to see what search terms the database uses to describe them. Add those to your keyword list. Use them to adjust your search. |
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| 7. Analyze your results. Read the title and abstract. Decide which articles are most likely to meet your needs. |  |
| 8. Keep track of what you found (articles), where you found them (databases) and what search terms you used (engineering AND work AND satisfaction). That way if you want them later, you can find them more easily. |  |
If you get stuck at any point in this process, contact a librarian - we're always happy to help!
What are Scholarly Articles?
Introduction to Scholarly Articles helps you learn about what defines a scholarly article, whether or not "scholarly" means "peer reviewed", etc.
Length: Approximately 6-8 minutes
