Horticulture

Research is a Process

1. Identify and define your topic. Put your research topic into a question or sentence. Identify the main concepts and keywords, including alternate terms.

2. Background reading will deepen your understanding and vocabulary around the topic, which will help you identify search terms and develop an effective research question. Subject encyclopedias, such as those in the Credo Reference database, are excellent resources. 

3. Use ArcherSearch to find books and articles from a wide range of library sources, including the library catalog and many of our databases.

4. Use individual databases to find articles from magazines, journals and newspapers. Choose appropriate databases for your topic.

5. Search for credible website resources. Try the librarian-recommended websites on this guide.

6. Always evaluate what you find. Consider timeliness, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.

7. Cite your sources. Citing gives proper credit to the authors of materials you use and allows your professors to verify your conclusions. 

Photo credit: Ben Iwara. Shared on Unsplash.