WHAT IS RESEARCH?

Research Paper Process: Step-by-Step

Forming a Research Question

Ask Open-Ended Thoughtful Questions

Learn How to Write a Literature Review

What is a Literature Review?

A note about assignment requirements

Assignment requirements are important and will determine what types of sources you need. 

Your assignment says to use 2 scholarly, peer-reviewed references. So what does this mean? Well, it means you must find, read, and analyze two academic journal articles that are peer-reviewed to write your paper. You will also need to reference them correctly on your references page and provide correct in-text citations within your paper's text.

Research Paper Process: Step by Step

1. Develop your Research Question.  

Think about:

• What research is and what it isn't.
• The kind of research paper you will write.
• Ways you can choose a topic for your research paper.
• Who you are writing to (your audience) and why you are writing to them.
• Whether or not you understand the assignment.

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2. Decide what type of information you will use in your research.  

Think about:

• Will you need print or e-books?
• Academic journal articles?
• Magazine or Newspaper articles?
• Web sites or other multimedia?

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3. Determine the kind of information you will need.

Think about:

• Are you looking for current or past (historical) information?
• Will you need Primary Sources or Secondary Sources?
• Should you use Popular, Trade, or Scholarly Journals?
• How will you evaluate the information you find for accuracy, audience, bias, or purpose?

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4. Read the articles you find in your research.

5. Enter your references into Academic Writer. 

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6. Start the process of writing your paper. 

Think about:

• Pre-Writing: Get your paper off to a good start.
• Think about the entire Writing Process.
• Write your Thesis Statement.
• Develop an Outline.
• Start your First Draft.
• When you find important information and quotes in your research, remember to cite them in the text of your paper.
• Proofread your First Draft.
• Revise your Draft using the Revising Process.
• Proofread and Revise again.

Resources

7. Avoid Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism by citing and referencing the sources you use.  

Indiana Wesleyan University uses APA Style, a set of writing and citation rules developed by the American Psychological Association for all of its academic programs. Check out the APA Style & Grammar Help tab of this guide for more information. 

The Wesley Seminary requires that papers be written using The Chicago Manual of Style, a set of writing and citation rules. Check out the Chicago Style Helps tab of this guide for more information. 

Resources

Forming a Research Question

Ask Open-Ended Thoughtful Questions

Learn how to Write a Literature Review

Open Video in New Tab

What is a Literature Review?

DEVELOP A SEARCH STRATEGY

Getting started on a research project can be overwhelming (and sometimes the hardest part of the research process!). The Develop a Search Strategy guide explores how to develop a search strategy that you can use to find the most useful information in a timely manner.

This process can be broken down into four major steps:

1. Choose a Topic
2. Identify Main Concepts & Keywords
3. Choose Databases
4. Analyze & Improve Your Results

WHAT ARE BOOLEAN OPERATORS?

Published on July 27, 2021 | 1 minute read

Are you having trouble finding sources for your topic?

Do you need to narrow your search results?

Try boolean operators in your search! 

Boolean operators are the words "AND", "OR" and "NOT".  When used in library databases (typed between your keywords) they can make each search more precise - and save you time!

AND

AND narrows a search by telling the database that ALL keywords used must be found in an article in order for it to appear in your results list. Search for two or more concepts that interest you by combining descriptive keywords with AND. 

OR

OR broadens a search by telling the database that any of the words it connects are acceptable. This is particularly helpful when you are searching for synonyms. 

NOT

NOT narrows your search by telling the database to eliminate all terms that follow it from your search results. This can be useful when you are interested in a very specific aspect of a topic but wants to weed out issues you aren't planning to write about. 

Use NOT with caution as good items can be eliminated from the results retrieved. 

FINDING BOOKS

Find Print Books in the Library Catalog 

Find eBooks in the Library Catalog

eBook Databases

Reference Books

Find Print Books in the Library Catalog 

Find Print Books:

• Use the Advanced Search to limit your search to only print books.
• Type in your search terms using the search tips below. 
• Under Location, choose Circulating Collection to locate books you can check out.
• Click Submit. 
• Click on the book title to open its record and click Request Item to request the book be mailed to you. 

Search Tips:

• Use quotes ("social media") to find a specific phrase.
• Use similar terms, separated by OR (social media OR social networking) to locate sources with BOTH terms. 

Type your search in the box below! The catalog search will pop up in a new window.

Or click Advanced Search to bring up the catalog Advance Search in a new window. 

Find eBooks in the Library Catalog

Find eBooks: 

• Use the Advanced Search to limit your search to only eBooks. 
• Type in your search terms.
• Under Location, choose Electronic Books to locate all IWU eBook collections. 
• Click Submit. 

Click Advanced Search to bring up the catalog Advance Search in a new window. 

Or type your search in the box below! The catalog search will pop up in a new window.

eBook Databases

Reference Books

You may ask, "Why would I use an encyclopedia or reference book for my research?".

• Help you get ideas about how to narrow or search for your topic.
• You'll find keywords and related topics for your search strategy.
• You might even create an initial outline. 
• Reference articles usually offer additional resources in a bibliography you can use to track down more information.

ARTICLES & DATABASES

OCLS Databases

OCLS QUICKsearch & Journal Titles Search

OCLS Databases

Each database has unique journals and articles. For a complete list of databases that are available through OCLS, visit the OCLS Article Databases page or select More from the box below. 

As you search the databases, if the full text option is missing, look for Check Online Availability or Check Full Text Finder for Full Text to see whether it is available in another database or in print at the library. 

OCLS QUICKsearch & Journal Titles Search

Not sure where to start with your research?

Try OCLS QUICKsearch.

It is like Google for OCLS and searches most of our databases with one easy search! 

Are you looking for a specific article?

If you know the journal or magazine the article is in, you can use the Journal Titles Search to see if OCLS has access to the journal or magazine. 

Both QUICKsearch and the Journal Titles search can be found on the OCLS homepage in the search box area or try them below. 

Try QUICKsearch or the Journal Titles Search by typing your search below. The search will pop up in a new window.

NEED MORE IDEAS?

Reference Books

Research Question

Idea Generator

Reference Books

Reference Books can help you coming up with a topic and narrowing your topic.

See the Finding Books tab of this guide for more information on how to find Reference Books.

Research Question

Questions require answers.

A topic is too broad to cover thoroughly, but a question has an answer. 

Good research explores a question without an easy answer. 

Narrowing a topic to a primary question will get your research off to the right start.  

See the What is Research? tab of this guide for more information on formulating a research question. 

Idea Generator

The Idea Generator is from Old Dominion University. 

This guide has an informative video on picking your topic and topics organized by subject. 

Take a look at the guide to get your gears moving, but remember to formulate a research question after you have decided on a topic.    

APA STYLE & GRAMMAR HELP

Academic Writer

APA Style

Grammarly

Academic Writer 

Academic Writer is the official APA writing platform. You can concentrate on writing the content of your paper and Academic Writer automatically formats your papers in APA Style format. 

Visit the Academic Writer Guide for on-demand tutorials to help you sign up and get started! 

APA Style

Most IWU N&G programs require you to use APA Style 7th Edition. 

Visit the APA Style Guide for the APA 7th Edition Paper Template and the OCLS APA 7e Guide! 

Grammarly 

Grammarly with Premium features is available to IWU students for free. There are specific steps to sign up or you will be charged a fee.

Visit the Grammarly Guide to learn how to sign up and how to use Grammarly to check your papers for grammar and spelling errors. 

CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE

OCLS & RESEARCH HELP

Introduction to OCLS

Research Help

Learn About OCLS

Open Video in New Tab

RESEARCH HELP

Do you need help with a specific research topic?  Contact Online Campus Library Services and request a Personalized Search Plan!

Personalized Search Plans (PSPs) tell you where to go, what to do, and how to do it. Your PSP will suggest the best online database(s) and search term(s) to use. Depending on what kinds of information you need, your PSP might help you to find appropriate print books, e-books, or journal articles.

Each PSP includes step-by-step directions to find trusted sources for your assignments and customized to your needs.

Request your Personalized Search Plan and let us know your topic and what kinds of information you need – books, e-books, journal articles, websites, or peer-reviewed or research-based information. 

Allow a minimum of two (2) business days, not including weekends. 

OCLS is closed on Saturday, Sunday, and all university holidays and holiday weekends, so we encourage you to ask for your Personalized Search Plan early in your workshop weeks whenever possible.