Objectives

Objectives

A research process includes these objectives:

recognizing the need for information
- accurate information is the basis for intelligent decision making
- helps when formulating appropriate research questions, such as "What is the topic?"
- can define focus and timeline -- "Do I have enough time to find the appropriate information on my topic?"
save time by searching effectively
create better quality papers

You will learn from a research process that:

there is a search strategy that can be efficient, productive, effective (such as time spent) and result in quality
there are print and electronic sources used to search, such as the library's online catalog; the Web, especially Web directories and engines; footnotes and bibliographies; paper and electronic indexes; full-text databases; and subject guides, usually developed by librarians or other authorities in the subject field
there are types of information sources used in the research process, including books and journals, and secondary and primary sources
there are search commands to improve the process, such as employing Boolean logic, and other available limiters, etc.