Databases

Research: A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Get Started

Does hearing the word “research” send you into stress mode? You’re not alone! Many learners feel overwhelmed at the thought of having to complete a research-based assignment. If this is your first time doing research at a college level and you’re not sure where to start we can help make the process less intimidating.

We believe the easiest way to tackle a large research assignment is to break it down into steps. We can help create a plan that will guide you through each stage of the research process. Explore some of the services and resources available to you:

Book a Research Appointment

Book a Research Appointment to connect with knowledgeable library staff member at a time that works for you!

The Library can provide a 1hr appointment (online or in-person) with students to discuss their research needs in the form of advice or assistance regarding search strategy, finding resources, and basic citation support. Students can book a maximum of 1 research appointment per week.

Please include within the booking form the reason for your appointment or details about the type of research support you require. This information helps library staff prepare for the appointment to make the best use of the time. If relevant, please bring a copy of your assignment or notes as a reference point so we can effectively start you on your research journey. Without this information Library staff will not be able to accept your appointment request.

Note: If there are no available time slots listed, contact us and we will try to arrange a time to meet with you.

If you have a research question or are in need of less in-depth research help, you can drop by our Research Desk in room C350.

The Library Research Guide

Use the Research Guide to help you with every stage of writing a research paper. This process is broken down into six steps:

  1. Define Your Topic: Picking a good topic is key and can make or break the research process. So what makes a topic good? We suggest choosing a subject that interests you and will hold your attention. Explore what information is available on that topic to ensure that you can find what you need. If a topic is too specific, you may need to expand your search; if the topic is too vague, you may need to narrow it down.
  2. Plan Your Search: Once you have spent some time gathering background information on your topic, you should have a decent grasp of some search terms that would be relevant to your subject. Check out the Library’s Subject Guides to find resources that would make a good starting point for your research. Use a thesaurus to find synonyms that could help expand your search results, and make sure to record your sources as you go.
  3. Search for Resources: Once you have committed to your topic and know which search terms to use, you can start finding credible and relevant resources. Identify what resources are required for your assignment (type of publication, date range, how many sources you need etc.) and then search across all resources with the help of Page 1+. You can also search directly in each Digital Resource Collection. For help with your search, we recommend reading the FAQ titled “Page 1+: How to find resources“.
  4. Create an Outline: Once you have found relevant resources, you can use these sources to begin building your argument. To start creating an outline, you want to read all of the sources you have collected and take notes as you go; make sure to keep track of your sources in an organized way. When you are ready to write your thesis statement, remember that it needs to reflect the main argument of your paper and should only be 1-2 sentences long. It is best to outline the structure of your paper before you start writing it; this will help you to determine your main points and organize your research.
  5. Write Your Paper: This is the last step in the research paper writing process! At this point you should have a thesis statement, an outline, and a collection of sources and notes; essentially everything you need to put together your research paper.
  6. Cite Your Sources: You will be required to cite your sources. Citing is an extremely important part of the research paper writing process as it is the best way to avoid plagiarism. It provides credit to the original source, helps prove the legitimacy of your research, and gives professors the ability to find the information used in your work
The 5 steps to planning a research paper

Need Help With One of These Steps?

The following services are available to help you with research:

  • Free Workshops: Develop and strengthen your fundamental research and writing skills by registering for a free workshop! Workshops are offered online via Zoom and in-person in room C263. View the monthly Workshop Schedule to see what sessions are available.
  • The Coaching Lab at the Ottawa campus provides support in the fundamentals of writing and English as a Second Language at no charge. The Coaching lab is located in C260, on the second floor of the DARE District (C building).

Upcoming Changes for Library Databases on the EBSCO Platform

Changes to the EBSCO interface will not be coming until later in the year, but we want to give the college community as much notice as possible to plan accordingly.

Why is EBSCO changing the interface?

EBSCO is redesigning the EBSCOhost experience and user interface to meet ever-evolving user expectations for accessing, searching, choosing and using library resources. They are introducing many new features including personalized dashboards, new ways to share and like resources, reading eBooks, and much more.

How will the new EBSCO differ from what I have today?

They have reimagined the new EBSCOhost experience and user interface (UI) based on customer feedback, usage data, user research and usability studies. The redesigned UI presents users with new, intuitive ways to refine, navigate, like and share search results.

The AC Library currently subscribes to 28 EBSCO databases. We have provided a list of databases that will be affected:

  • Academic Search Complete
  • Alt Health Watch
  • Applied Science & Technology Source
  • Art & Architecture Complete
  • Business Source Complete
  • Canadian Reference Centre
  • CINAHL Complete
  • EBSCO eBooks
  • Environment Complete
  • ERIC (Education Resource Information Center)
  • Exploring Race in Society
  • Food Science Source
  • GreenFILE
  • Health Source
  • Hospitality & Tourism Complete
  • Humanities International Index
  • LISTA: Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts
  • MAS Ultra
  • MasterFILE Elite
  • MEDLINE
  • Military and Government Collection
  • Primary Search
  • PsycINFO
  • Regional Business News
  • SocIndex FT
  • The Serials Directory
Find Support:

If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at library@algonquincollege.com.

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