"An infographic titled 'The Research Process' visually represents five key steps in conducting research, arranged in a circular flow with arrows connecting them. The central black circle contains the title with arrows indicating a cyclical process.
- 'Your Question' (yellow circle) – Represents the research topic or thesis, labeled as 'Your information need aka Thesis or Topic.'
- 'Find Background Info' (yellow circle) – Suggests using sources like Credo Reference, textbooks, books, and Google to brainstorm search terms.
- 'Find Materials' (yellow circle) – Recommends using traditional catalogs, databases, Google Scholar, and bibliographies to gather sources. Includes a note: 'Are you finding enough sources? If not, you may need to return to #1 and refine your topic.'
- 'Read & Evaluate' (yellow circle) – Encourages critical thinking about sources, listing questions like 'Who, What, Where, When, Why, How.' Also asks, 'Are your sources the best evidence to support your argument? If not, return to #3.'
- 'Organize, Write, & Cite' (yellow circle) – Emphasizes synthesizing information, taking good notes, and avoiding plagiarism. Also highlights the use of citation software such as RefWorks, Zotero, and EndNote.
The infographic is adapted from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis."
