Starting your Research

Research takes time. Read your syllabus and assignment directions to ensure you're on the right path.

Brainstorm your research topic

Think about what parts of your topic you find most interesting.

• What question am I trying to answer?
• What keywords best describe my topic?
• Is my topic too broad or too narrow?

Decide which types of resources you need

• Recent publications (5 years or less)
• Peer-reviewed resources
• Journal articles
• Books
• Newspapers
• Statistics

Now that you have your topic, you can begin exploring available resources.

Find the best keywords

Do not type a question in the search box, for example, Does nature make you feel better?  Instead, search for keywords like nature, outdoor recreation, wellness, well-being, mental health, etc.

Be flexible with your topic and try different synonyms and word combinations.

Evaluate your sources

Are you finding the information that you need? If not, take a moment to rethink your search options like keywords, database choice, etc.

Cite your sources

The only way to ethically conduct research is to properly give credit to the authors you are using.