Research is not about confirming what you already know. It's the process of asking questions, finding information from reliable sources, and drawing conclusions based on that information.
Using background sources to explore questions like these can help you identify what you already know and what you want to learn about your topic.
Identify doubts or controversies about the nature of your topic, plus terms you need to define.
Limit your research to a specific time period or a developmental phase of your topic.
Choose a geographical location or a particular type of environment relevant to your topic.
Consider specific populations affected, professionals working on the issue, or others who are interested.
Investigate a cause or effect (or a process) related your topic.
Can you think of a question that...
Search or browse for your topic. Most reports feature full bibliographies, which can help you find additional sources, plus lists of relevant organizations.
Reference books are single- or multivolume works such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, or handbooks that provide a general overview and factual information about a topic.
Wikipedia is a great first step in research: it tells you what things are.
Anyone can edit a Wikipedia entry, so it's not as reliable as other encyclopedias, which are edited by experts. Use Wikipedia to narrow your topic and learn the basics, but find a more trustworthy source to cite in your projects.
