Academic Research Process

Systematic approach to conducting thorough academic research

Academic Research Process

Step-by-step approach to effective academic research

  • Define research question or topic clearly
  • Identify key concepts and search terms
  • Select appropriate academic databases
  • Conduct preliminary literature search
  • Evaluate sources for relevance and credibility
  • Create organized system for managing sources
  • Take detailed notes on key findings
  • Identify connections between different sources
  • Document all citation information
  • Create outline based on research findings
  • Identify gaps requiring additional research
  • Synthesize findings into cohesive arguments