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John B. Coleman Library Ask A Librarian

Scientific Method: What it is, How to Use It: Step 2: Research

An overview of the scientific method from start to finish; including helpful resources for research!

Research

You have your question/problem formulated. What's next?  Research.     

Now you need to find out about your subject. You need background information before you move on to your next step, the hypothesis. What other research or experimentation is out there?  Will this influence your experiment? 

Where do you find this background information?

  1. The LIBRARY. Note the Resources tab on this guide, and the Suggested Databases box in the right column of this page. You can also ask your friendly librarian about additional databases, print material, etc.
  2. Discuss your topic with your friends, colleagues, and teachers. Everyone has an opinion or observation.
  3. The Internet is a fast and convenient method of doing exploratory searches to learn more about your topic. 

Research is Like Cooking (Video)

Additional Research Guides

Suggested Databases

Evaluating Information

Choose your sources wisely. Make sure you do enough research, but stay focused on your problem.

How do I know if my sources are good? Useful links.

John B. Coleman Library
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 519, MS 1040, Prairie View, Texas 77446
Physical Address: L.W. Minor St. / University Drive, Prairie View, Texas 77446
Reference: (936) 261-1535, Circulation: (936) 261-1542
Email: askalibrarian@pvamu.edu

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