Psychology

Hello! This guide is to help you through all parts of library research.

Library research generally follows the process below.* 

*And note that most people repeat steps, including continuing to find sources while they're writing.

It's ok if this isn't how you work - they are general steps to help you if you get stuck.

Scholarly articles are really just a conversation between researchers over time.

Research helps you join that conversation by learning:

• what information scholars agree on (background information), and
• what researchers are talking about now (current articles and books).

That way you can build on their work and add something new.

Ideal (linear) vs. Reality (non-linear)

Images by Gina Peterson and Jason Kruse, copyright 2023.

This a general (idealized) process - what's yours?

Remember - you will repeat steps as you need to!