Prince George's Community College

301 Largo Road
Largo, Maryland 20774

The Research Process
Module 1

Taking the very first step in the research process may be the most difficult step, especially if you are new to library research. In this tutorial, you will learn how to take the steps that are necessary in this process. Think of yourself as a detective, going from source to source to discover information. If you are not familiar with library terminology, click on the link to Definitions of Library Terms to become familiar with concepts that you will often see and hear. Before you start your research, there are a few general tips to keep in mind.

In this module, you will get an overview of strategies and techniques for beginning the process of writing a topic. This section will focus on:

• Selecting a topic and getting background information
• Defining your research topic
• Narrowing the topic