How to Do Research for a School Paper (Step by Step)

TL;DR

Start with Google Scholar and your library's databases — not regular Google. Use the CRAAP test to evaluate sources. Wikipedia is fine for background but never cite it directly. Aim for peer-reviewed journal articles, reputable news sources, and books. Save and organize your sources as you go.

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The Research Process

Step 1: Understand Your Assignment

Before researching, know:

• What type of sources are required? (Scholarly? Primary? How many?)
• What citation format? (MLA, APA, Chicago?)
• What's the scope? (Don't research the entire history of something for a 3-page paper)

Step 2: Start Broad, Then Narrow

Begin with general background reading (Wikipedia IS good for this — just don't cite it). Get a sense of the topic, key terms, and major debates. Then narrow your focus to a specific argument or question.

Step 3: Find Sources

Google Scholar (scholar.google.com)

• Free access to academic papers and articles
• Use quotation marks for exact phrases: "social media" AND "teen mental health"
• Click "Cited by" to find more recent sources that reference a good paper
• Check if your library provides free full-text access

Library Databases Your school library gives you free access to databases like:

• JSTOR (humanities and social sciences)
• PubMed (health and science)
• EBSCO (broad coverage)
• ProQuest (dissertations and newspapers)

These contain peer-reviewed, scholarly sources — exactly what your professor wants.

Books Don't forget physical and digital books. Your library catalog and Google Books are great starting points.

Step 4: Evaluate Your Sources (The CRAAP Test)

Criterion	Question
Currency	When was it published? Is it up-to-date for your topic?
Relevance	Does it directly relate to your research question?
Authority	Who wrote it? What are their credentials?
Accuracy	Is the information supported by evidence? Are sources cited?
Purpose	Why was it written? Is it objective or biased?

Step 5: Take Notes and Organize

As you read sources:

• Write a brief summary of each source's main argument
• Note specific quotes you might use (with page numbers)
• Record complete citation information NOW (you'll need it later)
• Organize by subtopic or argument

Common Research Mistakes

1. Using only Google — Regular Google returns websites, blogs, and unreliable sources. Use Google Scholar and library databases.
2. Citing Wikipedia — Use it for background, but cite the sources Wikipedia references instead.
3. Not reading enough sources — Read more than you think you need. Having extra sources gives you flexibility.
4. Waiting too long to start — Research takes longer than you expect. Start early.
5. Not keeping track of sources — There's nothing worse than having a great quote and not knowing where it came from.

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Good research is the foundation of every strong paper. Start early, use credible sources, and keep organized notes. The writing is the easy part once your research is solid. 🔍