So, why is research important and how can it help me?

In everyday life, research can help you in a variety of ways, from finding the best restaurants in a particular area to figuring out which kind of vehicle best meets your family's needs. 

Research is also important in college for a number of reasons, such as:  

• Researching a topic and citing where you get your information makes your paper more credible since it shows you are backing up your thoughts with expert information.
• Research increases your knowledge by giving you a more well-rounded view of a topic than you might have otherwise.
• Research prevents accidental plagiarism, which can happen if someone takes credit for an idea that somebody else has already had.

Adapted from "Why is research important when writing a paper?" www.ehow.com

Welcome to UA-PTC Libraries' guide to the Research Process.  Here you will find a variety of information and tools that will guide you through the process of doing research. 

If you have any questions, you can use our Ask a Librarian service or contact us by using the information listed under our profile.

                                "Mrs. Edith S. Hampton, of Chicago, Illinois...." accessed via ARTstor

Six Step Research Process

1. Find a topic.
2. Gather information.
3. Evaluate what you have.
4. Organize Information.
5. Cite your sources properly.
6. Present your research.

From the Six Step Research Process by Tulsa Community College Library.