Before you get started with your research, it can be helpful to take some time to think about these questions:
What kind of sources would have the information I need? Do you need to look at 'popular,' current sources like newspapers and magazines? Academic articles?
Who would have created the sources I need? A government agency, such as the Census Bureau? Journalists? Academic authors such as researchers or professors?
What words would have been used to describe my topic? The key to beginning successful research is deciding what words to search with. As you read, you will begin to see what words are used over and over again to describe the ideas you're researching.
When would different sources have been created? While news stories may appear online within hours ,academic articles and books take longer to write and publish. To read more about the Information Cycle, please see this page from the University of Illinois Libraries.
