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Start Your Research: Plan Your Research

Not Sure How to Start?

​Research processes are different for everyone. They are shaped by personal preference, experience, and the academic disciplines researchers are participating in. As a student, you'll be exploring a variety of disciplinary research methods and practices. 

​Explore the short videos on this page and consider how you can refine your own research processes.

Choosing Your Topic IS Research!

When you pick your topic, it's not set in stone. Picking and adjusting your topic is an integral part of the research process!
This video is published under a Creative Commons 3.0 BY-NC-SA US license.

The Research Process is Complex

The research process is complex -- it's not just you. Learn more about what to expect about the research process in the video below.

The Research Process is Complex from UCSB Library on Vimeo.

Tips for Getting Started

  • Start early! Give yourself time to learn how to do this, and be patient with yourself.
  • Read over the assignment several times to make sure you understand what is required.
  • Choose something that is interesting to you. It will make the process more enjoyable.
  • Take lots of notes. Research happens over time and this will let you leave and come back to parts of the process. 
  • If you're stuck searching for more than thirty minutes, try using our chat reference service to get help from a librarian.