Introduction to Russian Culture: How to do Research

Use The Craft of Research to help you conceptualize and work through the process of developing your research project.

• Chapter 3: From Topics to Questions will guide you through the process of asking questions until you arrive at the burning question that you want to answer.
• Chapter 4: From Questions to a Problem will help you shape your questions into a hypothesis that will give your research project direction.  
• Chapter 5: From Problems to Sources will guide you through the process of finding reliable and relevant information. And don't forget to ask a librarian for help.

Identify Keywords: Before searching the Library Catalog or other databases, take a few minutes to write down all the words that describe your topic. Use these words in keyword searches.

Follow the Bibliographic Trail: One proven method for gathering reliable information efficiently is to follow the citations or references from one source to another. The author's bibliography can lead you to other sources on the topic.

Can't Find Books on Your Topic? Some content on a topic can be hidden in small chunks within general works. So you may need to think more broadly about your topic.

Try one of these bibliographic management tools. They can help you keep track of sources, generate bibliographies, store documents, and save you time in the long run. 

Image: http://mimiandeunice.com/2010/07/30/thief/