Many classes you take will require you to do research. Compared to high school, post-secondary asks you to do more rigorous research. In post-secondary, the type of source and where you got it from matters (websites don't usually cut it). Often the research you will be asked to do requires you to evaluate research conducted by others and make connections between sources.
Read every assignment carefully. There are a variety of assignments all with their own requirements. Understanding the type of essay you are asked to write is a crucial first step to completing an assignment well.
Make sure you check (and understand):
Finding good sources takes more time than you expect. Make sure you brainstorm ideas early on to help develop your research question and search terms, and read the rubric (grading guide) if your instructor has made one available. Finally, as always, ask your instructor if anything in the assignment guidelines is confusing.
The graph below provides a visual for the proportion of time recommended for different parts of the research writing process.
Your research question is what you are trying to answer via research. Once you have your research question, create a list of key words that you might use during your search(es). For some research basics, explore our How to Research guide.
You can also watch the video below (Sheridan, 2018) for some tips on finding a research topic and creating a research question.
Up to now, a lot of your research experience is likely focused around using Google. In post secondary, we focus on finding academic resources though databases that are licensed by NWP. These databases contain a ton of scholarly material, many of which are academic journals featuring peer reviewed articles (note that not all academic journals are peer reviewed). Check out our Know Your Resources guide for more information on different types of sources.
You can also watch the video below (McMaster Library, 2014) for a crash course on what makes an article peer reviewed.
Remember to try different combinations of keywords and synonyms to get the results you need.
You can always adjust your research question if you are having trouble finding results.
Research is a process that takes time - be sure to give yourself enough time to go through the sources you find.
Searching in different databases is one way to find more results.
If you get stuck, reach out to a librarian or your instructor for some additional assistance.