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What is the research paper process?
What is the research paper process?
In reality research is more so like the illustration to the right with maybe even more arrows jumping from step to step as you realize aspects of your question, scope or sources don't align as you originally thought.
It is normal to have to go back between steps as you refine your scope, question or search strategies. That is why research is described as iterative.
Iterative: relating to or noting a development strategy that involves a cyclical process of refining or tweaking the latest version or iteration of a product, process, or idea to make a subsequent version
The research paper process is a series of iterative steps that take you from a research question to a search strategy and resources that help build your argument into a paper.
The illustration on the left creates an illusion of research being smooth. You move from step to step and in a timely manner find the answers you expected to find in your research.
It takes trial and error and sometimes an unknown amount of time to find the resources you need to complete your argument. I encourage you to keep at it. When a step is not working be sure to try different strategies or seek the help of a librarian or professor.
Follow to the next page to find ways to pinpoint where you are in your research process and how you can hone your ideas: Stuck in the process.
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