Topic selection is the most important step of your research. A poorly developed topic makes it harder to do research, and often leads to finding too much material, which can waste time and leave you frustrated.

Research can proceed much faster if you understand the basic facts, events, and issues surrounding your topic. With this basic knowledge, you can quickly determine what information you need and have a greater understanding of how to search for it.

Part of the challenge of doing research is knowing if need to find a book, article, or website for your research. The type of information you get is going to differ depending on what item you chose. Looking in the wrong place for you information can often lead to many dead ends and cries of "but I can't find it anywhere!"

To avoid this particular frustration, take a moment to go through this quick website on the Flow of Information.

Once you have decided what you need - books, articles, or websites - you have to determine how to find them. Refer to Where to go to find information for help.