Explore Your Topic - CJUS403 - Criminal Justice Capstone - Massasoit Libraries at Massasoit Library

Research Steps

The research and writing process links and overlaps in multiple ways, especially with a seminal assignment such as a capstone paper.

Now that you have a calendar to plot out your deadlines, you are ready to step into the research and writing process.

1. Choose your topic

This involves "pre-research" - you can start on the web and move into the library databases.
Does your topic have enough sources? Are the right kinds of sources available to you?
Is your research question to broad? Too specific?
Watch the Search vs Research video to the right. This will give you strategies for refining your topic and getting you into the mindset of research.

2. Refine your topic as you develop your research question

3. Begin your search in EBSCO Discovery, but I encourage you move toward Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text in order to get more relevant results.

Discovery Search This link opens in a new window
Content: Search all Massasoit databases at once. “Research Starters” are the first result in most searches and help orient you toward your topic.
Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text This link opens in a new window
Content: Scholarly articles covering all areas in the criminal justice field.