2.5 Helpful Tools for Doing Research

Ready to do some research? Here are some basic tools you can use to begin researching just about any topic. A good place to start is with some of the Internet search engines below. Once you have an understanding of the subject, you can use empirical and print sources to build your understanding.

Internet Search Engines

• AltaVista
  
  
  
• Google
  
  
  
• HotBot
  
  
  
• Lycos
  
  
  
• Encyclopædia Britannica
  
  
  
• Galaxy
  
  
  
• LookSmart
  
  
  
• WebCrawler
  
  
  
• Yahoo
  
  
  
• Dogpile
  
  
  
• Mamma
  
  
  
• MetaCrawler
  
  
  
• Search.com
  
  
  
• Ask Jeeves
  
  
  
• IcySpicy
  
  
  
• metaEUREKA
  
  
  
• Widow MetaSearch
  

Empirical Research Methods

• Empirical Research: A Definition
  Fact-index.com
  
  
• Advice about Empirical Research
  Middlesex University
  
  
• Empirical Research Tutorial
  Illinois Institute of Technology
  
  
• Conquering Empirical Research
  Mississippi State University Libraries
  
  
• Writing Empirical Research Reports
  Rutgers University Writing in Rutgers Education (WIRE)
  
  
• Electronic Resources for Information Research Methods
  InformationR.net

Scientific Method
Once you have a working hypothesis, you can then test that hypothesis through the scientific method, a procedure much like the writing process in that it demands repetition and refinement.

• The Scientific Method
  Eastern Connecticut State University
  Plant Physiology Information Website
  
  
• The Scientific Method
  Southeastern Louisiana University
  
  
• The Scientific Method
  University of Cincinnati Claremont College
  
  
• Steps in the Scientific Method
  Lambert Dolphin's Research Library
  
  
• The Scientific Method
  Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Faculty Pages
  
  
• "The Myth of the Magical Scientific Method"
  Dharma Haven
  
  
• "Is the Scientific Method a Myth?"
  The University of the West Indies

Qualitative Research Methods

• Qualitative Research
  University of Colorado Faculty Pages
  
  
• Qualitative Research Methods
  Wilderdom
  
  
• Using Qualitative Research Methods
  The Center for Organization, Leadership, and Management Research (COLMR)
  
  
• The Qualitative Report: Qualitative Research Resources on the Internet
  Nova Southeastern University
  
  
• Qualitative Research Journals
  Nova Southeastern University