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Guide to Engineering Research
This guide contains links to engineering resources, online and some print, that are available through Belk Library.
The Research Cycle
1. Explore Your Topic
Before you settle on a topic - or even if you already know what you want to research - you may need to find some background information. The library is a great resource for background information.
2. Refine Your Topic
Now that you've done some background research, it's time to narrow your topic. Remember: the shorter your final paper, the narrower your topic needs to be.
3. Find Sources
After you've refined your topic, it's time to start searching for sources. Do you need articles, data, or something else?
4. Search Effectively
At this point, you may need to adjust your search terms in order to find what you're looking for. Think about keywords, synonyms, and all the search tools available for you through the library.
5. Evaluate Your Sources
It's always a good idea to evaluate sources before using them in an assignment. Do your sources need to be scholarly? Do they have to be journal articles or conference proceedings, or do you need something like a standard or code?
6. Write!
Pull everything together to share your argument and your evidence. Tie ideas from your sources together with your own thoughts and analysis to make a compelling case.
New or Notable Engineering Materials
