How to Do Academic Research for an Assignment: Student Guide

Sometimes, writing an assignment can feel like a tough challenge when you are unable to find the right information. You will come across websites, articles, and books, but not all of them are helpful or connected to your assignment. Therefore, learning how to do research is a very important skill for students.

In academic research, the goal is not simply to find information, but to find reliable information that is understood, critically evaluated, and used to support your position.

In this article, you will discover how to do research for an assignment. The article will also help you to learn how to find sources, check if they are trustworthy take notes and even stay away from research mistakes.

Quick Answer: How Do You Do Academic Research for an Assignment?

To do academic research for an assignment, first understand the question. Then, break the question into smaller questions and think of appropriate search terms. Next, find relevant and reliable information, such as in books, journal articles, and university websites. After that, evaluate and document your sources. Finally, apply the research to your assignment by using the information to support your position and properly citing your sources.

What Is Academic Research?

Academic research generally means seeking information to answer a question or understand a topic.

For instance, let us say that your assignment question is, “How does social media affect the mental well-being of young people?” In this case, you cannot simply type in “social media” and use the information from the first result. Instead, you need to search for academic sources that discuss social media, mental well-being, young people, and the connection between them. You then need to synthesise the information and identify which pieces of information can help you answer the research question or support your argument.

Why Is Research Important for an Assignment?

With research, your assignment will have strong arguments and will not be full of unsubstantiated claims. For instance, stating “social media is bad for young people” is weak, as it is simply an opinion. However, by using a reliable source that discusses a potential mechanism through which social media can affect the well-being of young people, your argument will gain strength and it will become much harder to dismiss it as “unsubstantiated opinion”.

Thus, research can help you to:

• Support your argument
• Understand different perspectives
• Clarify complex ideas
• Provide evidence
• Create a strong discussion
• Avoid unsubstantiated claims

How to Do Academic Research for an Assignment

1. Understand the Assignment Question

The first step in doing research is to understand the question. You can start by underlining or highlighting words and phrases like analyse, explain, compare, discuss, evaluate or critically assess. This will help you figure out what your teacher is looking for from you.

For example, “compare” requires a different approach from “evaluate.” So understanding the question should always be where you begin.

2. Split the Topic Into Questions

The next step is to split your topic into questions. Let’s say your topic is “the impact of work on employee productivity.” You can then come up with questions, such as:

• What is remote work?
• What is employee productivity?
• What are the benefits of remote work?
• What are the challenges of remote work?
• How can remote work impact productivity?
• Do different sources provide diverging evidence?

3. Come Up With Search Terms

After developing your questions, think of search terms that can help you find information. In the example above, the following search terms can be considered:

• Remote work
• Employee productivity
• Working from home
• Remote working benefits
• Remote working challenges
• Remote work and performance

Note that you may need to experiment with different search terms and even combine various terms. This will be especially important when you are using search engines.

4. Find Reliable Academic Sources

Now, it is time to start finding information. In this step, you will want to use reliable academic sources, such as:

• Peer-reviewed journal articles
• Books
• University websites
• Government websites
• Research reports
• Organisation websites

Some reliable sources can be found on Google Scholar, while others may be available through your university website or library. However, be wary that not all sources are equal, so you will also want to spend time evaluating and assessing your sources.

5. Evaluate and Assess Your Sources

At this point, you should assess whether a source is trustworthy. To do that, you can ask the following questions:

• Who wrote this?
• Does the writer appear to be trustworthy and knowledgeable about the topic?
• When was the source published or written?
• Is the source published by a reliable organisation or does it have evidence to back its claims?
• Why was this source created?

Thus, remember that not all sources found on the first page of Google are trustworthy.

Likewise, journal articles are not always better than books or reports. Context is important, which is why you should always evaluate individual sources.

Academic Sources vs Regular Websites

Not all websites are created equal, which is why it is important to assess each source that you find. In general, the following sources are usually useful for academic research:

| Source | Usually Useful for Assignments? |

|———————–|———————————|

| Peer-reviewed journal | Yes |

| Academic book | Yes |

| University website | Often |

| Government website | Often |

| Research report | Often |

| Personal blog | Usually limited |

| Random website | Be careful |

| Social media post | Usually not |

However, this does not mean that every journal article is good or that every website is unreliable. You should always assess whether a source addresses your research question and is relevant to your assignment.

6. Take Notes

Once you find a source that you like, take notes on it. However, avoid copying large chunks of text or simply saving the entire article/book for later. Instead, write down a few ideas that interest you and document them in your own words.

For instance:

Source idea: Remote work can allow employees to have more control over their working environment.

Your note: Flexible work arrangements can enhance the ability of some employees to manage their working environment.

Remember to take notes on the following:

• The ideas presented in the source
• Supporting information/data
• Arguments made by the authors
• Potential counterarguments

Additionally, make sure to document the following information about the source:

• Author (or authors)
• Year of publication
• Title of the article, book, report, etc.
• Any other information that you may need for your referencing system

Finally, note that taking notes in this way will save you a lot of time in the future.

7. Synthesise Your Research and Argument

At this point, it is important to understand that finding information is only half of the battle. The other half is to interpret that information and explain how it relates to your argument. For instance:

Evidence: According to a study, flexible working can impact the performance of employees.

Analysis: This piece of evidence suggests that flexible working may enhance the productivity of some employees, depending on the working conditions and the nature of the tasks.

Notice that the student did not simply report what they found. Rather, they interpreted the evidence and explained how it connects with their argument. Thus, always ask yourself:

“How does this piece of evidence connect with my assignment question/argument?”

 Common Academic Research Mistakes

1. Using the First Source That You Find

As mentioned above, not all sources are equal. Thus, avoid using the first source that you find, simply because it appears on the first page of Google. Always assess multiple sources and compare the information that they provide. This way, you will also avoid using unreliable sources.

2. Using Too Many Sources That Do Not Help You

The more sources you use, the better the assignment is not necessarily. Use fewer sources than you may think you need to address your research question and strengthen your argument.

3. Simply Copying Texts

Simply copying texts can be seen as dishonesty. Avoid simply copying texts by combining information you find and writing it in your words. Always try to synthesise the information and explain it in your own words.

4. Forgetting to Document Your Sources

Forgetting to document your sources is a mistake that many students make. It is easy to forget to record a source so it is better to document while you research than to try to remember all the details at the end.

5. Describing Information Rather Than Analysing It

Simply describing information rather than analysing it can make it harder to develop a strong academic argument. Instead of just describing what a paper says critically analyse it and explain how it fits your argument.

Expert Tips for Better Academic Research

To help you with your research, below are some expert tips:

• Always start with your assignment question.
• Use multiple search terms.
• Focus on reliable academic sources.
• Compare different sources of information.
• Keep your research notes small and concise.
• Document your references while doing research.
• Pay attention to the publication date and the author of important sources.
• Always connect the evidence with your argument/question.
• Look beyond the first few pages of search results, if needed.
• Check your university’s guidelines for research and referencing.

How Research Can Improve Your Assignment

Academic research can help to improve your assignment, but it is not a magic wand. In other words, simply using many references will not guarantee a high grade. Instead, focus on using research to build a strong argument.

A good argument usually combines:

• Evidence
• Analysis of that evidence
• A discussion of different perspectives
• An explanation of why certain evidence is important

Thus, always aim to synthesise the information that you find, rather than simply describing it.

Academic Research Checklist

 Before submitting your assignment, make sure that:

• I understand the assignment question
• I have used appropriate search terms
• I have used reliable sources
• I have assessed whether my sources are relevant
• I have taken notes in my own words
• I have documented my sources
• My claims are supported by evidence
• I have analysed what my evidence means
• I have connected my research with my assignment question
• I have used the appropriate referencing style
• I have followed my university’s academic integrity guidelines

Can You Use AI for Academic Research?

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) can sometimes be a tool for students. For example, it can help to understand concepts develop questions or organise your research.

However, always make sure that you follow the guidelines of your university and avoid presenting unsubstantiated information as facts simply because an AI said so.

FAQs

How many sources should I use in an assignment?

There is no fixed rule, as the number can vary significantly depending on your word count, subject, level of study, and your universities requirements. Thus it is best to look at your assignment instructions, learning outcomes and marking criteria.

Is Google enough for research?

While Google can be helpful, it is better to use it in combination, with databases, journal articles, books and the resources provided by your university.

What makes a source credible?

A credible source normally has an author, a reliable publisher supporting data and relevance to your topic. However always assess sources before using them in your assignment.

Should I use old research?

It depends on your topic, as some research may become irrelevant or outdated over time. Thus, always assess the relevance and importance of individual sources.

How can I research faster?

Always start with your research question, use specific search terms, and save useful sources. It is also a good idea to take notes while doing research, rather than waiting until the end.