The Research Process

This guide will help you think through aspects of the research process, understanding that "research" can mean very different things depending on discipline (particularly in STEM and creative research), audience, and goals. 

• Keeping a research journal is a great practice to get into for any project; you can keep track of sources and searches, in addition to notes about what you tried, questions you have, permanent links to database searches, and possible next steps. 
• Download Zotero, which saves citations and PDFs with one click, lets you take notes, and formats a bibliography right in Word or Google Docs.
• Use the menu on the left to learn more, and look for activities, tools, and checkpoints in each section. 

Ask at the Reference Desk!

• Regular Semester Hours, starting September 3rd:
  • Monday - Friday, 11 am - 5 pm: Drop-in help from research librarians
  • Sunday 3 - 11 pm, Monday - Thursday, 5 pm - 9 pm: Specially trained Peer Research Assistants available!

Schedule a Research Consultation

• Schedule a research consultation with a research librarian, or email us directly.
• Email library@amherst.edu if you're not sure which librarian to meet with.

Have a question about your library account?

• Email Circulation or see our full contact list.

Need to get started right away?

• Try our Research Guides for every subject.