Before you begin your research project
Make sure you understand what is required. Read your assignment carefully and talk with your instructor if you need clarification. Think about how much time and other resources you have and need to complete all parts of the research assignment within the course timetable.
Steps in doing a capstone paper or project
Step 1
Select a topic area. See the "Selecting and focusing your research topic" tab at left for suggestions on choosing a topic, narrowing your focus, and developing a thesis statement or research question.
Step 2
Do a literature review. The "Literature Review" tab will link you to helpful resources for planning a search and organizing your results. The "Start Searching" tab gives some examples for using article databases effectively.
Step 3
Doing primary research(for those students required to do so). Check the "Doing primary research" tab for resources on creating surveys, finding tests, designing studies, etc.
Step 4
Present your results. The "Writing & Citing" tab brings together resources for writing the paper, citing your sources, and avoiding plagiarism. The "Presentation skills" tab will help you create effective visual aids and deliver a professional presentation.
Graduate Thesis and Dissertation General Guidelines
Here you will find everything you need to know about the purpose of a dissertation or thesis and the steps to complete and submit your work.
TheGuidelines were created by the Webster University Office of Academic Affairsand approved by Webster University Graduate Council. The most recent version of the Guidelines is the 2023 revision.
Academic Writing and Research video
Academic writing and research: Top tips to transform your paper
Academic Writing & Research: Top Tips to Transform Your Paper (Recorded on Apr. 3, 2019; 37 minutes)
New to writing and research or just want to up your game? Join us! Learn simple and effective tips from Writing Center and Library staff to make your writing more polished and to find and integrate others’ ideas and research to strengthen your thesis and argument. Click here to watch specific parts of this video.
Watchspecific topics in this video
Watch and learn with Webster U. Library online presentations
Visit our Library Training, Tutorials & Webinarspage to see tutorials that will sharpen your research skills and offer helpful guidance in doing a capstone, thesisor advanced research project. Recorded webinars may be watched at your convenience. Live webinars offer an interactive experience with Webster U. librarians present to answer your questions.
The Research Cycle
The Research Cycle is a circular process with the goal of identifying relevant and useful results. The pieces of the process are:
- Define task: What is your assignment, problem or question?
- Identify options: What kinds of information do you need and where do you look?
- Select your sources: How do you search for them and which do you choose?
- Analyze content: What di you discover and what does it mean?
- Present findings: How do you organize and communicate what you have learned?
When you complete these steps you will need to evaluate your results. Depending on your assignment you may need to refine or change your question and begin the process again.
CMST 101: Introduction to Communications, Marian Lyles: Intro to Research.Seattle Central College Library.Seattle Central College. 10 Feb. 2016.Web. 16 Jun 2016.
