Place the steps of the research process in the correct order.

Take the Information Literacy Test to excel in assessing, evaluating, and applying information effectively. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with comprehensive explanations. Prepare for success!

Choosing and refining the topic first sets the direction and the questions you’ll pursue. When the topic is clear, you know what kinds of resources to look for and where to focus your search. After you’ve found materials, the next step is to evaluate them for credibility, relevance, and usefulness so you only work with trustworthy sources. Once you have solid evidence and ideas from reliable sources, you can organize the information into a coherent structure that supports your argument or findings. Finally, citing your sources at the point you use ideas or data ensures you give proper credit and helps readers trace where information came from.

If you were to search for resources without a refined topic, you might gather material that doesn’t fit your questions. Evaluating sources before locating them isn’t possible in practice, and organizing information before assessing quality can lead to including weak or irrelevant material. Citing sources before you’ve collected them isn’t feasible, and attempting to do so prematurely disrupts the workflow.