As I enter my fifth week of college, I can already see how much I have learned about research and how important these skills will be throughout college. At first, the process felt a bit overwhelming with figuring out where to look, how to know if a source was reliable, and how to cite correctly. After learning to use the library’s website and practicing APA format, I feel more confident and prepared to take on more research assignments in the future.

One of the most valuable things I have learned is how to determine the credibility of a source. Before this class, I usually would just search on Google, but obviously it usually wouldn’t lead to the best or most accurate information. Now I understand how to find peer-reviewed journals, articles, and other sources. This is important because, as someone interested in psychology and working with children, I know that I will need strong and trustworthy research to back up my ideas. I can already imagine using these skills when writing papers on child development or mental health issues.

I’ve also realized that research is more than just finding quotes to insert into a paper. It’s about using evidence to support my own ideas. I feel much more comfortable now combing my voice with the research I’ve gathered, instead of just repeating what other people have said. Learning how to paraphrase  has been a big part of that. I was nervous about accidentally plagiarizing, but after practicing, I’m starting to trust myself a little bit more.

There are still areas where I need to improve though. For example, I can identify basic primary and secondary sources but sometimes I still get confused about which is which when dealing with articles that mix data and analysis. I also want to get better at narrowing my research questions so I’m not wasting time looking through stuff that just isn’t relevant.