Literary Research Guide/The Research Process

by James L. Harner

This section outlines step-by-step the process scholars use to identify and locate primary works (printed or manuscript) and secondary works. Click on the type of work you want to find to learn how to begin researching. Each step offers a list of recommendations.

What do you want to find?

Primary Works, Printed

General and specialized bibliographies of bibliographies and guides to research methods; catalogs of libraries; national bibliographies; specialized guides to primary works related to national literature, genre, or topic; text archives.

Primary Works, Manuscript

Guides to archives and collections; union catalogs; catalogs of major institutional collections; catalogs devoted to a national literature, geographical area, or subject; text archives.

Secondary Works

General and specialized bibliographies of bibliographies; serial bibliographies.