Whether you are an up and coming researcher or experienced, whether you are new to Stellenbosch University or an old hand, you may all find that we offer research support services that you were not aware of!

A great place to see all our research support services is our Research Services webpage:

You will find a range of available services here, including links to our #SmartResearcher workshop series, publishing support and open access, managing research data, managing references, measuring research impact, analysing data and our unique research collections. Another great source for information is our Research Process library guide:

The research process is a structured approach to conducting research, with several key phases that can help guide the researcher through their research journey. The guide is designed to revolve around steps of Plan & Design, Collect & Capture, Analyse, collaborate & create, Manage, store & preserve, Share & publish and Monitor & evaluate. This is also where you will find some recommended apps and software that could aid your research journey. These can be found under Useful tools for research.

The research process entails several fundamental activities, with each step building on the former and each step requires close attention to detail and following a rigorous methodology (Stewart, 2025). It is important as it provides a scientific basis for the decisions you make about your research. Sticking to a structured process will aid you in producing results that are insightful and transparent and will also make your research reproducible. The research process is not a fixed or rigid process and it can be approached from different angles.

With AI transforming our academic environment, it is also worth considering how it may impact or benefit the research process. AI can be considered an enabler of new methods, processes, management and evaluation in research (Chubb et al., 2022). However, any tools that can aid you must always be approached with a pinch of salt and ethical considerations and reliability must be taken into account. If you are unsure, just ask your librarian!

If any of these services piqued your interest, do not hesitate to contact us. Your faculty librarian and we at Research Support Services are just a click away!

Sources:

Chubb, J., Cowling, P. & Reed, D. 2022. Speeding up to keep up: exploring the use of AI in the research process, AI & Society, 37:1439-1457. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-021-01259-0

Stewart, L. 2025. The research process: Steps, how to start & tips. ATLAS.ti. Available: https://atlasti.com/research-hub/research-process [2025, 27 Feb].

Taherdoost, H. 2024. The research process: From question to conclusion. LinkedIn, 2 Nov. Available: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/research-process-from-question-conclusion-hamed-taherdoost-n9ajc/ [2025, 27 Feb.].

Author: Kirchner van Deventer