Join your local library and pick up a library card.
Visit one of the many available online databases for use by library card holders. Often the library has an online research section on its website with direct links to scholarly databases.
Narrow down your research topic by finding the appropriate subject database. On your library's online research page, you can narrow down scholarly databases you want to use based on your area of interest, whether art, news or politics. Once there, you will have access to research papers for free.