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RESEARCH

RESEARCH. Top 10 Tips for Effective Research http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/using/instruct/tips. Before You Start. The Top 10 Tips for Effective Research So. ..you've got a big project ahead of you. Here are ten tips to help you get the most out of your research!.

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RESEARCH

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  1. RESEARCH Top 10 Tips for Effective Research http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/using/instruct/tips

  2. Before You Start • The Top 10 Tips for Effective Research • So...you've got a big project ahead of you. Here are ten tips to help you get the most out of your research!

  3. 1. Identify and Document Your Research Topic or Problem • Think about your argument, identify main concepts for your research, and write everything down. • What you record will be helpful to develop your search strategy.

  4. 2. Conduct Background Research • Background reading is essential for focusing your topic and provides you with a strong starting point for your research. • Reference sources and books are often helpful in this step.

  5. 3. Give Yourself Plenty of Time • Allow enough time to get the materials you need. Anticipate that there may be problems in retrieving the information. • You might have to get books through interlibrary loan, a journal may missing in the stacks, or a Library database may be down the weekend you need it. • People may not be available to interview straight away.

  6. 4. Determine The Types of Information You Will Need • The type of information you need effects what tools you use to locate your sources. Ask yourself the following questions: • What format of material (books, journals, newspapers, manuscripts, etc?) will most likely contain the information you need? • How important is "time" in your research? Do you need "up-to-the-minute" information or are you looking for materials that cover a specific time period? • How important is place in your research? Are you looking for materials covering a specific geographic area or are published in a certain place? • What languages do you need material in? Is reading documents in their original language important for your topic. Can you read languages other than English? • Each of these questions can be helpful in deciding what tool to use to locate the sources you need.

  7. 5. Select Your Tools Carefully • Once you determine the types of information you need, you will need to Identify the tools to use to locate the resources for your topic. • Some tools are better than others to find specific information. • Talk to a librarian to locate the best resources, or use the Library's subject pages to learn about what tools the library has available for your topic. • Is the internet the best source?

  8. 6. Plan Your Search Strategy • Plan how you will use the tools you have. • When using printed materials, look at the introduction in the front to find out how to use it. • Check indexes in the back of the book to check for specific subjects or names. • When using electronic resources, write down keywords and determine when you can use Boolean searches. • Check out the "help" sections of databases to find more information about using the tool effectively.

  9. 7. Document Your Search Thoroughly • Make sure to write down what resources (electronic or print) you have used and where they are located. • If it is an electronic source, write down your different searches. • You won't duplicate work you have already done and you never know when you might return to the resource. • Copy the resources into a scrapbook.

  10. 8. Evaluate Your Results • Is the information relevant to your topic? • Is it from an authoritative source? • Did you retrieve enough information, not enough, or too much? • Revise your search strategy if necessary, and repeat the process of searching and/or select another tool to use.

  11. 9. Cite Your Research • Remember to record the publication details from your sources so that you will be able to appropriately citethem in footnotes and bibliographies. • You may also want to write down the location (call number, library, etc.) in case you need to retrace your steps.

  12. 10. If You're Confused, Ask for Help! • If you are having difficulty with any of these, ask for help! • Talk to your information professionals: your librarians. • Talk to your teacher. We are all here to help you with this important topic!

  13. Primary versus Secondary sources • Primary sources http://www.lib.umd.edu/ues/guides/primary-sources • Secondary sources

  14. How to use the Internet Effectively • http://internet-browser-review.toptenreviews.com/how-to-effectively-use-the-internet-for-research.html

  15. Useful “How to Research sites” • http://www.victoria.ac.nz/st_services/slss/studyhub/PDF/AnalysingTheQuestion.pdf • http://www.victoria.ac.nz/st_services/slss/studyhub/handouts/Reading-Signposting-Power-Reading.pdf • http://www.victoria.ac.nz/st_services/slss/studyhub/PDF/CriticalReadingAndThinking.pdf

  16. You Tube • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctc-G51OHvo

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