Research

simmertalwar65
Feb 1, 2016
5 min read

The first step in every process is research, where I tried to find invaluable information and deduce the direction that I wish to take. The first objective was to identify the topic and carry forward from there.

There was massive amount of information which was filtered and simplified to form a comprehensive and understandable composition.

The search strategy was formed and then according to meticulous planning, the information is then dissected and broken into sections for better understanding.

The sources and the content is then analysed and verified. When using a book, article, report, or Web site for your research, it is important to gauge how reliable the source is.

Choosing and developing a research topic

Suggestions for finding a topic

Discuss your ideas with your course instructor.
Discuss your ideas with a reference librarian.
Look over the index and the article titles in a specialized encyclopedia that covers a relevant subject area or discipline.

Identifying a topic

State your topic idea as a question. For example, if you are interested in finding out about "thunder birds" in Haida Totem poles, you might pose the question, "What is the signifigance of thunderbirds on Haida totem poles?"

Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question. These are potential search terms. In this case they are "thunderbirds," "Haida," and "totem poles".

Testing the topic

Before you commit to a specific topic for your research, do a scan to make sure that your topic isn't completely covered in another paper; at the same time ensure that there is enough information available to complete the project. This can be particularly important if you are planning on using data in your research. If in doubt, ask your professor.

If you are finding too much information and too many sources, narrow your topic.

Finding too little information may indicate that you need to broaden your topic by using a more general term or terms in your search.

Finding background information

Once you have identified the main topic and keywords for your research, find one or more sources of background information to read. These sources will help you understand the broader context of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about your topic. They will give you an idea of how much and what kind of information is available on a given topic.

Encyclopedias and dictionaries: You can find subject-specific encyclopedias and dictionaries by using the Library Catalog or by asking a reference librarian.

Exploit bibliographies: Often there are scholarly articles that give an overview of research in specific fields (a review of the literature). The sources cited in the bibliography are good starting points for further research.

Look up these sources. Check the subject headings listed in the subject field of the online record for these books and journals. Then do subject searches using those subject headings to locate additional titles.

Finding books, articles, and other materials

How do I find it?

Find books, music, video and audio materials Find articles, databases, images Find dissertations

Evaluating resources

When using a book, article, report, or Web site for your research, it is important to gauge how reliable the source is.

Initial appraisal

Author or creator: What are the author's credentials (educational background, past writing, experience) in this area? Have you seen the author's name cited in other sources or bibliographies? Respected authors are cited frequently by other scholars. For this reason, always note names that appear in many different sources.
Year of publication: Is the source current or out of date for your topic? Topic areas of continuing and rapid development, such as the sciences, demand more current information. Topics in the humanities often require material that was written many years ago.
Edition: Is this a first edition? Later editions indicate a source has been revised and updated. Multiple printings or editions may indicate that the work has become a standard source in the area and is reliable.
Publisher: Is it a university press or a large reputable publisher?

Content analysis

Intentions: Read the preface (book) or abstract (article) to determine the author's intentions. Scan the table of contents and the index to get a broad overview of the material covered. Note whether bibliographies are included.

Intended audience: What type of audience is the author addressing? Is this source too elementary, too technical, too advanced, or just right for your needs?

Objective reasoning:

Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda? It is not always easy to separate fact from opinion.
Does the information appear to be valid and well-researched, or is it questionable and unsupported by evidence?
Is the author's point of view objective and impartial? Is the language free of emotion-rousing words or bias?

Coverage:

Does the work update other sources, substantiate other materials you have read, or add new information? You should explore enough sources to obtain a variety of viewpoints.
Is the material primary or secondary in nature? Primary sources are the raw material of the research process; secondary sources are based on primary sources.

Writing style: Is the publication organized logically? Are the main points clearly presented? Do you find the text easy to read? Is the author repetitive?

Evaluative reviews (books):

Locate critical reviews of books in a reviewing source, such as Book Review Digest. Is the book considered a valuable contribution to the field? Does the reviewer mention other books that might be better? If so, locate these sources.
Do the various reviewers agree on the value or attributes of the book, or has it aroused controversy among the critics?

Evaluating Web resources

Purpose

Occasionally, Web sites pretending to be objective have a hidden agenda and may be trying to persuade, promote, or sell something.

What is the purpose or motive for the site? (e.g., educational, commercial, entertainment, promotional)
Is the site trying to sell you something?
How easy is it to differentiate advertisement from content?
Based on your knowledge, is the information factual, opinion, propaganda, et cetera?
Who is the intended audience, and how is this reflected in the organization and presentation of the site?

Authority

Is the author identifiable? Look for links that say "Who We Are," "About This Site" or something similar.
Is there contact information for the author? (e.g., e-mail address, mailing address, phone number)
What is the author's background? (e.g., experience, credentials, occupation, whether he or she has written other publications on the topic)
Does the author cite his or her sources?
Is this site linked to often by other sites?
Do links on this site lead to other reputable sites?
Are there spelling errors or incorrect use of grammar?
What domain does the site belong to? (e.g., .edu, .gov, .com, .net, .org)?

Reliability

The dependability of a Web site is important if it is going to be cited as a source in other works or recommended for use by others.

Do most of the links on the page work?
From your evaluation of currency and authority, do you think the site will be there next time you visit it?

Currency

When was site last updated or revised? If you cannot find a date on the page, typejavascript:alert(document.lastModified) in the address bar and hit Enter. A pop-up window will display the date and time when the page was last updated.
How often is the site updated?
Do the links on the site work?