1. Project Basics
2. Create a Research Plan
4. Perform the Search
5. Cite Your Resources
6. Read and Evaluate
7. Annotate
The Research Question:
Mind Map the Topic
Analyze for the Question
Identify Sub-questions
Planning the Search:
Develop Keywords
Consider Sources
Determine Databases
Define Criteria
Perform the Search
Recording the Search
Cite the Sources
Note the Criteria
Before you begin any journey (and research is a journey!), it's always best to plan your trip. This allows you to avoid wasting time and focuses your energy more precisely. When you plan your project first, you:
You know the general topic you want to study, but to research effectively, you need to turn your ideas into a good question. Start by creating a mind map of your topic. This lets you organize what you already know into a visual graphic that will help you see connections more clearly. You can do this online, but I always prefer to do this with paper and pen.
As you develop the mind map, consider the ideas that are starting to form. While you are putting everything down on the paper, you will be attracted to some things over others. What are the two or three things about your topic that most interest you? Mark them off in some way on the mind map, such as highlighting them.
Once you have those few ideas set aside, mind map each of them, as well. As you repeat the process, continue to hone in on what interests you the most. Develop one broad question, then add three or four subquestions that are spawned from your main question.
Congratulations! You have a Research Question!!
From our Research Bytes series on Vimeo. This one takes you through the steps of building a basic research plan.
These are some links that will help you get started in creating your mind map. Please note, however, that you do **not** need to do this on a computer -- a blank sheet of paper and a pencil work perfectly fine. In fact, I've been known to start mine on napkins while eating pizza!