A Basic 10-Step Research Strategy

 I. SELECT YOUR TOPIC

A. Define your task.  State your topic as a question.

B. Identify what kind of information you need.

II. CREATE A MIND MAP FOR YOUR TOPIC

A. Brainstorm all possible keywords and concepts.

B. Think of synonyms and related terms.

III. FIND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A. To get an introduction or a broad overview of your topic.

B. To help identify keywords, synonyms and cross-references.

C. To get bibliographies for further information.

D. Use reference sources.

1. Encyclopedias

a. General Encyclopedias provide:

(1) Brief articles on virtually every topic;

(2) Easy-to-read, non-technical language;

(3) Excellent basic bibliographies.

e.g. World Book, Encarta, Columbia

b. Special Encyclopedias provide:

(1) Subject specific articles;

(2) Longer, more detailed articles;

(3) More technical language;

(4) More extensive bibliographies.

e.g. Encyclopedia of Science

2. Dictionaries

Provide concise information on words or topics.

a. General:  abridged and unabridged.

e.g. Webster's, Oxford English Dictionary

b. Subject:  highly specialized.

e.g. The Oxford Dictionary of Art
 

IV. DETERMINE THE FOCUS OF YOUR TOPIC

A. Create a working outline or concept map.

B. Develop an essential question or thesis statement.

V. FIND BOOKS AND PERIODICALS

A. Books

1. Dewey Decimal Classification Summary

a. Classifies books under ten major subject headings.

b. Useful for browsing when you have no specific subject in mind.

2. On-line Catalog

a. Search by keywords from your mind map.

(1) Boolean operators

AND        will narrow your results.

OR            will broaden your results.

NOT         will limit your results.

(2) Truncation (wild card *) will provide all variants of a word root or term.

e.g. comput*  =  computer, computers, computing, computation

(3) See and see also references will refer you to other terms.

e.g. acid rain, see also: water pollution

b. Sort your results by call number.

Note the different types of materials

e.g. B = Biography, R = Reference

c. Write down the call number for the items you select.

(1) Note the circulation status.

(2) Note books placed on reserve.

d. Locate the books on the shelf.

3. Search the ACCESS PA database for books in other libraries

B. Periodicals

1. Select the index best suited to your topic.

a. Online Subscription Databases

(1) POWER Library Databases

(2) PVHS Library Database
 

b. Print resources (Ready Reference).

e.g. National Geographic Index, American Heritage Index

c. Select articles.

(1) Examine the citations and read the abstracts (summaries) to determine suitability for your needs.

(2) Print, email or save your articles.

(3) Complete a request slip for articles not available online

VI. FIND INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET

A. Use the PVHS Library Website as a gateway to selected Internet sites.

B. Types of Search Tools

1. Search Engines and Meta-Search Engines

a. Database of web pages compiled by a robot.

b. Search by keyword to match words on a web page.

c. Search engines vary by size, currency, speed, and features.

2. Subject Directories

a. Human-selected quality sites.

b. Web sites are organized into hierarchical subject categories.

c. May include annotations and ratings.

3. Search Tips

a. Use the advanced search page for more searching options.

b. Use field searching to limit your search results.

c. Refer to the PVHS Library Web site for links to search tools and searching tutorials.

VII. EVALUATE WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND

A. Select materials appropriate for your information needs by examining:

1. Author-authority, qualifications.

2. Copyright-currency.

3. Foreword or preface-author's purpose.

4. Table of Contents-list of topics covered.

5. Index-more detailed alphabetical list of topics.

B. Distinguish between types of material.

1. Factual vs. Interpretative.

2. Primary (original) vs. Secondary (second-hand).

C. Consider the quantity of material found.

1. Too many sources:  you should narrow your topic.

2. Too few sources:  you should broaden your topic.

D. Evaluate Internet information with extra care using an appropriate checklist.

1. The Internet is a self-publishing medium; there are no editors or fact checkers

2. Check for accuracy and validity of information using the following criteria:

a. Authority

Who is responsible for publishing this information and what are their qualifications?

b. Content

Is the information useful? Does it support, complement or refute what you found in traditional resources?

c. Purpose

Is the web site designed to educate, entertain or sell a product or an idea?

d. Currency

When was the information originally published? Has it been revised or updated?

e. Coverage

How comprehensive is the information? Does the site include an index, table of contents, or search engine?

VIII. RECORD YOUR INFORMATION

A. Take relevant notes using:

1. Note cards;

2. Dot-jot method;

3. Highlighter method;

4. Graphic organizer;

5. Cut and paste;

6. Other recording device.

B. Write down complete bibliographic citations for all sources for possible use in your list of works cited

IX. ORGANIZE YOUR NOTES TO CREATE A FINAL OUTLINE

A. Chronological

Discusses events in the order in which they happened (by time or date of occurrence).

B. Spatial

Presents information in geographical or physical order (north to south, largest to smallest, etc)

C. Cause/effect

One by one, discusses the effects of a series of individual events or actions.

D. Problem/solution

Presents a series of problems and possible solutions.

E. Compare/contrast

Discusses the similarities and differences between people, things, or events.

X. WRITE YOUR PAPER

A. Rough draft

Get your ideas down on paper.

B. Revision

Pay attention to style, transitions, mechanics.

C. Final copy

Make it your best; follow MLA guidelines.

D. Proof-read

Look for all possible errors.

E. Follow the MLA guidelines in this handbook to format your paper or presentation.

F. Questions? Ask your librarian or teacher for help.