This worksheet was prepared by Jane McKeever for a library instructional session for graduate students. . The purpose was to assist the students' in focusing on what they already knew about their topic and what next step was needed for information-gathering.
1. DEFINE THE RESEARCH QUESTION
What is the general topic?
What major insights do you already have about the topic?
What questions do you have about the topic?
Can you list aspects of the topic, such as:
Disciplinary
Time period or time span
Geographical
Person, group or population
2. TRANSLATE THE RESEARCH QUESTION INTO LANGUAGE THAT CAN
BE USED TO DEVELOP A SEARCH STRATEGY
What are the major concepts of the research question?
What keywords and synonyms can be used for each concept?
List any subject headings or descriptors that are especially
relevant.
Have you identified any key works bearing on your research
question? If so, list the major authors, titles, and publication
details. Do library catalog and indexing records for these works
and authors provide information helpful in formulating the
search?
3. IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF INFORMATION NEEDED
Here are a few types of information that might be needed at different points in the research process. Check those that you need at this stage. Different indexing and access tools exist for various formats of materials and the appropriate one needs to be chosen based on the material sought.
____Personal Contacts
____Encyclopedias and Handbooks
____Books
____Journal Articles
____Newspapers
____Other types of Periodicals
____Statistics or Data
____Biographical
____Manuscripts or Archives
____Dissertations or Theses
____Government Publications
____Legal Materials
____Images or Graphics
____Audiovisual Materials
____Bibliographies
____Tests or Measures
____Conference Proceedings
____World Wide Web Resources
____ Additional Types
4. USE THE LIBRARY CATALOG AND LIBRARY WEBPAGES LISTING RESOURCES BY SUBJECT AND FORMAT TO CHOOSE SPECIFIC SOURCES THAT YOU NEED TO CHECK OR SEARCH.
Reference Works:
Indexes and Abstracts:
Other:
5. BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE RESOURCE TO BE SEARCHED
Review the content and scope of each database or reference tool that you use.
Examine such features as:
Dates of coverage
Currency
Types of materials included
Structure and content of records
Methods of searching
Use of controlled vocabulary
Full-text availability
Availability of help features
Methods of manipulating, saving, printing or emailing results
6. CONDUCT THE SEARCH AND REVIEW RESULTS
7. DETERMINE THE NEXT STEPS