Think about your argument, identify main concepts for your research, and write everything down. What you record in your notes will be helpful in developing your search strategy. Once you have an idea for a research topic, you may want to speak to your faculty adviser or preceptor.

2. Allow Yourself Plenty of Time

Start your work early! Always give yourself enough time to locate and obtain the materials you need. Anticipate that there may be problems in retrieving information. Although the University of Chicago Library has outstanding collections, it may not have every item you need. You may need to request materials through interlibrary loan, or even visit another library/archive. Sometimes books get misplaced in the Library, and you will need to place a search request. Or, the items you have checked out may be recalled by another user. So keep in mind that the item you need may not always be in your hands, so give yourself the time to get it!

Learn More: If the Library Doesn't Have the Items You Need

3. Conduct Background Reading

Background reading is essential for focusing your topic. Books or encyclopedias, which can often provide a broad overview of a topic, can be helpful in determining if your topic is too broad or too focused for your specific project. Plus, these sources often contain lengthy bibliographies or footnotes which may be helpful later in your research.

Learn More: How do I find books and reference sources at the Library?

4. Determine The Type of Information You Need

The type of information you need for your project will affect the sources you will use. Before you begin looking for materials, you should ask yourself some of the following questions:

• Do you need current information or are you looking for materials from a specific time period?
• Are you looking for materials covering a specific geographic area?
• What languages can you read? Is English your only language?
• Is multimedia (film, music, etc.) needed for your research?
• Do you need data or statistics?
• Do you need primary or secondary sources?

The answers to these questions will play a role in selecting the best research tools for your research (see the next step).

5. Select Your Research Tools Carefully

Once you determine the kinds of information that you need for your project, you will have to determine how to locate it. The Library has over 400 databases and electronic resources that can help you find books, articles, statistics, recordings, and images. Selecting the best tool for your research can be challenging. Some imporant things to consider when selecting a resource are shown below:

What subjects are covered by the resource?
While the Library has several interdisciplinary databases which you can use to look for articles or books, many of the best resources are subject-specific. These databases are able to focus on indexing core publications in a specific discipline. A good way to locate databases by subject area is to use the Library's Research Guides by Subject. These guides are created by the Library's subject specialists, and can provide a great insight into what is included in each resource.

What years are covered by the resource?
Some databases contain only newer articles from journals or newspapers, while others only index older publications. A few databases, like JSTOR, have an embargo that prevents you from searching publications from specific time periods (in the case of JSTOR, the last five years). Understanding the dates of coverage can prevent you from searching the wrong database for your needs. In addition, it can also help you determine whether there is even an online source available. You may need to searh an earlier, print version of an index or bibliography to find the items you need.

What type of materials are indexed by the resource?
Most online reference sources contain information about specific types of materials. Indexes and bibliographies may only cover specific types of material, such as journal articles, dissertations, or book chapters. Catalogs will help you locate books, journals, videos, or other physical (or virtual) items at a library. Selecting the right kind of database can save you time and energy.

To get help at this stage, we strongly recommend meeting with your librarian. A librarian or bibliographer can guide you to the best resources for your topic. .

Learn More: How do I find...?

6. Plan Your Search Strategy

Before you start using a database or a print reference source, plan how you search it. When using printed materials, look at the introduction in the front of the book to see how to use it. Determine how it is organized and determine if there are any special abbreviations used. Always check indexes in the back of the book to check for specific subjects or names. These few simple tasks can help you navigate the resource effectively.

When using the Library's electronic resources, plan your search. Unfortunately, many of the Library's databases are not as easy to search as Google (although the information within them can be much better!). Write down possible keywords that describe your topic, including synonyms. These terms can help you locate subject terms when you search the database. Also try to use the database's advanced search option, which often provides an option for boolean searching, using limits, or truncation. The "Help" section of the database can be helpful in finding more information about how to search the database.

Learn More: Database Search Techniques

7. Document Your Search Thoroughly

Make sure to list all of the resources (both electronic and print) that you used for your research and where they are located. If you search a database, write down the specific searches you conduct. This will prevent you from duplicating searches. Plus, you never know when you might need to return to the database. Or, try using RefWorks, a bibliographic management tool which allows you to download records from Library databases for later use in bibliographies and footnotes.

Learn More: Using RefWorks for BA Research.

8. Evaluate Your Results

Is the information relevant to your topic? Is it from an authoritative source? Did you retrieve enough information? Or too much? Go back and review your search strategy and, if necessary, revise it to locate additional sources. If you are having difficulty locating what you need for your paper, this may be a good time to talk to a librarian.

Learn More: Evaluating Internet Resources.

9. Take Good Notes and Cite Your Research

Remember to write down all of the publication details from your sources so that you will be able to appropriately cite them in footnotes and bibliographies. If you are planning to cite a book or article, make sure to write down the page number you obtained the information from. You may also want to write down the location (call number, library, etc.) of the source in case you need to retrace your steps. Once again, RefWorks can be a big help.

Learn More: Citing Resources and Using RefWorks for BA Research.

10. If You're Confused, Ask for Help!

If you are having difficulty with any of these, ask for help! The Library has reference librarians and bibliographers who can assist you with your research. Make an appointment with your faculty adviser, or talk to your preceptor. Make use of your campus resources--we are all here to help you through this research project.