How can we conduct smarter research?

With a ton of assignments piling up, you need research and you need it NOW. We get it. We’ve been there. But there’s a question that’s probably circulating your brain (when it shouldn’t be) and that question is, how quickly can I gather a large number of resources? Well, friend, that’s not what you should be asking. The better question is, how can I gather quality research efficiently?

You need to focus on smarter research, not more research. Be choosy! Gathering a tsunami of resources will not guarantee you an “A”, especially if they’re weak and don’t pertain to your topic. They may not add sufficient evidence to your thesis, which can negatively impact everything you’ve worked hard for. So, how can you focus on smarter research?

Set a Schedule

Plan ahead and map out what needs to be done. Divide your work into sections and develop a plan with deadlines, so you stay on track. Don’t forget to include extra time to double-check your resources in case anything goes wrong!

Create a Thesis

This is the research question you plan to solve. By setting your thesis in the beginning, you have a specific topic that narrows your research. This will ensure that both your assignment and resources stay on point.

Wikipedia? Yes, Wikipedia.

You can always start your research with Wikipedia. It should provide a solid overview of your topic so you can MOVE FORWARD with other resources. Wikipedia also provides you with keywords that relate to your subject, other sources (links) found on each page, along with their suggested resources. After browsing through this, you should have a better sense of the direction you’re going. Please, do not use this for everything. Wikipedia is a starting point, not an end.

Mine Bibliographies

Get out your pickaxes, folks! Just kidding. When you discover a concrete academic resource that you are over-the-moon about, sweep the dozens (if not hundreds) of sources near the end. Skim the bibliography of this resource to find MORE sources related to your topic. Note whatever seems relative and go from there!

Get To Know Your Resources, Separately.

Research every piece of information at a time. When you understand one area, move on to the next. This way, you won’t confuse separate points. You may better remember what resources connect to different aspects of your paper and have a clearer overview of the information you’ve gathered. You will learn and retain the information better, which is perfect if you’re presenting the material. 

Outline

Once you have a sense of what you’re covering, begin drafting an outline of your essay. This structure will make the writing portion much, much easier. This also works better if you have a notebook and pen ready. You can take notes along the way, so you’re better prepared.

Idea Notebook

Ideas can come from anywhere, anytime! Be prepared to write them on-the-go so you can add them to your paper later. Try Brain Dumping. Brain dumping can help you determine how much information you already know on a subject. This can impact the direction your paper will go. Give it a shot!

Ask Away!

Professors and librarians want you to ask questions. They want to assist you if they can. So, if you’re looking for opinions and experience, don’t be afraid to voice your questions. Asking questions does not make you look dumb. Curiosity is part of what makes our education system so great! If you feel more comfortable asking your classmates, then do that. They’re on the same boat as you anyway.

Research can feel like an unyielding storm of information that makes finding what you need feel impossible. Conducting smarter research may seem like more work, but it isn’t. Smarter research is effective, efficient, and saves you loads of time later.  Make things easier for yourself and try these steps!