Effective Information Gathering: An example of how to research an Arts and Humanities Essay

Conclusions

The major points of this module have been:

1. When you have been assigned a task work out what information is needed.
   • This is one of the most important stages in the research process. If you get this wrong you will spend many hours researching the wrong area and if you have a strict deadline it could compromise the quality of your report
2. 2. Organise your research
   • Get organised. Log everything you search for and find. This will save you time having to relocate important sources of information when you are putting your report together.
3. Focus your research and define what you need to know
   • Work out what you already know, and what you need to know. Write down specific areas of interest and try to make sure you don't go off track just because you find the topic interesting.
4. 4. Identify what type of information you need
   • Is it purely factual information? Do you want to bring the topic alive by using relevant quotes from commentators of the day? Do you want to use statistics? Do you want to use images, maps, etc.
   • Identify your information sources
5. Searching -- remember to refine your search
   • Use phrase quotes (Internet searching) or Boolean Operators (Subject specific databases) to refine your search.
6. Cross-search if possible
   • Investigate cross-searching Internet engines and database services. This can save you considerable time.
7. 7. Structure your work and back up all arguments.
   • In general work through your report in a logical way. This could be as simple as introduction, background, major facts or theory, discussion, conclusions. It needs to make sense to the reader who hasn't spent hours immersed in the subject as the author has.
8. Reference all your information sources
   • Make sure you make a note of where you found your information and remember to reference your information sources accurately. You must disclose your information sources. If you don't you could be accused of plagiarism (passing someone else's work off as your own).