Finally! After taking the time to select an appropriate topic, do preliminary research, develop a search strategy, let’s locate some resources. In recent years, the amount of information has exploded exponentially and the complexity of locating resources has multiplied as well. There are more media types and many electronic media have hardware compatibility issues,
As you search for sources of information, make sure you locate sources that are relevant to your topic, and are written in a variety of formats, from a variety of authors. Together your sources should build a strong web of information on your topic. The evidence presented should enhance and support your understanding of the issue.
Meanwhile, many of your sources may present some ideas that challenge your preconceptions. As you select sources, remember to focus on the credibility issues, and not whether you “like” or “agree” with the information. Remember, the research sources are intended to provide information on you topic, keep an open mind to learn from them. Researchers often become aware of new aspects that reveal new avenues of thought, so welcome the new perspectives.
Use the library catalog, databases and Internet to locate credible and relevant information. If you are overwhelmed with the amount of resources available, focus your topic. Remember the depth of information you will present should be challenging to your peers and to you, but manageable for the project at hand. More information about using various resources to locate your sources is presented in Part IV.
How many sources will you need? Many times college-level instructors will provide guidelines about the project requirements, including the number of sources and the type of sources allowed. Other times, instructors expect the students to know when they have enough. Generally, when the information tends to repeat itself from, researchers at the undergraduate level can do a sufficient research project. However, this is a problematic answer, because there will always be more information about any topic. Often the researcher needs to refine the topic and/or revise the search strategy.
For undergraduate studies, you need sources that will provide credible information to present and develop evidence for a conclusion. Often the source that piqued the researcher’s interest was from a magazine or television program. While these are often tertiary sources, they often present the information in a manner that the researcher can understand, and will help the researcher explain the foundation of the issue to the readers. More in-depth sources, such as journal articles will provide the primary research about the topic, and many of the issues related to the application of the idea. Trade publications are intended for a profession or trade, but they are written from experience and are rarely based on research. These may apply to the topic as well, from a practical point of view. All the sources should network together to build a conclusion.
After locating your sources, you will need to gather information, compile the evidence and develop a conclusion. More about that in Part V.
