Common Research Frustrations
Think back to a research assignment you’ve completed recently. Read each statement and put a checkmark next to those that apply to you. You will not be graded on how many or few you select. Answer honestly. Your responses will help your teachers and librarian come up with more effective strategies for presenting research assignments. |
- I don’t know how to articulate my topic; I can’t explain it to someone else clearly.
- I don’t understand the assignment or prompt.
- I don’t understand how a database works.
- I never seem to find useful information.
- I don’t know how to make a topic smaller or broader.
- I tend to focus on the final product and hurry through the research steps.
- Once I come up with a thesis, I don’t want to change or revise it.
- I give up easily when I can’t find the information I need.
- If I can’t find relevant information, I change my topic instead of reframing my search.
- I don’t know how to identify sponsored or “fake” information.
- I don’t understand the purpose of a research question.
- I don’t understand the value of gathering multiple points of view or a variety of sources.
- I don’t know how to choose a database.
- I lack confidence when researching; I don’t like admitting that I’m confused about something.
- I struggle to take helpful notes.
- I struggle to stay organized.
- I struggle with formatting my citations and final paper.
- I struggle with in-text citations and paraphrasing.
- I get frustrated when I’m asked to research something I know nothing about.
The Process of PREsearch
- What is presearch and why is it important?
Let’s say you go on vacation to the Grand Canyon, and you take a photo to remember the stunning view. While your picture captures a broad area of the canyon, it’s hard to see the little details unless you zoom in or crop the image. Think of PREsearch like zooming in on a picture. No matter the topic, you must learn how to narrow in and find a specific approach to your research in order to be successful.
Pre-search is the process of finding that focus by first drawing connections between your information need and prior knowledge. With pre-search, the actual task of researching a topic is much, much easier. Take a look at the two examples below:
Your assignment: Research the Gilded Age, and write an essay that describes one societal issue or problem during that era. | |
Without pre-search | With pre-search |
Type “Gilded Age problems” into Google Retrieve millions of results Click and skim through the first 3 results Feel frustrated that the results seem:
Feel overwhelmed; give up on assignment or complain that it’s too hard. | Spend 1-2 minutes jotting down what you already know about the Gilded Age Reread the assignment, checking to see if anything you wrote down addresses the research question or task Refine your brainstorming notes to create a list of possible keywords or search terms Select a basic resource of information (print or online encyclopedia) with an open mind Skim that resource for information relating to your ideas and prior knowledge. Check for your keywords and search terms in that resource. Discover related concepts, background information, and vocab words that further develop your knowledge of the topic and frame your research strategy. |
Which of these options sound better to you? With some forethought and effort, research doesn’t need to feel overwhelming or confusing. In fact, you will find that these steps will increase your interest in the research topic, and ultimately improve your grade on the assignment. All you need is a little pre-search!
- Pre-searching is an ongoing process, not a list of steps to follow.
Pre-search is a cycle. The amount of time you need to spend pre-searching will be different for each research task. Pre-search may lead you to discover that your original idea or topic isn’t easily found in published sources. You may need to revise your topic based on the results of your pre-search, and that’s okay!
Brainstorm and freewrite | Get your thoughts down on paper. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar. This is your time to think about your topic and what you already know. You may brainstorm multiple times as you encounter more information. |
Be intentional with your search terms | The goal is to create a running list of important words and phrases, names, and dates. Add to this list whenever you come across something new. Check to see if you can find connections between words in your list. Do any themes or overarching concepts appear? |
Consider the source… | Come up with a list of potential sources to check for information about your topic. Try to identify any content you come across before you skim it. Is it a newspaper article that you found in a database? A scholarly journal article that came up when you searched Google Scholar? An entry from an online encyclopedia? A book written in 1947? Knowing where the information is coming from is just as important as the information itself. You need to judge the quality of information before using it. |
Skim and scan, then READ | Locate a basic source of information and skim for vocab, terms, and concepts that may help you expand your list of search terms. If the information seems helpful, start reading. Be open minded and take your time reading the entire entry/article, and maybe read it twice. |
Record the big stuff and avoid details | Jot down the most important points of information. Try not to get bogged down in smaller details, as interesting as they may be. The point right now is to develop a broad understanding of your topic. |
Ask questions...lots of ‘em. | Take time to reflect on any information you read. What do you think? Has it changed your thinking on that topic? Has it reinforced or challenged a previous idea? These preliminary questions may lead you to an “a-ha!” moment. |
Transforming PRE-search into a Mind Map
This mind map was created with MindMeister.com. If you prefer, you can create one on paper. Whatever method you choose, the goal is to visualize your thought process. Remember to revise your mind map as you continue the pre-search process. You can then use your completed mind map to focus your research and stay organized.
RESEARCH PREP
Use this worksheet to keep yourself on track as you complete research.
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Research Questions
Write out the questions or claims that you are attempting to answer with your research. This may include your thesis.
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Keywords, Related Terms, and Subject Headings
Jot down the key terms and phrases you will search for. Try to find related terms that may provide more relevant results.
Search Strings
Remember to incorporate the three Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT. Write down search strings that give you good results- you may want to perform the same search in another resource, or try the search again later.
Sources
Put a checkmark next to each source you intend to use. Remember, anything you find on the open web must first be evaluated before you may use it as a source.
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