Embarking on a research journey? Navigating the vast sea of information can be overwhelming, but fear not! Dr. Eric Addae-Kyeremeh, the author of our Develop Your Search Strategy course, recently shared invaluable tips in an insightful webinar. Dive into the world of efficient research with these tips:
Strategic planning: develop a roadmap for your search. Will you explore books, delve into your library's database, or focus on repositories? Having a plan in place is your compass through the information jungle.
Unlock your library's resources: kickstart your search at your institution's library. Benefit from a wealth of content through their subscriptions – they are likely to have access to the publications you are going to be looking at.
Mastering keywords and strings: empower your search by defining keywords and search strings, and make sure to consider synonyms for your keywords, as others may have used different words to describe the same topic.
Exploring online repositories: make use of search platforms such as Google Scholar, CORE, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), WorldWideScience.org and many more.
Stay ahead with alerts: Let Google Scholar work for you! Set up alerts for your evolving research project. Receive email notifications for new articles matching your criteria, ensuring you're always in the loop.
Citation management mastery: streamline your citation process using reference managers like EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley and others. Elevate your research game by effortlessly organizing and citing your sources.
Critical reading: sharpen your critical reading skills. Learn to identify valuable sources through efficient skim-reading. Time is precious, and this skill will be your ally in the quest for relevant information.
Dr Addae-Kyeremeh's observations highlight a common pitfall: lack of planning. Take a moment to strategize the how, where, and why of your search to avoid drowning in irrelevant articles. Remember, your librarian and professors are your allies on your academic journey, so don't hesitate to seek their guidance!
If you’d like to try the Develop Your Search Strategy course, you can request a free trial below.
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