Developing a Research Strategy:

Library and Internet

Approaches

 

Once you have developed a solid topic to research, it is important to develop a research strategy that makes the most of both library and Internet resources.  The first place that most students want to begin research is on the Internet.  Internet searches are appealing because they allow you to work from home.  However, not all research papers can successfully begin by searching the Internet for information.  If you have very limited knowledge about your topic, it is likely that an Internet search will cost you a lot of time just finding relevant and reliable basic information. Instead, a trip to the library could help you find the basic information you need to structure more effective web searches. 

 

The key is to recognize the unique and beneficial aspects of both the library and Internet research approaches. Your professor can be a good resource to suggest where and how to begin your search for literature on a topic.  In addition, librarians located at the King Library Research Help Desk are skillfully trained and willing to help you choose a sensible approach to finding information. With this basic knowledge about both approaches, you can use them in partnership to find the most relevant information sources in the shortest amount of time.

 

The Library Approach

 

The library will always be a good place to begin research because it contains materials selected by librarians for their quality and relevance for college research.  King library holds letters, maps, and manuscripts presenting the original words and thoughts of the author. These primary source materials are often essential for research in the humanities (History, English, Anthropology etc.).  The library also holds Secondary sources or non-first person accounts such as journal articles, encyclopedias, and books that lend credibility and authority to your research. 

 

On the next page, you will find a triangle representing the different types of source materials found in the library.  Effective research should begin by finding sources that provide general knowledge, and then move progressively toward more authoritative and specific resources to support the arguments of your paper.

Research Guidebook