Common Problems: Research Stumbling Blocks
What to do when things go wrong...
- Not knowing your question.
- Try doing the beginning your research exercise again, and go and see a reference librarian. they are there to help you with this type of stuff.
- Too much information.
- Your topic may be too broad. For example, you are looking at sustainable energy, maybe focus on a geographical location (the Northwest) or a type of energy (Hydroelectricity)
- Not enough information.
- Your topic might be too narrow, try broadening it. Change, Grand Coolie Dam in Washington to Dams in Washington.
- You might be searching the wrong databases. You might be in ERIC, when you want to be in Ebscohost
- Use keywords and not subject, because keywords search natural language where subjects search a set list of text
- Change your keywords around
- Relying on one type of source material.
- Try not to limit yourself to using only academic journals or books. There is a wealth of information on most topics available in reference books, documentaries, and sound recordings.
- Make sure to use some primary sources.
- Not knowing how to use a search engine
Try not to assume you know how to browse the web
- Learn how search engines search: Google ranks hits by the number of links on its site. See the internet search tips section for help.
- Learn Boolean Operators to help narrow your search field in the world wide web
