FYS 100 (06): Technology in Fantasy and Society

Getting Started with Your Research

I recommend that you start by asking yourself concrete questions of the sort that will generate a plan of action.

• What do I want to know? (Make yourself an initial list of questions)

• Am I asking a question that can be answered with fact based research, or is this really a values/opinion/beliefs question? If the latter, what do I need to change to make this a question I can answer?

• Do I need background information on people, places, concepts, events? How does my topic fit into a larger system or structure?

• Who (what field of study, group of researchers, organizations, etc.) is likely to have published relevant information or ideas? Who are the recognized experts in those fields?

• Where and in what form are the results of their research likely to be published?

• How should I interpret or evaluate the information I find? Are there things I don’t yet know that would change my interpretation or evaluation of these sources?

• Are there primary (un-interpreted) sources I should consult?  Who would have created them? Have I come across the names of people, documents, programs, events, etc. that would facilitate my search for them?

• What new questions are raised by these sources, both primary and secondary? Has my original question been answered or just made more complicated (and interesting)?

• Remember, there are two layers of research:
  1) a broad search to discover resources and to read some background information
  2) specific searches for information once you've focused your topic.

Link to Narrowing Your Topic: 5 Quick Tips