2. What is Pre-Research?
Pre-Research is the act of gathering basic information about a
potential topic using a variety of reference sources.
Why should we Pre-Research?
Pre-Research allows you to learn more facts and information about
your topic.
Pre-Research also helps you narrow or expand your topic ideas and
gives you a more clear picture of what type of information is
available on your topic.
Be flexible – you may find that you have to tweak your topic during
the Pre-Research process by narrowing or broadening.
3. Creating a Keyword List
The Pre-Research stage is also a great time to gather and discover
keywords.
Creating a keyword list will help the research process go more
smoothly because you will have already developed a unique
vocabulary that will allow you to communicate with the databases
and catalogs.
Having a robust keyword list will be a huge advantage when you
begin researching in larger databases, such as Bulldog OneSearch.
The keyword list is something that you will continue to add to and
develop throughout the research process.
4. Why is a Keyword List so important?
Pre-Research also allows you to become more familiar with terms,
vocabulary, and phrases used by researchers writing about that time
period and by people who lived during that time period.
Knowing the right vocabulary allows you to pinpoint the exact type
of resource you are looking for.
Parting shot…
Not all of the sources and information that you discover during the
Pre-Research phase will be used in your final product or paper.
Pre-Research is an exploratory phase of research, a time to gather
words and ideas – only pick the best and most unique sources for
your final product.
