Gather Information

After locating sources that are relevant and have a strong credibility score, begin gathering information from the chosen sources. Probably the first step is to review the table of contents for the books, and note any chapters that may be especially useful, especially if the book is a edited compilation of material from many authors.

Review all the chosen sources and organize them. Researchers often review the introduction or the first few paragraphs of each source to determine what information the material will provide. Undergraduate students may want to read the tertiary and secondary sources first to get a solid understanding of the topic before delving into the professional literature. Or, researchers may want to organize the sources for different content sections of the research project. Decide the order that makes the best use of the resources to understand the topic. Remember that reading many of the advanced sources will require reading or reviewing several times.

Regardless of the order the researcher begins gathering information from the sources, it is important to keep the material organized. Begin by noting the source citation, and for each piece of information (whether quoted, paraphrased or summarized), provide location of that specific data. A print source should have a page number, while electronic formats have some type of locating tool to use. After compiling the information from that source, move to the next source of information. The notes can be handwritten, compiled in a word processing program, or other editable format, but make sure to gain material from each source.