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Hints for Researchers
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Start early.
- If you start early, you'll have time to make good decisions,
to select the material that will work best for your specific topic,
and to obtain library materials that may be checked out when you
first look for them.
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Plan your research.
- Chances are that the process of research will go better and
will take less time if you have a plan of attack.
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Schedule blocks of time.
- You'll do better if you schedule blocks of time over a period
of weeks rather than attempting to do your research (and write
it, too) all in one day.
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Be persistent.
- Any research project requires time. A good start is wonderful,
but remember to keep working on the project each week.
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Be flexible.
- Your research may convince you to rephrase your original thesis
or to follow a different plan than the one you originally envisioned.
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Stay focused.
- Avoid getting sidetracked with interesting but irrelevant information.
Your goal is to finish a specifically focused research project.
Review your thesis or outline often to help you stay on track.
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Keep the project length in mind.
- A five-page paper generally requires fewer sources than a twenty
page paper. A smaller paper also requires that you narrow the
focus of your thesis.
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Keep the due date in mind.
- Remember that you have a deadline for the project and be sensible
about how much you can accomplish in the time allowed.
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Ask for help.
- Consult with your instructor throughout the research process.
Talk with a reference librarian as you have need.
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Choose wisely.
- You can reduce research time and improve the results of your
search by choosing appropriate sources for specific subjects.
You won't have time to read all the sources you'll find, so choose
the best.
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Bring a cd or flash drive.
- Especially for large computer searches, you may find it more
efficient to download your search to a cd or flash drive rather
than to print it. The ability to import the citations
into your word processing package can be a great time saver. It's
also possible in many databases to e-mail searches to yourself,
in case you don't have or don't remember a storage device.
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Put money on your VolCard/ AllStar account.
- Printing is 2 cents with VolCard and 6 cents with a CopyCard.
A DART machine is located in Starbucks (second floor). You can
also add money to your account online.
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Get a CopyCard.
- Photocopies are 6 cents with a CopyCard;
and 10 cents with cash. CopyCard vending machines are located
in Reference (first floor) and at Circulation (second floor).
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Write it down.
- Gather all the information you'll need. If you're working with
a print index, carefully
copy all the information given in a citation.
When you work with books, copy the author, title, and call
number. It's best to get the information for your bibliography
from the book itself. But with journal citations,
you'll find it easier to copy all the information the first time
than to try to track it down again.
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Strive for accuracy.
- In notetaking, in quoting a writer's words, and in citing
sources, aim for accuracy. You want the information you find to
be accurate. Work to present your own research accurately for
other people.
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Know when to stop.
- Learn when to stop researching and start writing. Allow yourself
enough time to assimilate the information you've gathered and
to present it in a clear and logical way to your readers.
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Contact Librarian
Kristen Bullard
Instructional Services Coordinator
kbullard@utk.edu
865-974-0026
Updated: 10/6/05 by als
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