This is the step most people think of when they think of “library research.” It’s a hunt for information in any available form (book, periodical, CD, video, internet) which is pertinent to your chosen focus. Once you know the focus of your research, there are lots of tools and strategies to help you find and collect the information you need.
Your information search should be focused and specific, but pay careful attention to serendipity (finding, by chance, valuable things you weren’t even looking for). Keep your mind open to continue learning about your focused topic.
Now is the time to carefully record your sources in the bibliographic format required by your instructor. Every piece of information you collect should have bibliographic information written down before you leave the library. See the links to Citing Sources for information on how and when to use quotation, paraphrase and summary and how to conform to the required styles of citation in different fields of study. You should also pay attention to the quality of the information you find, especially if you’re using information you find on the internet. See the linked articles about Interpretation and Evaluation of Information.
Now is also the time to learn the details of using search engines. Many of the sources you will want to use are online, whether in the library or on the internet. See the Info Search section and specifically the Skills for Online Searching article.
4.2 Think about clarifying or refining your focus
As you gather information about your focused topic, you may find new information which prompts you to refine, clarify, extend or narrow your focus. Stay flexible and adjust your information search to account for the changes, widening or narrowing your search, or heading down a slightly different path to follow a new lead.
4.3 Start organizing your notes
Start organizing your notes into logical groups. You may notice a gap in your research, or a more heavy weighting to one aspect of the subject than what you had intended. Starting to organize as you gather information can save an extra trip to the library. It’s better to find the gap now instead of the night before your paper is due (obviously!).
Look through the articles linked under Organizing Information, which includes taking notes, outlining and organizing by mapping, cubing, etc.
4.4 Think about what your thesis statement will be
The thesis statement is the main point of your paper. The type of thesis statement you’ll be making depends a lot on what type of paper you’re writing—a report, an issue analysis, an advocacy paper or another type. As you gather specific information and refine your focus, intentionally look for a main point to your findings. Sometimes a thesis emerges very obviously from the material, and other times you may struggle to bring together the parts into a sensible whole. The tricky part is knowing when to stop gathering information—when do you have enough, and of the right kind? Seeking a main point as you research will help you know when you’re done.