Preliminary Research

Librarians: Elizabeth Torres & Laila Brown

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Preliminary Research

  • Create a Concept Map
  • Find Background Information
  • Generate Potential Keywords

 

  1. Helps you to narrow your topic by finding out how much information is out there and, therefore, what is possible within the page-limits you have been assigned.
  2. It helps you get an idea of which specific aspects of your topic you will want to do more detailed reading about.

Preliminary Research

  1. Helps you to narrow your topic by finding out how much information is out there and, therefore, what is possible within the page-limits you have been assigned.
  2. It helps you get an idea of which specific aspects of your topic you will want to do more detailed reading about.

Preliminary Research

Preliminary Research

Do you have topic ideas?

Do it BEFORE you finalize your topic and BEFORE you create a final research question. Collect sources that you can read and use for guidance along the way.

Concept Mapping

A concept map or "mindmap" is a simple way to visually display ideas and relationships among concepts. Creating one can help you organize your ideas and define your topic.

Concept Mapping

Begin with a large sheet of paper and some colored markers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

or

Use one of the online tools for concept mapping:

  • https://www.mindmup.com/#storage
  • https://bubbl.us/
  • https://creately.com/

Concept Mapping

Write your main topic idea in the middle of the page

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concept Mapping

Write down everything that comes to mind when you ask the question...WHAT

What do you know thus far about the topic? Define the topic.

What is the importance of the topic?  Sources of inspiration the topic draws upon ?  Words or phrases that describe the topic?

 

 

 

 

 

Concept Mapping

Write down everything that comes to mind when you ask the question...WHEN

When did it begin? When did different aspects emerge? When did its influence spread? When did main events occur?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Concept Mapping

Write down everything that comes to mind when you ask the question...WHERE

Where did it originate? Where are the major developments of this topic occuring? Where do you want to focus (local, country, region)?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Concept Mapping

Write down everything that comes to mind when you ask the question...WHO

Who was involved? Whom did it influence? Who are the major players in the topic? Who is affected by this?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Background Information

Finding background information will help you have a better undertanding of the topic and give you ideas on aspects to focus on and terminology to use.

Concept Mapping

With new discovered knowledge about your topic. 

 Add more information to your concenpt map. Use color to identify themes and key terms. Ask how and why various elements of the concept map relate to each other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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You Survive the Session

If you need any help with your preliminary research Ask a Librarian 

  • Email: reference@hpu.edu
  • Visit us at the Reference Desk 
  • Or send us a Chat (24/7)
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