While it may seem like extra work, keeping track of your research can actually make writing easier (and often more efficient).
Whether you are performing primary research or secondary research, having an organized system for keeping track of the information you gather (and, in secondary research, the identity of each source of information ) is beneficial.
Design (or choose) your system (for keeping track of information) before starting your research.
The type of (information-tracking) system used in primary research is varies according to the type of primary research being performed. For example:
- Experiments using the Scientific Method usually involve lab notes (which capture the design, procedure, and results of the experiment),
- Ethnographies usually involve detailed descriptive notes,
- Interviews can involved a list of questions (for the interview), notes (from the interview), and electronic recordings (of the interview).
- Surveys involve surveys and tabulations.
When doing primary research, keep track of the researched information according to the type of primary research being done.
Systems for tracking information in secondary research tend to vary in complexity according to:
- the personal preferences of the writer,
- the needs of the writer (for a particular instance of writing)
- the expectations of the target audience (for a particular instance of writing), and
- the audience forum (for a particular instance of writing).
The decision to use a paper system (e.g, index cards or annotated bibliographies) or a professionally-designed software application is a matter of personal preference.
A good system will allow the writer to keep track of :
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