Question

Post the strategies you plan to use to manage the resources for your dissertation. Include steps for tracking your search techniques. Describe your strategies for storing and backing up your resources and the tools you will use or have found to be useful

Answer 1

Resource planning:

Plan the entire research process well in advance.

Identify the potential resources.

Preliminary research to stimulate the thought process.

Review the literature before the research process and to collect the background information.

Start with simple search terms.

Use search engines like Google or Yahoo.

Online scholarly databases like CINHAL and PUBMED can be used.

Use the library to obtain print resources like books, manuals.

Use the systematic or primary and secondary resources to collect in-depth information.

Differentiate the resources like primary and secondary sources.

Use techniques like keyword search, bibliography mining, Cited Reference Searching, search by methodology and use controlled vocabulary.

Tools for tracking resources:

• Compile the bibliography.
• Bookmarking the sites.
• Keeping a file of searched sites and information.
• Organize the concepts in the research.

A literature review for a dissertation or research work will utilize a large number of resources. It is necessary to search many locations, and dozens of articles and books to read and evaluate. Tools like RefWorks, Database Research Log, Scholarly Research Log can be used to keep the sources in track.

RefWorks: will help to collect, manage, and store all of the citation information for the resources. After the organization RefWorks will create a bibliography or reference list for your project.

DATABASE RESEARCH LOG: Keeping track of the searches for the literature review will help to recreate a past search, and makes sure that each database is used completely and to find out the research session left off. More formal records can be kept for the projects like the dissertation. The Database research Log is in the form of a table and can be filled in as the search progresses.

SCHOLARLY RESEARCH LOG: will allow the researcher to quickly record important information about each item they read like basic citation information, research question, models or theories used, research methodology and interpretations. After completion of this tool can be sorted or scanned to make important connections between resources.