Settling on a topic that will be both interesting and manageable is often the hardest part of research. Googling a topic may help, but it can leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused. Try using topical encyclopedias to learn about the background and scope of the topic that you are considering. There are a number of encyclopedias available in the D.B. Weldon Reference Collection, as well as many available online.
Once you have decided on a topic and you have begun to search, it is helpful to reframe your topic's concepts in every way imaginable. The best way to do this is through concept mapping, a diagram that helps you plan and develop your search.
Everyone has their own methods for keeping track of their research. If you are looking for ways to streamline the process, you might want to try some of these tools:
You can log in to your Library Account with your Western username and password to: save the searches you have done in the OMNI Catalogue, request email notifications of new items relevant to your saved searches, and see a list of what you have signed out in My Reading History.
There are a number of different programs available to help you streamline your research by managing your citations. Western Libraries doesn't recommend a specific citation management software, however two popular ones are Mendeley and Zotero. These products are available to download for free and allow you to save your citations, create bibliographies, and cite through word processor plugins. Please consult Wikipedia's comparison of reference management software to help you decide which is right for your research purposes.
