When you search for information on a topic, save time and avoid frustration by planning a research strategy. This guide, prepared by Cindy Swoveland of Simon Fraser University , provides a clear outline of the process involved in researching a topic. Once you have identified the main topic and keywords for your research, find one or more sources of background information to read. These sources will help you understand the broader context of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about your topic. The most common background sources are encyclopedias and dictionaries from the reference collection.
Textbooks also provide background information.
The sources cited in the bibliography are good starting points for further research. Check the subject headings listed in the subject field of the online record for these books and articles. Then do subject searches using those subject headings to locate additional titles. Remember that many of the books and articles you find in the Simon Fraser University Library Catalogue and periodical indexes will themselves have bibliographies. Check these bibliographies for additional relevant resources for your research.