Preparing a Search Strategy


		Preparing a Search Strategy
		The Internet has so much information, you need to plan carefully before beginning your search. Who: Who is the research about: a politician, a businessperson, a scientist, a criminal? Who is key to the topic you are researching? Are there any recognized experts or spokespersons you should know about? Who do you need to talk to: someone who has experienced something, someone who knows someone, someone who is an expert? Who have you already talked to? Who do they know who might help you? What: What kind of information do you need: statistics, sources, background? What kind of research are you doing: an analysis, a backgrounding report, a follow-up? What type of information will be useful: full-text articles or reports, specific facts, referrals to a person, public records? What are you trying to do: confirm a fact you've been given, find someone to interview, get up to speed on a topic, background somebody, narrow a broad topic, fill in a hole in your knowledge? What would be the best source of the information: an association, a government agency, a research centre, a company? What information do you already have? What do you already know about the topic or person? What would the ideal answer look line? Envisioning the perfect answer will help you recognize it when you find it! When: When did the event being researched take place? This will help determine the source to use, particularly, which information source has resources dating far enough back. When did the event being researched end? When will you know you should stop searching? (When you have the answer!) Where: Where did the event you're researching take place? Where are you in your research: just starting (looking for background), in the middle (looking for verification of information found), towards the end (looking to tie up loose ends)? Where have you already looked for information? Where is the biggest collection of the type of information you're looking for likely to be: university research centre, research association files, a specialty database? Where did the person you're backgrounding come from? Where might there have been previous coverage: newspapers, broadcasts, trade publications, court proceedings, discussions? Why: Why do you need the research: seeking a source to interview, surveying a broad topic, pinpointing a fact? Why must you have the research: to make a decision, to corroborate a premise? How: How much information do you need: a few good articles for background, everything in existence on the topic, just the specific fact? How are you going to use the information: for an anecdote, for publication? How far back do you need to research: the current year, last two years, ten years ago? By Nora Pound in Alan M. Schlein Find it Online 3rd ed Tempe, Arizona: Facts on Demand Press, 2003.