Finding your sources and information
To develop a successful topic, you also must be able to find
accessible, relevant sources, information, data, visual material, and
relevant theory that is directly related to the topic you have chosen.
This body of information, literature, images, data, etc, should be
tangible, visible, observable or even countable, and certainly
accessible to you (and your skill-level), and also accessible within a
reasonable time frame.
For example, if you can only get at the information you will need by
travelling to Alaska, or by getting an interview with the head of Apple
Computers, or by learning ancient Greek, it is better to find another
topic. It is nearly always best to find a topic that relates to an area
in which you already have some prior knowledge, theoretical interest or
skill base, and that will augment an area of specialisation you are
already developing. You must have the preliminary skills necessary to
access the information base you have chosen along with your research
topic (necessary concept skills, methodological skills, language or math
skills, etc). For instance, if you need to do a degree in pure maths to
read some critical texts, then it is best to change your topic now!
Finally, you must be prepared to search out and read much of the existing and most recent academic literature closely related to your topic before you commence your project in earnest, so that you know what others have said in the same area. This in itself can become an obstacle, in that if you choose to do your topic in an area where many people have written about the same thing (for example, the works of Le Corbusier), you may find yourself overwhelmed with the sheer volume of books and articles to read. This in itself should not discourage you, but it does mean much additional reading, and also probably a more narrowly focused topic.
Finding useful literature
Relevant literature is mostly to be found in scholarly articles in the Library’s Journals, both e-journals and paper-based journals, and books closely associated with your topic and your discipline. If you are uncertain where to find these, or what they are, consult a Librarian or discuss your particular issue with an academic adviser. But start by visiting our Library, which also has an excellent Virtual Library in Architecture and Design.
Most researchers start by:
- Making a list of relevant search terms, including key authors, related concepts or theories, ideas, important issues, people, places, objects, etc. They then try to reduce this to 5-10 key terms that are specific to the topic, to ensure they are not too broad, too narrow or too ambiguous.
- Going over their notes about the research project and checking the related readings they are already familiar with, for instance, texts and articles. You can also find a lot of useful reading material in the bibliographies and notes of the key texts you have found.
Consider your literature search not only in terms of ‘content’, or related literature or examples directly related to your topic, but also in terms of ‘theory’ and ‘method’, and edit your list of terms to take account of this. Why?
- Theory - because every project will involve an explicit or implied theory. Read to try and define this, and relate your own approach to the major theories in the relevant literature. This theory may come from philosophy, from anthropology, from psychology or sociology. It is vital that you understand it well enough to use it credibly. This is critical, since often it is the theoretical ‘framing’ of the topic that gives it a distinct character, and also its explanatory power and scholarly value.
- Method - because other pieces of research may follow a similar method to the one you have chosen in a similar, or not so similar, area. This may seem a bit obscure at first, but it is worth considering that borrowing approaches used by others can be very inspirational, leading even to a new approach to your topic. These other research projects may give you a ready-made ‘template’ or model for your own project, even if taken from another discipline and focused on another topic.
Keeping accurate bibliographic records
While you are reading, make sure you keep a detailed record of all relevant references in a notebook or on index cards (and not just on a computer), including a note of your reactions to each item – ie. author (s), title of article, chapter, book or journal, publisher, place of publication, date, plus a brief outline of contents and your comments. This is sometimes called a ‘bibliographic’ entry or card. You can also keep ‘topic cards’ for quotes or particular pieces of key information. The main thing is that you keep accurate records of what you have found in your readings. Inaccurate records will add extra time, time that you cannot afford.
Keeping a research journal
It is also very valuable to keep a ‘research journal’ to document your thoughts, ideas, and reflections upon your project, as it develops. This will help you record important insights, document key theoretical and practical issues, and also reflect upon the progress of your project. The real benefit of keeping a research journal as you start to read into your topic area is that it accustoms you to the idea of reflecting upon the ideas and works of others in your own voice, and in a critical manner. This is a vital skill that will help you produce a carefully considered thesis.