1. Do you prefer taking notes on paper or on a computer? How will you keep track of your research?
2. Have you selected a topic? Once you have a general topic in mind, brainstorm 5-10 related search terms BEFORE you start your research. This will help you define your research question.
For example: Search terms for Social Media could include general terms like influencer or algorithm in addition to specific social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter. Search terms for Artificial Intelligence could include related words or terms like facial recognition, surveillance, or privacy. Search terms can also include names of people, events, or places: while researching Modern Warfare you could use terms like Bashar al-Assad or Budapest Memorandum in addition to terms like drones, nuclear missiles, and cyber attacks.
*See Creating Your Search Statements for more ideas about how to search your topic most effectively.
3. Save what you find (print it or email it to yourself) and keep it in a place you can easily find it again.