(P)research: Getting ready to start your search
Determining your Information Needs
Once you find a potential topic, you can start determining the types of information required to meet your research needs. Do you need primary or secondary sources, or a combination of both? What are popular resources, and are they appropriate for use in academic research? Are you required to have peer-reviewed journal articles, or are scholarly articles and book chapters sufficient? Where is the best place to look for different types of information, from clinical studies to statistics? How can ‘grey literature' be useful? When should you consider searching outside the library’s databases for information resources?
The following pages in this section provide definitions, tips, and resources for navigating the information research process!