RESEARCH TIPS
Recording research findings
Tarja Moles helps you organise your research records
Tarja Moles
Recording research findings is an integral part of doing research. The more complex your project, the more important it is to take and retain notes effectively. But how do you know what to record and what’s the best way to do it? Ultimately, it’s your personal preference combined with the type of research project you’re working on that should determine your approach. However, here are some ideas to consider.
What to record
When you start a research project, it’s tempting to record anything and everything about your subject. Although it’s nice to know that you have the information in your possession if and when you need it, the reality is that in many cases you’re unlikely to read or need all your notes – especially if you have accumulated a huge amount of material. Therefore, be discerning when assessing the importance of any details you discover and record only those that you truly think will be relevant. Another way to help reduce the potential pile of notes is to summarise your findings whenever it’s not vital to copy passages verbatim.