Proposal Development
STEP BY STEP
From Topic to Literature Search to Finished Document
REMEMBER TO:
Document your strategies and processes in each step and
in each iteration of steps.
Record all references in your personal information system.
1. DIAGRAM PROBLEM
Problem A
Problem A = [(1 AND 2 AND 3) NOT 4}
2. REFINE PROBLEM A TO SPECIFIC PURPOSE
Also add further limits: years, language, discipline, etc.
3. IDENTIFY APPLICABLE DATA BASES & OTHER SOURCES
a. Identify Subject Terms
b. Identify Key Words
c. Identify Concepts
4. IN EACH APPLICABLE DATA BASE
Search a, b, c and refine search terms.
Construct relational logic structures and refine.
Unless PURPOSE counter indicates do in order of book, periodical,
document, internet sources(using multiple search engines).
5. REVIEW SELECTED
FINDINGS
Refine 3 and 4
Refine 2 if necessary
Find related search strategies. Follow
Key Documents
Key Authors
Key Institutions
Search by Citation and any of Keys above.
6. REVIEW ADDITIONAL FINDINGS
Repeat any of steps above.
Check all recorded findings against each step above.
As you do these searches, export directly to congruent
data base(ProCite or Endnote), e-mail results to yourself, or copy and paste to YOUR
subject pages in a word processor that you keep open in another window.
7. Use Recorded References to find and obtain physical
Documents. Review documents, recording criteria for selection and rejection.
8. Photocopy items selected. Highlight and Type excerpts of citations, quotes, paraphrases,
etc. with full correct citations in APA style attached.
9. Code Documents and Portions of Documents or Code Information Record Pointing to
Place of Document in Information System.
10. Code Quotes and Citations
11. REVIEW AND REPEAT NECESSARY STEPS (as many times as
necessary.
12. Retrieve and Insert Actual quotes, paraphrases, citations
in research document (finished proposal). Simultaneously create reference and bibliographic
section of research document.
Dr. Beverly Jones <bjones@darkwing.uoregon.edu
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