10 Step Guide for Conducting Preliminary Like a Pro

4. Determine Key Phrases And Keywords

Keep an eye out for repetitive terminology, phrases, and keywords related to the topic as you read. You can use these keywords to help you find more specialized material. You can search databases, library catalogs, and internet resources more effectively if you make a list of these key terms. For example, the following keywords may be related to your research question if it concerns agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa:

• The ability to adapt to climate change.
• Agriculture that is sustainable.
• Smallholder farmers.
• Africa’s food security.

 

You can identify the most relevant sites without searching through a lot of irrelevant ones if you have a keyword approach.

5. Look For Academic References

It’s time to find more academic and reliable sources because you have done your background research and determined your keywords. Peer-reviewed articles, research papers, and scholarly publications are easily found in academic resources like Google Scholar, JSTOR, PubMed, or subject-specific databases based on your field.

Seek out studies that either answer your questions directly or give important context. Scholarly sources provide your research with more depth and credibility, and they frequently reference additional important sources that you can use to expand on.

6. Assess The Credibility And Importance Of The Sources

Not every source has the same importance especially those that are found online. It is important to assess each source’s credibility and usage when you assemble papers, articles, and other types of research. Consider the following questions:

• Does the author have extensive knowledge in the field? Check for qualifications or connections to reputable institutions.
• Does peer review relate to the publication? Compared to blogs or popular media, scholarly publications frequently have higher standards. 
• Is the source up to date? It really is crucial to concentrate on current research and stay away from out-of-date material related to your topic.

 

For example, more recent studies can be significant in the subject of climate change research because the topic is always changing as new data becomes available.

7. Make Organized Notes

Take organized notes as soon as you start exploring more deeply into academic materials. You can save going back and rereading everything later by summarizing each source. Organize your notes by research question or theme so that you have a structure to work with before you start writing. To ensure appropriate citation in the future then you must make sure to note the bibliographic details for every source.

You can maintain the organization and accessibility of your notes with the use of note-taking software like Evernote, OneNote, or Zotero. You can also use physical note cards or notebooks if you want to. Consistency and order are essential no matter which strategy you use.

8. Find Knowledge Gaps And Improve Your Questions

You should now start to find similar concepts and patterns in the literature. Additionally, you can find gaps in the existing studies. These gaps in knowledge give ample opportunities for additional investigation and help in the development of your research topics.

For instance, you might decide to concentrate more on smallholder farmers if you see that there is a lot of preliminary study on how climate change affects large-scale agriculture but not much on smallholder farmers. Finding these gaps helps you focus on your topic and leads you in the direction of a possible unique idea in the field.

9. Seek Advice From Professionals And Relevant Sources

Finding primary sources or speaking with professionals in the field can be helpful if your research focuses on a complex or specific topic. Direct communication with subject matter professionals, surveys, and interviews can provide insights that are usually not available in books or articles.

Furthermore, primary sources give open data or unique perspectives on the topic, including government reports, historical documents, field studies, and first-hand experiences. For instance, if you are researching how climate change is affecting farming then you can also consult government agricultural reports, crop yield satellite data, or farmer testimonies. Primary sources provide your research more depth and authenticity which basically strengthens and validates your conclusions.

10. Update And Focus Your Research

It is common for preliminary research to present additional questions, changes in focus, or the need to modify your initial study question. Feel free to further focus your attention as you learn more if needed. This phase gives you guidance for the next phases of your study and enables you to concentrate on the most relevant elements of your topic.

For instance, your first basic question can be “the damaging effect of climate change on agriculture of Sub-Saharan Africa.” You can modify it into “What strategies smallholder farmers in Kenya are using to adjust to climate change?” after doing some preliminary research. This change helps you focus and manage your research.

Conclusion

Any initiative or study that is effective must start with preliminary research. These ten steps will prepare you to confidently go into more in-depth research by selecting your topic, developing specific research questions, reading previous research, assembling credible sources, assessing them, and narrowing your focus.

Having a professional mindset when conducting preliminary research helps you develop a strong foundation, lowers your chances of getting distracted, and guarantees that you are ready for more in-depth research. After doing your preliminary research, you will have a clear direction and a well-organized strategy for addressing your topic.

FAQs

How to Conduct a Preliminary Study?

Determine your research issue, examine previous studies, collect preliminary data, and narrow your focus in order to carry out preliminary research.

What Is Preliminary Data Gathering In The Research Process?

Gathering preliminary data means getting preliminary information to direct the primary research process through observations, interviews, or background research.

How Do You Conduct A Preliminary Analysis?

Evaluating preliminary data includes finding patterns, honing theories, and directing future studies for a more comprehensive analysis.