The Research Strategies pages in this module introduce specific techniques that may assist you in your research. Think of them like tools in a toolbox rather than feeling like you need to engage with all of them. Some of these research strategies are more suited to specific disciplines or individual preferences.

When you have chosen your topic, mind-mapping is a way to think through your project, clarifying what you know, what you are most interested in, and what you still need to find out. It can also help you identify good search terms to use as you do your research. If you think of yourself as a visual learner or your class notes contain a lot of doodles and flowcharts, consider giving mind maps a try.

This video gives an overview of some of the benefits of mind-mapping and how to get started:

Place your main topic or question in the center of your mind map. Then start adding related topics, questions, ideas, or bits of information. This is a time to keep things brief, just key words rather than full sentences. As you build out your map, consider the following questions:

Where can you broaden or narrow your ideas? Consider where there may be overarching concepts that break down into smaller concepts. You may also consider elements like geographic region, demographic groups, or other categories to narrow down your topic.
What synonyms might be used to describe the concepts you are using? For example, there may be slang words as well as scientific or scholarly terminology, and you will want to capture all of it.