Social sciences deal with a gamut of disciplines such as economics, psychology, sociology, linguistics, etc. Dealing with research is always a tricky issue. However, the advent of the Internet along with the availability of almost infinite online resources has provided a double-edged sword for students and academicians alike. The Internet is a big place: without the right approach, it can easily become the proverbial Achilles’ heel.
Google and Wikipedia offer the first go-to source for research. However, unless an appropriate search strategy is employed, a large amount of time can be wasted in inconsequential activities. Before beginning research with regard to any project, it is important to prepare a schedule based on the project requirements and deliverables. Because of the vastness inherent in every social science project (with regard to available resources), a concise and terse approach can yield far better and appreciable results than a haphazard and wayward one. A delineation of the available information and a hierarchical list according to the importance of the information in relation to the subject matter can offer a fruitful experience.
Gone are the days when students had to visit libraries in different schools/colleges and rummage through hundreds of tomes to undertake their research. Wikipedia, touted as the biggest online encyclopedia, can offer a one-stop source for all macro-research activities. This Web site can be used by a student to initialize the project. The skeletal structure of the project can be prepared by using the available information; once that is made, an in-depth search in various Web crawling sites such as Google, Yahoo, etc. can provide the required material at the micro-level. One good resource called Google Scholar is aimed at providing researches and students alike with a medium to obtain professional and academic scholarly literature in a way only a Google Web site can offer. Citations to various books, journal papers, conference notes, and so on can be obtained from Google Scholar. Sadly, most of these papers are available only to registered and paying customers/students. However, once the reference to a particular citation or book is obtained, a quick run to your library can help you in this matter.
Although often ignored or kept as a last-minute resort by most students, it is always better to keep your research peers as well as faculty in the loop when discussing your research. One small insight into any of the issues pertaining to your research can go a long way in you drafting a successful project, which can help you both academically as well as on the career front.
Google and Wikipedia offer the first go-to source for research. However, unless an appropriate search strategy is employed, a large amount of time can be wasted in inconsequential activities. Before beginning research with regard to any project, it is important to prepare a schedule based on the project requirements and deliverables. Because of the vastness inherent in every social science project (with regard to available resources), a concise and terse approach can yield far better and appreciable results than a haphazard and wayward one. A delineation of the available information and a hierarchical list according to the importance of the information in relation to the subject matter can offer a fruitful experience.
Gone are the days when students had to visit libraries in different schools/colleges and rummage through hundreds of tomes to undertake their research. Wikipedia, touted as the biggest online encyclopedia, can offer a one-stop source for all macro-research activities. This Web site can be used by a student to initialize the project. The skeletal structure of the project can be prepared by using the available information; once that is made, an in-depth search in various Web crawling sites such as Google, Yahoo, etc. can provide the required material at the micro-level. One good resource called Google Scholar is aimed at providing researches and students alike with a medium to obtain professional and academic scholarly literature in a way only a Google Web site can offer. Citations to various books, journal papers, conference notes, and so on can be obtained from Google Scholar. Sadly, most of these papers are available only to registered and paying customers/students. However, once the reference to a particular citation or book is obtained, a quick run to your library can help you in this matter.
Although often ignored or kept as a last-minute resort by most students, it is always better to keep your research peers as well as faculty in the loop when discussing your research. One small insight into any of the issues pertaining to your research can go a long way in you drafting a successful project, which can help you both academically as well as on the career front.