Electronic Research: Make It Easy

What is Electronic Research?

Electronic research is the process of recording citations, notes, and quotes for later use in writing the final research paper. It replaces the old note card system with the ease of electronic copying and pasting into a file maintained on a computer disk. In essence, it is a working bibliography of all the information resources used in writing a research paper, including notes and quotes found while gathering information.

Use Electronic Research From the Start

Creating an electronic file at the beginning of a research project saves time. Start the file with the thesis statement developed for the research project. While looking for information resources in the library catalog or in academic databases, implement the following process:

• Keep a word processor open on the computer while researching.
• Use the standard Windows copy and paste commands to add titles
  of books and/or articles to your file. Include the complete publication
  information (citation) of these resources for later use in a bibliography.
• Add notes, quotes, or even the full-text when available.
• Save the file and continue to add additional resources as the research
  process continues.

Benefit From Electronic Research When It's Time to Write

When it's time to write the final paper, this file of resources, notes, and quotes will provide a working bibliography of information that can be harvested for inclusion in the paper. The sources of ideas and quotes will be readily identifiable for citing. The literature cited section of the paper will already be complete.

Better research, better papers, better results. . . .