With research, information gathering does not happen just once, but throughout the research process for different purposes.

Learning About Your Topic
  • Your goal for initial information gathering is to build a foundation of understanding about your topic.
  • Your result will be narrowing your subject into a focused topic that is not too broad nor too narrow.
  • This takes time - do not rush and do not worry about taking notes as you do this initial exploration.

Searching with Focus

Clarifying or Refining Your Focus
  • As you gather information, you may find information that prompts you to clarify or refine your focus.
  • Stay flexible and adjust your information search to account for the changes, widening or narrowing your search, or heading down a slightly different path to follow a new lead.