• Learn well how to search the Internet. Remember that you must evaluate the authenticity of material of interest to you. Do not neglect to use your library.
• Prepare a Library Program. Investigate local libraries and take any scheduled library tours. Take a library science course at school. For books your library doesn’t have, ask to borrow through inter-library loan from other libraries or branches.
• Periodicals at the Library. Browse through a variety of magazines and newspapers, the greatest sources of information and idea triggers. Examine the reference book section. Consult periodical indexes and Books in Print for help on your subject.
• Free Help. Discuss your subject with anyone familiar with it. This can be a relative, friend, teacher, business colleague, or professional person – draw them out. Pick their minds. Challenge them. Make notes for review.
• Hold Brainstorming Sessions. Also, talk to yourself out loud . . . or use someone as a sounding board.
• Organize Your Data. Set up a good filing system. Inexpensive plastic crate files are available at office supply and discount stores. Also use a computer, if available, both for searching and storing data. Avoid carelessness and sloppy paperwork.
• Check Telephone Yellow Pages for local new and used bookstores. Call first for categories available and price ranges. Visit used bookstores everywhere.
• Organizations, Professional Societies, Government Agencies. These can provide domain-specific data. Watch for scheduled exhibits. The library has directories of them.
• Use Post-it Notes™ to mark pages you want to copy or review. Use yellow highlighter on your own material for emphasis.
• Keep Track of Names of articles and books you may have to cite.
• Study Group. Try to form a group of friends with similar interests to research.
• “Facts” can often be wrong. Be skeptical! Better to use the word “data.”

Learn to Abstract Concepts From Material You Read

College professors complain that many students who come to them do not know how to dig out and comprehend the basic principles and concepts in the material assigned. You must train yourself to do this. Reflect after reading – what is really important? What concepts and what basic principles are involved? List these for study and review.