Effective research tips
- Define what you want to research as succinctly as possible.
- Try writing a single sentence about what you want to research and use terms that are specific to your topic or theme.
- Use at least three key words in your search.
- Use more than one search engine. Which ones are your favorites?
- Think creatively about what you find. The site may not have web pages dedicated to jobs or internships, but most likely there will be valuable information about the organization/company and contact names to which you can address a letter of inquiry.
- If you find something that looks too good to be true -- chances are it is.
- Be prepared to take time-- the Internet is chaotic and information changes overnight.
- Consider calling or e-mailing sites to confirm any contact info. that you uncover.
- Look for details that identify how current the information is.
- Usually the first 30-50 sites that come up are the most relevant.
- Don't limit yourself to the Internet: print research also takes time, but often yields more consistent results.
- Check with friends, family members, professors/teachers, previous employers for possible contacts in your interest area(s).
- Ask Reference Librarians, Filene Center Advisors and Peer Mentors for assistance.
- Look for directories of companies/organizations specific to your interest areas.
- Don't focus on whether something is being offered, but rather on whether or not the particular company or organization is of interest to you.
- If geographic location is important, include that in your search terms.
- Research professional associations in your interest area and check out student membership rates. Professional associations often can lead your research to others doing exactly what you hope to do.
- Keep records of all your research √ what you found and where.
- Techniques used to research your academic projects/assignments are often similar to what you would use to research out-of-class learning experiences.
- Remember: Use a combination of resources to uncover what you are seeking.
View examples of how students have approached researching their interests.