Introduction to Primary Research

Universal Research and Inquiry Method

Most guides to humanities research recommend approximately the same research procedure. It is a generic library research procedure, suitable for investigating nearly any topic in nearly any field. I call this the Universal Research and Inquiry Method (URIM). In its simplest form URIM looks something like the procedure listed below.

Universal Research and Inquiry Method (URIM)

  1. Select/define an initial topic. This may be narrow or broad, esoteric or mundane, advanced or novice. It should fit your interests and abilities, and meet course requirements or address real world needs.
  2. Read at least two authoritative summary discussions of your topic. These may be brief treatments such as are typically found in encyclopedias or other reference works. But you may read an entire book at this stage.
  3. Organize your thinking and formulate a specific research-worthy question about the topic. Write a tentative heuristic outline to guide your study.
  4. Now that you have a specific question, build an adequate bibliography using the library catalog, periodical indexes, and specialized bibliographies. Be sure to include recent works. Examine the main works you have found and check their bibliographies/footnotes. Include diverse viewpoints. Perhaps use a database like EndNote to manage and format your citations.
  5. Evaluate credibility of sources and authors in a preliminary way by using book reviews and biographical directories.
  6. Read. Take notes. Document carefully so you do not accidently plagiarize when you write the first draft. Index notes to specific topics. Perhaps use special software to manage and retrieve notes.
  7. While reading, analyze (i.e., identify and isolate basic arguments and lines of evidence others have used.)
  8. While reading, think critically. Evaluate the evidence and logic used by each source. Consult primary sources yourself to verify evidence.
  9. Synthesize (i.e., formulate an overall conclusion and organize an argument to support it.) Formulate thesis statement.
  10. Think about how you want to present the material. Modify outline, perhaps extensively.
  11. Compose first draft. Present the truth as you understand it, being careful to evaluate all significant views fairly. Be logical. Document thoroughly and accurately as you write, not as an afterthought.
  12. Evaluate your work. Have you proved your point? Rewrite as needed.
  13. Copy edit for cohesion and accuracy. Polish and format.

URIM has some obvious virtues. It is conceptually and practically simple. It provides a starting point and a concrete procedure to follow. It is applicable to a wide range of topics and disciplines. It stresses the importance of interacting with scholarly literature, evaluating sources, and critically evaluating viewpoints, evidence and arguments. URIM is a good way to learn about a topic and to think through an issue. Indeed, the main point of URIM is to encourage the student to learn, to think critically, and to articulate a logically sound and well supported view rather than to thoughtlessly regurgitate sources and views. However, note well that URIM is an exceedingly inadequate guide for original research such as would be expected in a doctoral program.

Explanation coming Spring 2008.