Welcome to the club! You are walking down a well-trodden path with plenty of pitfalls, snares, and dead-end detours. Did I mention frustration? Here are some things I've learned and shared with a few of you in last week's live chat:

The Big Three

(1) Be patient. There is no substitute for that as a researcher. Take your time and always be thinking how a source you are looking at affects your thoughts on the topic.

(2) Be sure to mine. Your best source of sources is the source you are looking at. Copy down author names and titles of relevant stuff as you read something. On the abstracts--take the author's name and subject, then do a Google or Ask.com search. You will find that these authors publish the same info many times in many different formats.

(3) Be flexible. As you read be willing and prepared to change your approach to a topic--narrow it, broaden it, change your opinion on it. The ability to do so is a sign of a good researcher.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Are you still more comfortable roaming the dusty stacks of a brick and mortar library than zipping the fast lane on the internet? It might be time to “get over it." Searching electronically is hundreds of times faster than physically doing it, and online databases have up to 50 times more resources than locally-funded brick and mortar institutions.

Brick-n-mortar Libraries have become the equivalent of print newspapers—both serve a purpose, but that purpose is not as essential as it used to be. Libraries and print newspapers have become options, not requirements, in research. The new standard today is online research.

I understand the comfort zone issue. However, I do not believe age is a determining issue (although it is often an issue of self-perception). The issue is familiarity and practice--no matter the age. I say this authoritatively because of my age.

Getting Great Abstracts, But No Full Text?

When you set your search parameters, be sure to place a check in "full-text" if that is what you want. If you find an abstract you love, take the author's name and subject, then do a Google or Ask.com search. As I said above, you will find that these authors publish the same article and information many times in many different formats.

Jump Into the Funnel

Before starting your academic online database search, spend some time surfing the web and databases. You’ll quickly get an overview of your topic, learn the most productive search terms, and see who is important in the conversation on this issue. Then, once you get in the virtual library’s online databases, consider starting wide with Academic Search Premier, and then let the results tell you where and how to narrow your results into the highly specific databases.

Here’s why: Databases are indexed by human beings who assign search terms and tags to the articles in them. The search term or tag that you think something should be indexed under isn’t necessarily what the indexer chose. Want a striking example?

Guess how World War I is indexed? Rarely under the search term “World War I.” You see, after that war (called “The Great War of 1914-1918”) no indexer knew that there would be a second one until the 1940s. So the tradition began of indexing that conflict under “The Great War of 1914-1918” or “The European War 1914-1918.” Thanks to the Internet, that convention has been changing. But there are still plenty of libraries where searching under "World War I" will tell you "See Great War of 1914."

You Have Nothing to Fear But . . .

”My fear is that I will have a lot of information but it won't be relevant and I will have to start all over. “

This fear of being overwhelmed, choosing the wrong path and wasting time, is a common one. I want to try to help put it to rest. When doing research, it's important that you constantly ask: “How does this information fit the definition of my topic?” “How can I use this?”

As you move forward in your search, you must let your topic become more clearly defined by the materials you are reading. Soon you will be able to quickly give a thumbs up or thumbs down to a source once your topic is firm.

Frustration is Good

Frustration is good. The process of research--sifting, evaluating, selecting, discarding--requires it. Instead of seeing it as frustrating, try seeing it as taking small steps toward a goal. Even a source rejected is a step forward to one that will not be. However, the primary source of frustration when it comes to research is not one I can do much about: time pressure. Good research takes time, a lot more than working adults with families usually have. When worst comes to worst and you run out of time, just get it done. Keep you eye on the bigger picture--the light at the end of the tunnel is your degree and the doors it will open. I can promise you that few, if any prospective employers, will ever ask you for your grade point average, much less make a decision based on it. In fact, having a few B's sprinkled in with all your A's gives your transcript more credibility.

One Step At a Time

One step at a time. First collect. Then read and take notes. Then write. Then format. Set deadlines for each and work in blocks. 

Collect First, Read Later

In other words, collect all of the resources you think might be helpful by reviewing the titles and absracts or briefly skimming them. But DO NOT take notes on any sources until you have collected everything and revised and finalized your outline.

What kind of questions, frustrations and obstacles are you experiencing in your personal research? Post them here so that we all can help—and learn.