The document discusses effective research techniques for students conducting literature reviews, including using a focused search strategy, creating an annotated library to organize sources, and maintaining search and writing logs. It explains the steps for a focused search, such as identifying key variables and limits, and provides an example of a search on the topic of active learning and speaking skills. Various tools for organizing references are also mentioned.

1. This video is part of an EAP
course for students enrolled in
pre-Master Program

2. Presented by
Dr.Heba M.Abdullah
TEFL Lecturer ,
Faculty of Graduate Studies for Education
,Cairo University

3. Chapter Three
Accessing information

4. Nowadays , there are huge amount of information offered
by different sources. One main feature if a good
researcher is the ability to search in a focused , systematic
and productive way. Managing references and citations
starts to be a simple process via the use of tools such as
endnote ,Procite, Refrence Mnager , Refworks , Mendely
and Zotero . All of these programs were developed to
help the researcher to access and information in a
focused way. However , the use of these programs do not
guarantee that your search process is highly sequenced.
Yet , you should develop some effective research
strategies

5. Effectiveresearch
techniques
Focused search
Annotated
Library
Search Log
Writing Log

6. Effectiveresearch
techniques
Focused search
Annotated
Bibliography
Search Log
Writing Log

7. Focused Strategy
Steps :
Step 1 : Identify the variables that you search for.
Step 2 : Identify the items that you search for.
Step 3 : Set limits for your search (Recent , Local or
International , number of studies )
Step 4 : Make a definite production

8. Focused Strategy : Example
Let us say that you are searching for review of literature and
related studies about a topic “ The Effect of Active Learning on
Developing Speaking Skills for Secondary Stage Students”
Step1 : Identify ( Active Learning ) and ( Speaking Skills).
Step 2 :Identify whether you are searching for ( Previous Studies)
or (theoretical background ). You should be focused on either
collecting abstracts or theoretical description about your
variables. The more you will be focused , the easier you will
develop your writings. Look at the following illustration for an
application of this strategy .

9. Step2Step1
Title
Speaking
Theoretical
Backgroun
d
Studies
Active Learning
Review
Studies

10. Step Three : You should divide your search process into
sessions ( ex.50 minutes ). Between sessions , take 5 minutes
rest . Each session should be limited to one of the variables
only. In addition , you should search for either theoretical
background or related studies. The reason beyond such
division is much related to the varied type of sources that
you are looking for . If you were searching for related
studies , you have to collect abstracts from databases . If
you were looking for local studies , you have to search in
specific cites and vise versa. When you are determined in
your search , you will find material easily.

11. You may Limit you search for related studies as as
follows :
 Recent : Choose the most recent studies
 Place : Search for local studies as long as you want to provide
evidences on the existence of the problem of the study. Search for
international studies if you want to provide evidences on the
importance of solving similar problems.
 Type : Usually read abstracts only especially when developing
proposals.
 Number : Search for a limited number of studies especially when
developing proposals.
 Language : Arabic databases or English databases

12. You may Limit you search for theoretical background as
as follows :
 Recent : Choose the most recent
 Number : Search for a limited number of texts especially when
developing proposals.
 Type : books , encyclopedia , reports especially when you are
developing your proposal
 Language : Arabic databases or English databases
As for other types such as articles , it is recommended to use them
as a supplementary material after drafting your papers. So , you may
use them easily afterwards.

13. Step3Step2Step1
Title
Speakin
g
Theoretical
Background
Nature
Definition
Sub-skills
Models
Studies
Active Learning
Theoretical
Background
Studies

14. Step 4 : Make a definite production
For Example :
IF you were searching for local related
studies , your production would be about
5 papers including 5 abstracts . Please
print them out. Thus you will feel relaxed
and optimistic throughout the search
process.

15. Effectiveresearch
Strategies
Focused search
Annotated
Library
Search Log
Writing Log

16. Annotated Library Strategy
You have to construct an electronic library where every source is located in a
well-identified framework. For example , you place all local studies in one
folder and all international studies in another folder. Then , you have to put
both folders in a folder termed as “ related studies for speaking skills” and
vice versa .Look at the following illustration.

17. Your folder about “speaking skills”
may look as follows:
Studies (Arabic)
• Local
• International
Background (Arabic)
• Books
• Encyclopedias
Studies( English)
• International
Background (Arabic )
• Books
• Encyclopedias

18. Effectiveresearch
Strategies
Focused search
Annotated
Library
Search Log
Writing Log

19. Logs
 Search Log :A small notebook where you constantly
write ( The databases that you accessed , terms that
you searched for , sessions of Arabic or English
search that you did , Books that you want to find ,
and any notes about the search process )
 Writing log : A small notebook that you constantly
write ( what you have wrote , what you are going to
write next ). For example , you may write (
Definitions of speaking skills is done , Next will be
subskills)

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