Epocalymus

Are you having trouble finding the right reference book for your research study? Or are you getting all stressed out because of your relentless search for a scientific book that provides you the information you are looking for? I’ve got some good news for you, and that is, you don’t have to scale every mountain, comb every bookstore, or go to the end of the world just to look for a book to solve your research problems. Many of us would do a search for a book we are hoping to find in the library, but apart from all the common sense, how many of us are aware that there are more to doing the right research when it comes to picking up the right books for your needs? Today, I will show you a few simple steps in order for you to get a better idea of how to shop for books you need either for your research or for some extra knowledge.

#1. Keywords
Think of all the possible keywords associated with the subject you are researching about. Write them down. It is always good to keep a list of keywords with you as you brain-storm for more relevant information that you would like to include or source out for your research study. Do a search using those keywords from search engines available at bookstores or even better, the library (‘cos it’s FREE).

#2. Short-listing
It is always a good habit to short-list the books you have done a search on using a specific search engine. This gives you a clearer picture of what you are looking for, rather than having to forcefully remember the titles or authors you have come across, which is usually a prelude to forgetting important information as well as a complete disorganisation. In doing research, one has to be anal retentive and quite obsessive with details. So it is always advisable to “WRITE THEM DOWN”.

#3. Authorship
After doing a search and gathering relevant information of the particular subject you are researching on, check the profiles of every author or co-author. Profiles are very important because they will tell you where those authors come from, their research interests, their recent or on-going view(s) or criticism(s) about a particular subject, as well as their other publications that normally determine their firm establishment in their current career. Some authors may disagree with a specific subject and may end up writing something against it, which may result in biasness in their research findings or opinions within the books they write. One good advice: Keep yourself updated with what the selected authors from your search are doing or saying.

#4. Publication Dates
You might not notice that the material you are reading in a bookstore was actually published a decade ago. This is either because you weren’t aware about the current findings or you weren’t sensitive to the way the texts were written. To play it safe while reading a scientific book, always check the date(s) of publication before reading further. I was at the bookstore the other day when I came across a book on depression. Inside, the author mentioned that depression being an inheritable trait is a myth. I looked at the front page and saw that the year of publication was in 2002. Today, we know that there is a genetic explanation for depression. Furthermore, both manic depressive disorder and schizophrenia were found to be commonly linked to a faulty chromosome. Hence, it is very essential to take special notice of the date or year of publication in order to keep track of correct information during the research process.

#5. Content Page
Never judge a book by its cover title or excerpt. The content is what matters. Therefore, it is advisable to look through the content page thoroughly before getting the book you are holding in your hand. If in doubt, browse to a certain topic and read it carefully. If the content addresses relevant concerns relating to your research, do not hesitate to BUY THAT BOOK! It will and may become handy in future.

That’s all for now. Happy searching for the books you are after!