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StartFollow the trail

1 page · 7 planned

Research a question · Phase 3 of 6

Follow the trail

Gather sources mostly by following them: back through bibliographies, forward through 'cited by' lists, and out to librarians, archives and experts. Searching from scratch is only one way in.

Phases overlap. Expect to come back to this one as your question sharpens and your reading turns up new leads.

  1. Purpose
  2. When you need it
  3. How to do it
  4. Try it
  5. Common mistakes
  6. Limits
  7. Related
  8. Sources & further reading

Pages

1
  1. 01 Chase References Backward and ForwardOne good source leads to the rest. Follow its reference list back to the work it built on, and its 'cited by' list forward to the work that came after, until the same names keep coming back.

Coming next

7
  • Search Operators That Still WorkPlanned
  • Google ScholarPlanned
  • Library Databases You Already HavePlanned
  • Using AI Assistants Without Getting FooledPlanned
  • Ask a LibrarianPlanned
  • Public Records RequestsPlanned
  • Know When to Stop CollectingPlanned