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Conducting Archival Research: Develop a Research Strategy

This guide will assist you in performing research in archival repositories. The guide will include general site guidelines, best practices of archives, types of sources, research strategies, navigation of finding aids, and more.

Quick Guide

1. Understand your research topic.

2. Formulate questions about the topic.

3. Describe your topic in detail.

4. Determine the type of information you need to research your topic further.

5. Determine how that information is likely to have been generated.

6. Search available catalogs and finding aids. 

Archival Research Tips

Importance of a Research Strategy

Because a research strategy...

  • Provides a strategic plan for your research effort
  • Keeps you on-topic and focused on finding answers to your research question
  • Helps you build your knowledge with solid background information first before moving into the more detailed, issue-specific literature
  • Reminds you to cite your sources correctly
  • Helps you to critically evaluate your sources

Source: College of Charleston Libraries. (2024, February). Time to research! Retrieved from https://libguides.charleston.edu/english110 . 

Developing a Research Strategy