Creating a Research Log

A. P. Anderson
Research & Instruction Librarian
February 20, 2024
What is a research log? •
Tracking your research can help:
Spot trends in the research
• Notice what resources you aren’t finding
— is it a problem with your search terms,
or a gap in the literature?
A research log is an • Remind yourself of potential avenues for

organization tool meant •

to help researchers • Make note of where you leave off for the
day and what you need to do next time

keep track of the • Retrace your steps if you need to go back

resources they consult • Avoid performing identical searches or

for a project.
 Research Log vs Reference Manager
Research logs: documents created by Examples of Free(-ish)* Reference Manager Tools
the researcher to track research
progress and take notes  Full/paid version available for all students – create an account
RefWorks using TAMUC email address
 Video tutorials for using advanced features
Reference managers: third-party
software/websites designed to
collect and organize references—can
 No school email address needed to create account – keep your
typically also create bibliographies EndNote account after you graduate

(always double check for accuracy) Web  EndNote Web is the free web based version of EndNote and
does not have all features included

You can use both!

Zotero  300MB storage for free accounts, more included with paid
version
 Not fully web based, requires download
Accessing RefWorks through TAMUC
tamuc.edu/library

Log in using
your TAMUC
credentials
What is included in a research log?
Use your research log to track:
There is no one style or • Your search strategy
format for research logs. They • Keywords used
can be as simple or as • Databases searched
complicated as you need. • Filters applied

The important thing is that • Trends (or gaps) in the research

your log is tracking the • Interesting sources you may or may not end
up using
information that is useful to
you and your project.
Keyword generation & listing
Topic What is the effect of social media on teenagers’ mental health?
Social media TikTok, Twitter, X, Facebook, wellness apps,
YouTube, content therapy apps
creators, social network,
influencers, engagement,
screen time,
smartphones,
Major ideas/ Synonyms & cyberbullying Terms/concepts
concepts Teenagers related terms Adolescents, teens, 13- to exclude Children, adults
17 year olds, gen-z
Mental health Mental illness, anxiety,
depression, body image,
self confidence, stress,
well-being

Useful for brainstorming keywords and recording keywords that you discover while researching:
• Keep one page of your research log as a place to record any terms that may be useful
• Cross out rather than delete terms that you decide not to use – you may need to return to those later
• Record your searches on a different page of the log to track which combinations you’ve tried (and where)
Search tracking
When you track your searches, you What happens when you change your variables?
can see patterns emerge and get • Swap one keyword for another
an “overhead view” of your • Add/remove filters
research process. • Move from a general search tool (library
search, Google Scholar) to a specific database
Get a second set of eyes:
Are some databases/search tools more useful
Show your research log to your instructor or
schedule a meeting with a librarian
for your project?
 Are there resources you haven’t consulted • More options for filters/limiters
yet that would help? • Bigger collections
 Have you missed major keywords? • Features you like (ex Listen to Article, reading
 Have you accidentally excluded some articles as plain text vs formatted PDF)
results?
Examples of search tracking in research logs
Very simple/low detail Notes heavy – good for developing your strategies over time

Date: 2/20/24 Date Name of Keywords & Type of results Next steps
database/search limiters/filters used found (common
Database name: PsycINFO tool/resource themes, formats,
Search: “mental health” AND “social media” relevancy)
Filter:
population > age group > adolescence (13-17)
peer reviewed journals only 2/20 Library OneSearch “mental health” AND Lots of articles Find a way to
“social media” AND about mental health eliminate articles
date range > 2019+
(teenage OR during COVID-19 talking about social
Results: 390 articles; exported 12 to RefWorks adolescent) lockdown, articles media as a mental
Notes: try keywords Date: 2020-present about using social health monitoring
Filter: peer-reviewed media as a tool to tool for large
“psychological health”
journals track mental health populations
maladaptive social media use

2/19 Library OneSearch “mental health” AND Long term studies & Determine date
“social media” scoping reviews, range – 2020+ ?
Where to make your research log: Subject: teenagers some older
Filter: peer-reviewed
Note apps (OneNote, Evernote, Google Keep) journals
Google Docs/Word – good if you plan to take a lot of notes
Google Sheets/Excel – good if you have a lot of entries to sort
Email to yourself (best if you’re doing really simple notes)
Research log template (3 page)
Premade template in Google Docs
Make a copy if you are logged • Generating keywords
into a Google account
• Search tracker
Download as Word / OpenDoc
without an account to easily edit • Recording interesting sources (useful
if you don’t want to use a citation
Modify as much as manager or have a lot of “maybe I’ll
you like! Add new use this” items)
columns or pages,
& delete whatever First row on each page is already filled
you don’t need.
in as an example
Linked in YouTube video description
 Research & Instruction Librarians at
Velma K. Waters Library
[email protected]
• Get help accessing materials & navigating databases
• Research assistance in person, by email, or by Zoom
• For instructors: Research & information literacy instruction sessions for your students