How I Do Research | Scott H Young

Once you've found the keywords and some main papers or authors everybody cites on the topic, try to find reviews.

• Literature reviews qualitatively review all the papers on a topic.
• Meta-analyses try to collect effects from multiple papers to give a quantitative answer.
• Textbooks are used to present the field the way experts want a beginner to learn about it.

It can be helpful to type a keyword with the words "review" or "meta-analysis" in Google Scholar. For textbooks, type a keyword in Amazon and limit the search for textbooks.

Once you gained some understanding in a field, follow citation trails. There will often be dozens of other papers cited and can result in an extensive reading list. Thus it is helpful to limit yourself to the few most promising ones.

Citations need two factors: frequency and relevance. Works cited more often are more central to a topic. To ensure that you don't spend too much time going down rabbit holes, aim for breadth-first.

A classic problem in research is to forget what you've read or where you've read it. Some people use Zettlekasten, a sophisticated note-taking system.

Another system is Caplan's approach, where you highlight the sections you may need to revisit later. Then make a new document that will contain your notes and quotes as well as your summary of the work. The goal is to have a map of the area, so you know where to find it again.

• Sci-Hub is helpful to get access to papers. Alternatively, emailing authors can give you access to papers, but it tends to slow reading down.
• Google Books can help you find specifics in a particular book.
• Map out the main arguments and players.
• Don't be hesitant to take courses first. It will provide a background on the topic.
• Experts are very willing to talk to you.