Recording & Storing Information

Recording and storing the information you have found during your research is also an effective strategy to avoid plagiarism. There is nothing worse than finding good information only to find that you can’t remember where you got it from. That’s why it is important to record and store all information you refer to so you can refer back to it later. It is also essential for obtaining the correct bibliographic details to be able to reference correctly and avoid plagiarism.

**Remember, if you can’t reference the information correctly, you can’t use it**.

What information details do I record?

Record the steps that you take to locate information.

This should include:

• Details of what search tools you used, including database names (ProQuest 5000, INSPEC, Medline)
  
  
• The search strategy that you used, including keywords and how you combined them.
  
  
• Details of where and when you obtained your material e.g. Document Delivery or name of the Library borrowed from plus call number.
  
  
• For researchers, the name and contact details of relevant people e.g. interviewee’s (this will facilitate follow up, and allow you to include them in the credits of you work if appropriate)

Record bibliographic details

For resources such as books, journals and Internet sites, it is essential for you to record the following details.

Similar details should be recorded for other resources. It is also a good idea to record the format of the information as well e.g. if an item is a video recording you should make a note of this.

Storing information