1. When doing research, we face a lot of information in the articles we read. some are definitely useful, some not, and there are some information that we might not be sure if they'll come handy or not.
How do you take notes from the useful and not-sure-if-useful information??
Do you have a pre-made table that you fill? what sections does your note have? does it have any sections at all, or you jot down anything that was interesting?
2. Now let's say you've read some articles, but not for research! you just enjoy it, or maybe want to say up to date. How do you take notes now?
Dear Maryon
"What is your preferred method for taking notes? -- You ask
It depends on what type of papers, books, book's chapters I read.
Usually I have a pre-made table that I fill. For example, while reading empirical paper my pre-made table contain several rows and columns in which I write the main goals, questionsand hypothese at hand. Then I take note of the experimental sample, the procedures thar were used, and the coding of variables. Next to this, I take note of the reported main findings and statistical analyses. Finally I takes note of the reported findings and see to what extent such findings are new in comparioson to previuos studies.
Best regards,
Orlando
Dear Maryon
"What is your preferred method for taking notes? -- You ask
It depends on what type of papers, books, book's chapters I read.
Usually I have a pre-made table that I fill. For example, while reading empirical paper my pre-made table contain several rows and columns in which I write the main goals, questionsand hypothese at hand. Then I take note of the experimental sample, the procedures thar were used, and the coding of variables. Next to this, I take note of the reported main findings and statistical analyses. Finally I takes note of the reported findings and see to what extent such findings are new in comparioson to previuos studies.
Best regards,
Orlando
In the course of time (or quite quickly) one learns to distinguish between (a) texts that interest one (regardless of the field of research), (b) texts that fall within one's own field of research and are worth remembering in order to quote them critically or positively, (c) articles that do not specifically fall within one's own field of research but are methodically or factually - visibly - incorrect. One can always recognize high-quality articles by the fact that they have a clear hypothesis that can be methodically confirmed or refuted. Many authors don't have the ability to formulate a clear hypothesis, they speak in images, analogies or express some considerations. This is usually not enough for a high-quality text.
I quickly decide if it is worth taking notes for a particular paper by looking at the objectives and conclusions. If the paper interests me I will summarize some of the salient features and results concisely into a hand written single page with rough diagrams as necessary and file it away
Srini Vasan
So you have already developed a good method that seems to work very well! In such a case, I would advise to mention this method immediately as an explanation of the question, then those who want to give an answer already know how you work and can say: I do it exactly like that, or can call complementary experiences.
Like Ben, I keep notes in word processor files with relevant file names, so I can find the information again.
If it is an interesting popular article, I often share to Facebook, ans then save the article (within Facebook), so I can find it again.
In your notebook, mobile phone or other applications on the phone .
I totaly agree with Lourenço. Any way can be effective according to the circumstances
Thank you everyone for sharing your methods and participating!
Personally, I tend to overdo it with notes. the things that I consider "important" are so many. I take long notes, and in the end I tend to go back to the article rather than read my notes, because I feel like they are not sufficient! You may call me a perfectionist, I guess.
I really do want to get the hang of it, though. How do you keep it concise and avoid jotting everything down?
Maryam Moghaddas
Good question, at last! There are 2 possibilities, sometimes I use both. First: I keep a diary, but not very strict, there I write down everything that is important. The file is immediately usable. Secondly. When I write an essay, I always have to use a second file that contains the "trash". Sometimes you have to cross out whole sections that had taken hours of work before, and then this text goes into the "thrash" file. Years later: If you're l ooking for something that you know you've written before, but probably removed again, I'll look in the "diary" orin the "trash" file, with a keyword search command. I usually find something interesting.
Hein Retter
It depends on what is at hand. In the best possible situation I scan in the text, turn it into a readable PDF document (where you can conduct word-search), I then create either a specific WORD-document where I jot down whatever I believe to be useful for me later on, or if working a topic I'll create a WORD-document on that topic wherein I collect information from various sources.
All this I store on internal and external HDD, collect it under general folders (either general "Literature" or specific Literature) or collect it in a general Literature folder and use links to sort those in specific Literature folders. I then get my search engine to work the files and whenever I am looking for certain data I will use that search engine (Copernic Desktop-Search) to find a specific text or any text containing specific information. In one case I used formulars that contained specific information so I was able to find those more easily. Nowadays I often use fixed terms to mark information at a specific position.
If you are making notes for a literature review, enough bibliographic information must be noted. Include the following bibliographic details in the case of books and journals.
- Name of author/s, editor/s, or organization
- Title of article, book, or chapter (if it is an edited book)
- Volume and issue numbers (for journals)
- Edition and reprint (for books)
- Name of publisher (for books)
- Place of publication (for books)
- Year of publication
- Inclusive page numbers (for articles and chapter articles)
- Total pages(for books)
In the case of electronic publications, especially on-line publications, the details required are different. Note down the following details:
- Name of author/s, editor/s, or organization
- Title of the article
- Title of the site (i.e., homepage)
- Date of creation of the site
- Modified or updated date
- Date of access
- Full address of URL/DOI
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- Science topic
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