Do you need to write a text or do you need to find information and you are looking for the right resources? Follow the step-by-step plan below.

Step 1: define your subject

• Narrow down your subject based on the literature you find.
• Explore the subject. You can read a paper of your teacher/promotor, for example, to discover what their expectations are.

Step 2: find information

• Now that you've formulated your research question, you can start looking for information (you can find a list of helpful tools here). First read theoretical sources, then explore empirical research.
• Search systematically, use the snowball method.
• Clarify your concept and draw up a clear theoretical framework.
• Assess the sources you find: understand the perspective in each particular source so that you can put the information in context.
• Assess (internet) sources critically and note the date you consulted an internet source.
• Select recent sources.

Step 3: process information

• Keep track of your search methods through notes, doodles, schematic overviews, etc.
• Analyse, combine and synthesise the information.
• Take special note of the search entries that generate the most important/relevant information.

Step 4: compile a reference list