1. Introduction to the aims of the project.
2. Where do you position search within your general research methodology?
- Awareness of what/when/how you search.
- How does search link into the conceptualisation of your research?
- Where did your research methodology develop from? e.g. formal training, experience-based etc.
- Have your methods changed over time in response to new resources becoming available? e.g. digital repositories.
3. How does your knowledge influence how you go about starting a search?
- Working concepts?
- Periodisation?
- Input of other scholars?
- Categorisation?
- Knowledge of sources in your research area?
4. Could you describe how you develop a search strategy/what path your research process takes?
- Set general or specific research questions?
- Broad to narrow search?
- Mindmap the steps of search and stick to it?
- Change path of search according to what is found?
- Phases?
5. How do you make links / cross reference your findings?
- Do you “complete” a search in one go?
- More iterative approach?
6. Please describe how you would go about a search (a specific piece of research)
- Give details or specific examples.
- Why do you do it like this?
7. How do you interrogate data sets or archives?
- Give details or specific examples.
- Why do you do it like this?
8. What are some of the practicalities of search?
- What constraints do you feel are placed on you?
- Traditional sources vs. web sources.
- What is important in an online resource? Validity etc.
- Do you navigate to known sites or access new resources through web searches?
- How do you find out about new resources?
9. Do you have a concept of how web-based search works behind the scenes?
- Metadata / tagging etc. ?
- Does your knowledge influence the way you input search terms?
10. What are some of your preferred resources?
- What makes them useful?
- What makes you return to them time and again?
11. Have you had issues with any resources?
- What resources have you rejected and why?
- Any recurring problems or annoyances?
12. In an ideal world what would you want search to do?
- What could be some steps for achieving this?
- Do you think your suggestions are implementable?