Stop collecting them!!! U need to organize them!!!
I never did any serious research before. So when I walked into the archives at the library, I was terrified. I had no idea where, how I should start my research. I still remember the feeling when I opened the first files’ box; I felt everything in that box was relevant to my research topic, and at the same time, I felt everything in that box was irrelevant to my research topic. I was even shocked by myself that I could even have ridiculous thoughts like that.
Then I started my long-lasting reading and tried so hard to find anything that could use for my research. My research topic is: Why did Santa Clara University become co-education in 1961 from a private Catholic males’ college. I read files about co-education in SCU, events happened couple years before 1961, and I even read some files about students’ feelings during the years of wars. And the truth was that I literally took 107 photos in the archives because I was so afraid that I might miss something essential to my research. But, my mind was still empty like a hole even though there was 107 photos in my phone; I did not know where to start, what to write, how to write at all.
And you know what I did which was kind of awesome? I went to the archives again because I mistakenly believed that the reason I cannot start writing was that I did not collect enough significant data and information. So the second time, I took 60 more pictures in my phone.
Then I started taking notes about the photos I took in the archives. I needed to select those pictures meticulously and found out the information, articles, and data that can be effective in my research. And then I realized one thing that I wanted to scream so hard that why didn’t I understand it before; The data in the archives is infinite. I can never all the information I need if I don’t know how, and when to end the research in the archives. I can keep collecting, reading and spending my whole life on making sure that I have rich sources, but I can also collect enough effective files and then I organize them into a complete, detailed and accurate research.
The thing I realized is that collecting data is not the only important things in a research, and the ways I organize, arrange the data to make the claims, have my own arguments and make conversations with my readers are also really vital.
A great researcher never actually needs thousands of files to support his research because he can always find appropriate numbers of documents and then organize them effectively.
So just like what Barney said: the world is a mess and I just need to rule it.
The archives can also be a mess sometimes and I just need to rule it.
Enough for today’s blog. And here comes my best blessing to all my readers and everyone:
And btw, not only every night;
Let’s make it every single day!!!