Handling the Overwhelming: Strategies for the Apparently Insurmountable
As a student transitioning from Law to Coding, I found myself faced with a new challenge: managing a large number of research materials for my Quantitative Junior Paper within the SPIA (School of Public and International Affairs). With approximately 200 source articles to work with, scanned from the New York Public Library and Center for Jewish History, I knew I needed a systematic approach to keep my materials organized and accessible when the time for writing came.
Early Planning and Consistent Organization
The key to managing such a vast amount of research materials lies in effective planning and a clear, logical organizational structure. I started by planning a structure early and documenting it for consistency and future reference. I used a system of well-named folders and files that grouped materials either by project phase, date, file type, experiment, or other meaningful criteria I identified for my project.
Key Practices
Beginning the organization at the project outset is crucial to avoid confusion or data loss later. I created informative folder hierarchies that kept all related files together, using folders by date, experiment, data type, and so on. I also adopted a consistent file naming convention that included important details such as date (in YYYYMMDD format for easy sorting), project or experiment name, data type, version number, and author initials if applicable.
To improve readability and compatibility, I avoided spaces and special characters in file names, using underscores, dashes, or CamelCase instead. I made sure each file name was unique to prevent overwriting or confusion, and I used digital tools to organize notes and data, grouping them into class or project-specific folders.
Additional Tips
Maintaining a written or digital record of my organization scheme was helpful when returning to the project after a break or working with collaborators. I also used color coding or binders if managing physical materials to visually separate classes or project sections. Regularly backing up my data and notes was essential to avoid loss.
Personal Experience
In my personal experience, I found categorizing sources too specific or ambiguous in the past. Instead, I recommend sticking to a few key concepts to organize your thoughts wisely. For example, I typed my notes instead of hand-writing them for easier keyword searching. I also typed themed category words next to notes on an article if relevant for easier keyword searching.
I began working in batches, looking through ten articles at a time and timing each batch to manage my time effectively. I typed my notes as I read, organizing them under the relevant categories I had pre-defined. This approach helped me stay focused and efficient while managing my large number of sources.
Conclusion
The combination of early planning, consistent folder and file naming schemes, and grouping materials by useful categories will help you efficiently locate, analyze, and share your research materials throughout your project. I hope these strategies will help any student researcher manage a large number of potential sources, making the process more manageable and the end result more effective.
Alec Israeli is the Humanities Correspondent.
During my transition from Law to Coding, I tackled the challenge of managing research materials for my Quantitative Junior Paper by adopting effective planning and logical organizational strategies. To manage the 200 source articles, I used a system of well-named folders and files, grouping materials by project phase, date, file type, experiment, for easy access and retrieval during my independent work for education-and-self-development, which facilitated personal-growth and learning.
