A High Schooler’s Guide to Doing Research (Part 3): Finding Background Information & Resources

By now, you’ve built a foundation: you understand what research really is (Part 1), and you’ve chosen and narrowed down your topic into something specific and manageable (Part 2). The next step is where most projects either build momentum or stall: finding background information and resources.

This stage is about grounding your curiosity in what’s already known. Before you design an experiment, create a survey, or analyze data, you need to know what research has already been done, what gaps exist, and how your question fits into the bigger conversation.

For high schoolers, this can be intimidating. Where do you find credible sources beyond Google? How do you know what counts as “background” versus your own contribution? And how do you make sense of mountains of information without drowning in it?

This post breaks it all down: where to look, how to filter, and how to actually use what you find.

Why Background Research Matters

Think of research as joining a group chat that’s been going on for years. If you barge in without scrolling up, you’ll repeat what’s already been said. But if you take time to read the messages, you can add something new, relevant, and valuable.

Background research ensures that:

• You don’t reinvent the wheel. You know what’s been tried already.

• You find gaps. The places where questions remain unanswered are your opportunities.

• You build credibility. When you cite experts, your project gains weight.

• You learn the language of the field. Every discipline has its vocabulary -background reading helps you sound like you belong.

  
  

Without this step, your research risks being shallow, repetitive, or disconnected.

Where to Start: Building Your Resource Map

Here’s a roadmap for high schoolers, moving from simple to more advanced sources:

1. General Overviews (to orient yourself)

• Wikipedia (yes, really): Not to cite, but to get a bird’s-eye view, keywords, and references at the bottom of each article

• Educational YouTube channels like SciShow, Kurzgesagt, or CrashCourse: Great for context and sparking ideas

• Introductory textbooks (your library or school has them)

  
  

Think of this step as learning the “big picture” before diving into details.

2. Popular & Semi-Scholarly Sources

• Magazines/Newspapers: Scientific American, National Geographic, New York Times science section. These explain current research in accessible language.

• Podcasts & Blogs: Many scientists and organizations publish blogs or podcast episodes summarizing new findings.

  
  

These sources give you updated information and real-world context, though they aren’t always rigorous enough to cite as primary evidence.

3. Scholarly & Peer-Reviewed Sources

This is where real credibility comes in. You’ll want:

• Google Scholar: Search academic papers. Pro tip: check the “Cited by” number to see if a paper is influential

• PubMed (for biology/medicine), IEEE Xplore (engineering/CS), ERIC (education), or JSTOR (humanities/social sciences)

• arXiv.org (preprints in physics, math, CS)

  
  

Even if you don’t understand every detail, reading abstracts and scanning methods can help you know what’s out there.

4. Local & Accessible Resources

• School Library Databases: Many high schools subscribe to EBSCO, Gale, or ProQuest. Ask your librarian!

• Public Libraries: Often give free access to databases that would otherwise cost hundreds

• University Libraries: If you live near one, many let students or the public use their facilities. Some even allow guest access to databases.

  
  

5. People as Resources

Don’t forget: research isn’t just about papers. You can also learn from:

• Teachers and mentors (they can point you to resources you didn’t know existed)

• Experts you email (researchers often love it when students are curious about their work)

• Communities & forums (Reddit’s r/AskScience, StackExchange, or even Discord/Slack communities)

How to Search Effectively (Beyond Typing Random Words)

One of the most frustrating parts of research is typing into Google Scholar and getting flooded with 50,000 irrelevant results. To avoid that, use these strategies:

1. Keywords: Start with simple terms, then refine. Example: Instead of “social media and teens,” try “adolescent self-esteem TikTok usage.”

2. Boolean Operators:

   • AND narrows

   • OR broadens

   • - excludes

3. Quotations: Use quotes for exact phrases: “machine learning melanoma”

4. Filters: On Google Scholar, sort by year to find recent work (last 5–10 years is usually best)

5. Citations: Look at the reference list of one good article - it’s like a rabbit hole leading you to more

   
   

Organizing What You Find

This step is as important as finding the sources. If you just dump everything into a folder, you’ll get overwhelmed. Try:

• Citation Managers: Free tools like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote keep your sources organized and auto-generate citations

• Spreadsheets: Track source, author, year, summary, and relevance

• Notion/OneNote/Google Docs: Create a digital “research notebook”

When you read, don’t copy-paste chunks. Instead, summarize in your own words what the paper is about and why it matters. This will save you from accidental plagiarism and help you truly understand the material.

How Much Background Research Is Enough?

A common question is: when do I stop? Here’s a rule of thumb:

• You’ve read enough when you can explain your topic clearly to a friend without constantly checking your notes.

• You’ve identified patterns. For example: “Most studies agree social media affects self-esteem, but few look at TikTok specifically.”

• You’ve found the gap. That gap is where your project lives.

Remember, you don’t need to read everything ever written. Focus on what directly connects to your question.

Mistakes High Schoolers Often Make

1. Relying only on Google searches: Credibility matters

2. Reading too much without taking notes: You’ll forget what you read

3. Not checking dates: A 1995 study on internet use isn’t relevant anymore

4. Quoting without understanding: Don’t just drop a fancy paper into your bibliography - know what it means

5. Forgetting people as resources: Talking to someone in the field can save hours of searching

Practical Example

Let’s say your narrowed topic is: “How does road salt affect soil pH in my town?”

• Start with Wikipedia → learn what road salt is, its chemical composition, and general environmental effects

• Check Google Scholar → search “road salt soil pH” and filter for the last 10 years

• Go to your library databases → find an environmental science journal article

• Take notes: maybe you find most research is about forests, not suburban neighborhoods. That gap becomes your angle.

• Bonus: email a local university’s environmental science professor. Ask if they know of regional studies - they may even share unpublished data.

This process builds your confidence and ensures your project is original yet grounded.

Final Verdict

Background research isn’t just a box to check. It’s the stage where your curiosity meets the world’s existing knowledge, and the two collide to create something new. It teaches you how to sift through noise, evaluate credibility, and sharpen your focus.

Yes, it takes patience. You’ll feel overwhelmed at first. But as you gather and organize, a story begins to form: what we know, what we don’t, and where you can step in. That’s when you know you’re ready for the next stage.

In Part 4, we’ll cover exactly that: turning your background knowledge into a solid research plan, with methods, timelines, and actionable steps.

About the Author: I'm Jophy Lin, a high school junior and researcher. I blog about a variety of topics, such as STEM research, competitions, shows, and my experiences in the scientific community. If you’re interested in research tips, competition insights, drama reviews, personal reflections on STEM opportunities, and other related topics, subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated!