Surveying the field

Introduction

"Knowing the field" is a vital part of research, indicating that you are aware of the main theories, structures, debates and propositions in a topic area, who is actively thinking about it, and which organizations have an interest in it or responsibility for it. Without this knowledge it is difficult to put together a credible research proposal and almost impossible to carry out research with any hope of success. This section of Yenza! provides links to online resources to assist you in surveying the field.

• The literature survey
• Fee-paying online services
• Networking and communication
• South African academic libraries
• South African tertiary institutions

See the Yenza! section on research outputs for additional journal-related information, including a list of South African online journals.