2.3 Scan

Scanning material such as journals, organisation documents and web pages can help generate ideas. Journal abstracts are useful for ideas about current research; conclusions often mention the need for more research, suggesting gaps or hinting at areas that require further investigation. Organisation documents can provide insights into how legal issues are being engaged with; they may suggest gaps and difficulties that are ripe for research.

Websites can also be a useful and quick way of generating ideas. Most especially because the information is current and presented succinctly. Hyperlinks and search facilities also enable you to follow an interest with ease. Websites that may be relevant for researchers include those of international organisations, governments, international courts, academic blogs and funded research projects, for example.

Court reports, particularly those containing judicial ‘asides’ are a valuable source of ideas. Equally, official inquiries that have a particular remit often indicate peripheral but important matters not investigated. When you are generating or refining ideas these sources are a rich seam for you to mine.