Information retrieval is a process during which you explore broadly and comprehensively what has previously been written and researched on the topic. It begins with familiarizing yourself with the subject—you need to have an idea of what topic you are interested in and what kind of information you want to find.
If the topic is unfamiliar, you can start by googling or browsing websites and articles related to the subject. This helps you form a general understanding of the topic and, at the same time, discover useful keywords for database searches.
Once the topic becomes more familiar, the next step is to narrow it down and identify its key concepts. Tools such as mind maps or concept maps can be helpful here, as they assist in organizing and visualizing the relationships between concepts.
