Identifying Relevant Phenomena
Researchers are strongly advised to reflect on the phenomena likely implicated in their research question, and even tentatively map how these interact [see Mapping Interdisciplinary Connections], early in the research process. If instead researchers are guided entirely by the existing literature, they risk omitting phenomena simply because previous researchers have ignored these. Of course, they are likely to add other phenomena to their map as the research proceeds.
Researchers can be greatly aided in this task by access to a list of the phenomena that they might consider. Such a list is available for human science:
Phenomena Investigated in Human Science
A more detailed list, intended for the purposes of a library classification, and with some extension to natural science, is available at: