7.5: Knowing When You're "Done"

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How do you know when you're "done" researching? Or when you've found "enough" information?

It depends. :-)

Honestly, there isn't a cut and dry answer. It is truly up to you. Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself as you are considering stopping your research:

Are you stopping because you are frustrated with the process, or because you have found the information you need? If it is the former, take a break and try again with a different search strategy. Ask for help from a librarian!
Are you finding sources that clarify your argument or complicate it? Be wary of complicating your topic, especially later in the research process. Look for clarity.
Are you finding the same information in all of the sources you find? Are the studies citing the exact same ones? If so, you probably have exhausted the research pool and it is time to move on to writing.
Are you running out of time to finish the assignment? Realistically, sometimes you need to cut your losses and move forward with writing using the sources you already have. This doesn't excuse you from having quality research, but a paper with only a few well researched sources is better than none at all.
Do you feel like you can meet the expectations of your assignment and your instructor with the resources you have? If so, proceed!

If you have met some of these criteria, then yes, move on from research.

When NOT to move on:

You are frustrated or bored.
You don't know where to find relevant information.
The first source you see has a reference to your topic in the title.
You haven't found what you need yet.

Moving on is sometimes one of the most important steps of research. BUT it can be a bit deceptive! Sometimes, while you are writing, you realize that you need more information on a certain piece of your argument. So, you have to go back to the research stage - iterative searching! This is one reason why we encourage people to start their papers early. It isn't that you can't crank out a paper the night before it is due - it is just that you aren't likely to have a well researched paper.