As you write your first draft of what you are going to write, be it a blog post, a thesis, or an article, you’re likely to find that, at some point, you don’t possess sufficient knowledge to continue. During this time, you should begin to do some research in order to provide you with more information.
Research Skills: Why Are They Important?
In any kind of writing, whether it is artistic or academic, finding material and organising it into an outline is crucial. It is imperative for writers to develop effective and systematic research approaches in order to be able to write competently and authoritatively on any topic.
Research Skills: Six Tips
If you are looking for ways to improve your ability to conduct research and write effectively, consider the following research strategies and tips:
● Let’s begin with the big picture, then drill down to the details
In the course of conducting research, it might be difficult to know where to begin; however, it might be beneficial to conduct a quick online search as a starting point. In spite of the fact that search engines like Google and encyclopaedias like Wikipedia are not always reliable, they are able to provide you with a useful overview of a subject, including its background and most important points like examples of interval data.
● Identify quality sources.
When it comes to evaluating credible sources, it is essential that you know how to distinguish them from less credible ones. Using your reasoning and analysis abilities, consider the following questions to help you choose a trustworthy source: To what extent does this source corroborate the information I’ve acquired from other places? What is the author’s level of expertise? Does the author’s perspective include any bias on this issue?
● Make sure all information is verified from multiple sources.
A large part of the content that is published in today’s vast environment of the Internet is not checked for accuracy, and anyone may publish anything they like. Based on the available information, it appears that there is a large number of unreliable and/or erroneous sources. In order to prevent this from happening, it is essential that you double-check that your research findings have been verified by other independent sources in addition to your own. Do not rely on just one online source as the basis for your decisions; instead, double-check them using two independent sources before making any decisions.
● Embrace unexpected answers
The goal of good research is to answer your research questions instead of simply confirming your preconceptions as it is more likely to produce useful results in the long run. Using confirmation only as your primary method of research is a bad idea since you will be forced to cherry-pick your data in order to create a complete picture of the issue and you will not be able to gain a complete understanding of it. It is important to keep an open mind while studying if you want the best results from your time spent studying.
● Maintain an organised routine
A deluge of media formats will be exposed to you whilst gathering information, from web pages and PDFs to films, as you continue to gather information. There is also the need to maintain this information structured in such a manner that you do not forget anything or are unable to locate a particular source when needed. As it turns out, there are a number of ways for you to maintain order in your research endeavour. Among them are the following options. Among the different citation tools you can use, you will find index cards, bookmarks in your web browser, and an annotated bibliography that you keep up to date.
● Use library resources to your advantage
Regardless of whether or not you are a student doing research for a class project, there are many resources available to you that can assist you in improving your research skills. In fact, many college and university libraries provide services for the general public, as well as for students, teachers, and staff, in addition to providing services for students, faculty, and staff. The library’s website provides information on how to conduct research as well as access to specialised databases and research instructions.