Learn More :: 10 Tips for Conducting Research

Information, concepts, and opinions confront us at every turn during our daily lives. The billboards we pass on our way to work, the conversations we have with the people we know, the headlines we scan on the front page of the morning paper- all of these things contribute to our personal store of facts and ideas. Modern media- radio, magazines, newspapers, television, the Internet –make it possible for these ideas to be dispersed almost instantaneously. But do you ever wonder if you’re getting the whole picture? If the articles you read or the news stories you hear are reliable, or even true? If you want to know the answers to these questions and really understand something, we must questions assumptions and gather evidence. These two acts are the cornerstones of conducting research. Doing research is not just pertinent to academic pursuits, but also invaluable to learning about our world and society and the issues that concern us. It is essential to being a conscientious, well-informed, and contributing citizen. Whatever your reasons for conducting research, here are 10 tips to help guide you on your way.

1. Do lots of background reading. Before you even start to form an idea or thesis, read and learn all you can about the subject at hand. While doing this, take notes, keep track of your resources, make charts and lists, cross-reference, and do whatever else helps you to remember and evaluate all this new information.
   
   
2. Pick a topic. Be flexible about changing your topic as you gain more information. Narrow and adapt it to suit your needs and concerns. Don’t pick something that is so broad that you can only deal with it cursorily.
   
   
3. Use a variety of sources. There is more to doing research than just searching on “Google.” Alternatively, don’t just rely on books either. Find periodicals, watch documentaries, talk to people who have knowledge or first-hand experience about what you’re interested in.
   
   
4. Use primary documents. Secondary sources can be a wealth of information, but nothing can substitute for going straight to the root- read/see it for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Specifically regarding
   nuclear issues, you can find primary documents at http://pnnd.org/documents.htm
   
   
5. Approach the subject from a variety of perspectives. Don’t just read things written to support your point of view or thesis. Find out what the other side is thinking and writing, and why. This can give you a more complete picture of the subject and unexpected insights into it.
   
   
6. Cite sources religiously! Whether you’re quoting someone/something in a paper or just jotting down an interesting factoid, make a note of the source. This will save you countless hours of backtracking and also provides a good, documented starting point for someone else to pick up your work where you left off.
   
   
7. Follow the footnote trail. If you have trouble coming up with more resources, consult the bibliographies of those sources you’ve already used. Chances are a good, easy to read, and helpful article or book is also well-researched and well-documented- take advantage of the research someone else has already done!
   
   
8. Organizations and people that work in the field can be great sources of information. But don’t just call or approach them and expect them to go off on an impromptu speech (although that may happen). To get the most out of them, tell them exactly what you want to do. Have specific questions in mind!
   
   
9. Keep the big picture in mind. While doing research, it is easy to get bogged down by the seemingly endless lists of facts and figures, or even overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information that is out there. Don’t focus too much on all the details, but instead try to see how something fits into your overall understanding of the subject.
   
   
10. How do you know when you’re finished? There is no definitive answer to that question, but one rule of thumb is: you’re nearing the finish line when you start seeing the same resources multiple times. In other words, when the footnote trail starts leading you in circles. But again, research, whether it’s structured or not, is something you can and should do all the time. There’s always more to be learned, and more that is happening around you everyday.

Learn More :: 10 Tips for Conducting Research