Steps for Effective Research

When I started my class on research, I thought it would be easy. I have been doing research projects for years, so this should be no problem. Boy was I wrong. There are so many resources that I never even thought of looking for. I think I need a lot of work if I am going to become a more effective researcher.

Step one is to determine the purpose and the audience of the piece. I don’t always worry about the purpose. When writing about controversial issues, I often write about what side I am on, and only briefly mention the opposing side. The problem, to be effective, I need to cover both sides of the issue in depth. Formatting can also be a problem for me. I am just learning the different formats, and sometimes, I make mistakes. Luckily, there are instructional videos and websites that I can use to perfect the formatting.

Step two is creating a research strategy for the project at hand. I start with an outline, and use the internet to find resources. I thought I was effective in this area, but I seem to be lacking. The purpose of a research strategy is to “avoid wasting time and wandering aimlessly through the massive amounts of information available” (Solomon & Taylor, 2012, pg.24).  I tend to wander quite a bit when researching. I need to be more focused in my searches.

Step three is my evaluating information. This is one area I am good at. I always check my information for accuracy and relevance. My son is studying journalism, and we have discussed the importance of fact checking when writing anything. I do sometimes forget to check for bias, so I do need to work on that. This is the easiest step for me because it has become like second nature to me.

Step four is organization. Once all the information is gathered, it is time to put the paper together. This is where the main ideas of the paragraphs are determined and then put the proper information to support these ideas. I am fairly good at organizing information into proper order so that it makes sense and is orderly.

The final step is communicating the information to others. This is where knowing your audience is important. If you are presenting information in a formal setting, you don’t want the presentation to be informal. You also need to determine how you will present the information. I prefer written, but that is not always the best way to present information. I feel I have a good grasp on communication.

As you can see, I still have a great deal of work to become a great researcher. I am hoping I will become more efficient as I continue my schooling.

References:

Solomon, A., Wilson, G., & Taylor, T. (2012). 100% Information literacy success (2nd ed.). Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.