Research Strategies

1. Research is Problem-Solving, Not Just Reporting

A research paper seeks to use data from various resources to answer a question or to solve a problem.

Shift perspective. Many students mistakenly view research as merely gathering information on a topic and then reporting what they've read. This "data as goal" philosophy leads to superficial summaries, not genuine inquiry. True research transforms data into a tool, a means to address a specific problem or answer a burning question.

Inquiry-driven approach. Instead of simply explaining a topic, effective research identifies an issue or controversy related to that topic. The goal is to analyze the collected data to grapple with this problem and work towards a potential resolution. This problem-solving mindset is the essence of critical thinking in academic work.

Beyond compilation. A project that merely compiles information, like summarizing the causes of World War I, fails as true research. It must instead pose a question, such as "Why did the murder of Archduke Ferdinand become the flashpoint that led to WWI?", and then use evidence to explore and answer that specific inquiry.

2. A Focused Research Question is Your Compass

The key to genuine research is a good question that addresses a problem calling for analysis.

Avoid ambiguity. A poorly constructed research question can derail an entire project, leading to confusion and wasted effort. Questions that are fuzzy, multi-part, open-ended, or simply unanswerable will result in unfocused papers that fail to advance knowledge.

Clarity is paramount. A good research question is singular, clear, and narrow enough to be addressed within the scope of the project. It provides a precise mental image of the goal, guiding the researcher in selecting relevant data and structuring their argument. For example:

• Bad: "Is Globalization a good thing?"
• Good: "What evidence is there that the development of global free trade actually improves the economic life of the poorest producers of goods?"

Thesis as a proposal. If a thesis statement is required, it should be a tentative answer to the research question, a hypothesis to be demonstrated through evidence. However, research questions often encourage a more open-minded investigation, reducing the risk of bias towards a predetermined conclusion.

3. Scholarship Thrives as a Dynamic Conversation

Research in scholarly and professional fields is a discursive practice in which ideas are formulated, debated, and weighed against one another over extended periods of time.

Knowledge in flux. Scholarship is not a static body of facts but an ongoing, evolving conversation among participants. Ideas are constantly formulated, debated, and refined, leading to progress and new understanding. Researchers enter this conversation, evaluating existing perspectives and contributing their own insights.

Engage with voices. When conducting research, it's crucial to identify the various "voices" or perspectives surrounding your topic. Each source contributes to this scholarly dialogue, and your task is to make sense of their arguments, critique them, and ultimately form your own conclusions. Ignoring these diverse viewpoints diminishes the depth and credibility of your work.

Beyond personal opinion. Research is not a soliloquy where you merely express your own thoughts. It's an active engagement with other scholars, acknowledging their contributions and building upon their work. Understanding this dynamic interplay of ideas is fundamental to producing impactful and respected academic contributions.

4. Strategic Searching Demands Diverse Tools

The fact is, however, that Google has lulled a lot of people into the false, wrong, mistaken, and hopelessly in error notion that searching for information is easy.

Beyond basic keywords. While general search engines like Google are convenient, they are often insufficient for academic research. Effective searching requires a strategic approach, utilizing a variety of sophisticated tools and techniques to navigate the "information fog."

Leverage academic databases. Academic libraries provide access to specialized databases for books and journal articles that offer more precise and relevant results than general web searches. These tools often employ advanced features like:

• Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) for combining terms.
• Truncation (e.g., educat* for education, educator).
• Faceted searching to narrow results in stages.

Google Scholar's role. Google Scholar is a valuable academic search engine for scholarly literature, books, and conference proceedings. However, it has limitations in search sophistication and full-text access, making library-subscribed databases often a superior first choice for in-depth academic work.

5. Master Metadata and Information Hierarchies

All data comes within a context. Without context the data cannot tell us what we need to know.

Metadata for precision. Metadata, or "data about data," provides descriptive terminology that enables intelligent database searches beyond simple keywords. It involves encoding information with identifiers like author, title, and subject, allowing search engines to distinguish categories and provide highly relevant results.

Controlled vocabularies. Unlike keywords, which are "flat" and simply match words, controlled vocabularies (like Library of Congress Subject Headings) are standardized terms assigned by human catalogers to describe what content is actually about. This ensures comprehensive retrieval of all relevant items on a topic, regardless of the specific words used in their titles.

• Keyword search: arctic ice might find "Under ice: Waldo Lyon..."
• Subject heading search: Sea ice—Arctic regions finds "Fever at the poles" (no "ice" in title).

Hierarchical thinking. Information is inherently hierarchical, organized from broad categories to narrow ones. Understanding where your topic fits within these hierarchies (e.g., "rock" as music vs. geology) is crucial for intelligently broadening or narrowing your search and interpreting results within their proper context.

6. Adopt a Ruthless, Analytical Reading Approach

Research is not for gluttons.

Efficiency is key. Faced with vast amounts of material, researchers cannot afford to be "gluttons," reading everything without discernment. Instead, they must become "connoisseurs," ruthlessly sifting through information to quickly identify what is relevant to their specific research question and discard the rest.

Strategic engagement. To efficiently grasp a source's core message without reading every word, employ several techniques:

• Books: Examine title page, preface, introduction, table of contents, and index.
• Articles: Look for abstracts, identify key propositions (statements the author believes to be true), and carefully read the conclusion.
• E-books/PDFs: Utilize "search within" features, but always read enough around the results to understand the context.

Constant questioning. Analytical reading involves continuous engagement with the text, asking probing questions: What is the author's main point? What are their biases? Is the evidence sufficient and fairly presented? How does this perspective compare with other sources? This active interrogation transforms passive reading into critical analysis.

7. Systematic Note-Taking Prevents Information Chaos

One of the biggest problems most students face is that they take too many notes that will later go unused.

Purpose-driven notes. Effective note-taking is directly linked to having a clear research question and preliminary outline. This focus helps researchers distill essential information, avoiding the accumulation of irrelevant data that will ultimately go unused.

Digital advantages. Going "all digital" with PDFs of articles and scanned book pages offers significant benefits. Using bibliographic managers (like EndNote, RefWorks, Zotero, Mendeley) to track citations and organizing PDFs with consistent naming conventions (e.g., Author - Title) ensures easy retrieval.

• Digital notes: Create a single Word file, copy/pasting excerpts, summaries, and personal insights.
• Tools: Evernote, Scrible, and scanner apps (CamScanner, Genius Scan) can aid in digital note creation and organization.

Quoting vs. Summarizing. While direct quoting ensures accuracy and provides specific evidence, summarizing forces deeper engagement and condensation of material. Paraphrasing, however, is generally not recommended due to its laboriousness and high risk of unintentional plagiarism. Always include full bibliographic information and page numbers for all notes.

8. Information Evaluation is Your Critical Responsibility

Warning: Not All Information Is Informative.

Discernment is paramount. In an age of information abundance, particularly on the World Wide Web where anyone can publish anything, critical evaluation skills are indispensable. Researchers must act as their own "gatekeepers," as not all information is reliable, relevant, or informative.

Key evaluation criteria:

• Author Qualifications: Assess the author's expertise and credentials in the subject area.
• Bias: Identify any underlying viewpoints or vested interests that might influence the information.
• Evidence vs. Opinion: Distinguish between factual claims supported by evidence and unsupported personal opinions.
• Relevance: Determine if the material directly addresses your research problem and fits your context.

Beyond search engine ranking. Never assume that search engine results are inherently good or vetted. Many professors will not accept websites in bibliographies unless their academic rigor can be proven. Always dig deeper for author and organizational responsibility, and look for signs of scholarship (e.g., logical organization, references) versus a lack thereof (e.g., poor grammar, unsupported claims).

9. Your Outline is the Blueprint for Coherent Writing

A paper written without an outline firmly before you or in your mind is a paper destined to confuse your reader and resist your hopes to communicate what you have discovered.

Roadmap to success. The outline is the crucial element that transforms a research question into a structured, coherent paper. It acts as a blueprint, guiding the researcher from introduction to conclusion and ensuring all necessary points are covered in a logical sequence.

Early development. Creating a preliminary outline early in the research process is vital. It gives body to the research question, helps visualize the final product, and allows for "germination"—the process of letting ideas develop and mature over time. This prevents last-minute, superficial writing.

Logical flow. Structure your final outline with a clear, natural order. General and introductory matters come first, followed by background information and the research question. For complex arguments or comparisons, consider:

• Chronological order for historical topics.
• Ascending/climactic order for building tension.
• Longitudinal or cross-sectional approaches for comparing viewpoints.
• Group points into 3-5 main headings with subheadings for detail and unity.

10. Academic Writing Demands Clarity and Objectivity

The mark of an educated person is not the length of words and sentences used but the ability to communicate complicated information in plain language.

Describe before analyze. A mature academic paper first objectively presents information or opposing viewpoints before offering analysis or criticism. This demonstrates fairness and strengthens your own argument by showing you understand the full scope of the issue. Avoid ridicule; it undermines your credibility.

Focus and logic. Maintain a singular focus on your research question throughout the paper. Ensure a logical flow of ideas, using transitional phrases to guide the reader smoothly from one point to the next. Every paragraph should contribute directly to answering your research question, avoiding irrelevant "bulges" of information.

Concise and explicit. Communicate complicated information in plain, clear language, avoiding jargon or overly complex sentences. Be explicit in your explanations, assuming your reader may not possess the same background knowledge. Use quotations sparingly, primarily as support for your own arguments, rather than as a means to present new data.

11. Plagiarism: The Theft of Intellectual Property

Plagiarism, to put it simply, is passing off someone else’s work as your own.

Academic fraud. Plagiarism is a serious academic crime, representing the theft of another person's creativity and intellectual property. It occurs when you use someone else's words or ideas without proper attribution, whether through direct quotation, paraphrasing, or simply borrowing unique concepts.

Consequences are severe. Despite the ease of copying digital text, detection methods (like Turnitin and advanced search engines) are increasingly sophisticated. The penalties for plagiarism range from a failing grade on the assignment or course to suspension or expulsion from the institution.

Beyond mere citation. Understanding plagiarism goes beyond simply adding a citation. It involves recognizing that:

• Information has an author, and claiming authorship for someone else's work is fraudulent.
• Acknowledging sources strengthens your argument by leveraging the authority of other scholars.
• Research is a dialogue, and stealing ideas kills that conversation, making your paper appear isolated and less credible.

Last updated: January 19, 2026