Research can be grueling and time-consuming. Thanks to the internet, you can access an endless pool of information with a few clicks to get you started. People engage in research for various reasons. Whatever the case, knowing how to achieve your research goals is a necessary skill in the digital space. With the steps below, you can hone your skills and become an expert researcher.
Incorporate Appropriate Search Tools
When browsing the web, you can either use search tools or select credible websites. There are various web portals to use for your tasks. Currently, the most popular search engines include Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Google owns the largest database and provides an extensive selection of results. Using Google Scholar, you can easily find academic articles which rarely appear on general search results.
Getting the Most Out of Search Tools
Finding a reliable search tool is just a small step in the research process. To ensure that your search engine gives rich results, here are some tips:
- Be Specific
To sift your search, try to be as specific as possible. For example, typing “rocking chair” will give more general information than typing “wooden rocking chair.”
- Use Simple Words
Using the simplest form of the keyword for your search yields better outcomes. Avoid adding prefixes or suffixes to your words. For example, use “luxury” instead of “luxurious.”
- Take Your Time
The results appearing first might not match your expectations quality-wise. It is better to take some time and skim through the bottom results or those on subsequent pages.
- Incorporate Quotation Marks
When you enclose a word with quotation marks, search engines can generate more specific results.
- Omit Unnecessary Words
By placing a minus sign before a word, you can find higher quality information as such words will not feature on your results page.
Identify Your Research Topic
When scouring the internet, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the numerous sources of data. Having a well-defined research topic is the first step to an effective research process. If you find it challenging to pick a topic, consider using https://essayservice.com/essay-topic-generator for interesting essay headlines. It is advisable to identify the main keywords to give direction to your search and avoid distractions. Experimenting with different keywords ensures access to detailed information specific to your headline.
Use Reputable Sources
There is a vast collection of online materials to use; some are factual, while many contain falsehoods. Using credible sources in your work helps build trust and strengthens your findings. Finding reputable sources involves identifying these sources and knowing how to evaluate them for possible bias. There are two main sources of research material: primary and secondary sources.
Primary sources include interviews, speeches, case studies, clinical reports, autobiographies, and dissertations, while secondary sources present content from a different source, whose author may not have participated. They include publications such as journal articles, e-books, literature reviews, and bibliographies. Combining both primary and secondary sources is necessary for a balanced paper.
Qualities of Reputable Sites
Whether you opt for primary or secondary sources for your work, it is imperative to identify reputable sites for your online research. Here are some pointers to a site’s credibility:
- Relevance
Generally, content is relevant when the date of publishing does not exceed ten years. Older articles tend to have outdated information that may have been proven wrong by new studies.
- Availability of Proof
Various elements like charts and result findings go a long way to validate a source, as long as they are a true representation.
- Author
Established authors have a large following and a name to protect. They put a lot of work into their projects to provide credible information.
- Origin
You can determine a site’s reputation by identifying its origin. Government websites, denoted by .gov, are reliable resources for your research.
- Purpose
What purpose does the content serve? Is it promotional in nature, or is it educational? Anyone can create a website and share one-sided information with the public.
- Target Audience
Establishing the audience can help you identify a reliable source. For instance, scholarly articles published for academic audiences are the result of extensive research and are a reliable source.
- Scope
Reliable sources like books are comprehensive enough to guarantee credibility in comparison to magazine articles, which contain limited information.
Prepare a Rough Draft
Once you have gathered enough material to start working, it is always advisable to prepare a rough draft. Apart from ensuring your ideas flow seamlessly, a rough draft ensures that you do not omit vital points as you write. A draft needs brevity and clarity to avoid doing double work and disorganizing your ideas.
Conclusion
Developing research skills takes time and effort but goes a long way to ensure you deliver quality academic papers and earn good grades. By following these guidelines, it is just a matter of time for any student to move from average performance to an excellent one.
