Doing Better Research: Top Five Tips
Research-research-research.
Even if you are the most advanced student, this word usually gives you a headache. That’s totally understandable. Academic life is demanding, and you need to give your best to ensure that you make your star shine Rihanna-bright.
Here are some tips for improving your research technique in no time.
Tip#1 Take a piece of paper and a pen
Every research starts with a good puzzle or idea. Easier said than done, right?
Sure, you might have some ideas in your head, but you also need to write them down. Let’s do it the old-school way. Take a piece of paper (it’s usually white) and a pen (that long plastic thing that makes the click sound) and jot down these ideas. Since your hand is an extension of your brain, you are likelier to activate it faster this way. While at it, draw random ornaments, animals, or faces: It helps your mind relax and thus come up with solutions.
Tip#2 Look for all relevant literature
Once you have identified your puzzle, it’s time to find out what others had to say on the subject. Some people like to claim that they are pioneering the field. This is never the case. If you can’t find specific literature, you can always include other relevant books, articles, or sources. For example, if you are vetting an understudied country, try searching for information on the region or timeframe instead.
Tip#3 Create a go-to storage early on
Please, don’t procrastinate. Trust us, it won’t take you long to realize that you have no idea where to find the article or the book that you so desperately need. And that’s true hell, especially once you start compiling your reference list the night before the deadline. xTiles is perfect for the purpose. You can store all your data, notes, and observations in one place.
Tip#4 Make sure your framework is simple
Your framework must help you make sense of your data, regardless of whether it’s qualitative or quantitative. Overly complicated frameworks are unnecessary because, first, no one’s interested in them but you (yup, it’s life). Second, it will be challenging for you to classify data afterward. You don’t want to end up with results that are too “multifaceted” — the code word for “doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.”
Tip#5 Be humble
Some people simply can’t resist claiming that they have made a “groundbreaking discovery.” There’s no need for that. Even if you read 30 books and 100 articles, you must remember that there are another 100 books and 30 articles you skipped. Besides, every research is limited in time and space. If you want to prove something, you will have to repeat your research at least several times. Preferably in different locations, too.
For more tips, check out our article on how to write concisely.
