Research Strategies

Anant Patil

In this age, we are inundated with information. We, as researchers,  have to filter it and find only what we need. In this article, I'll share with you some tips I've learnt over the years.

1.   Define your problem.

      Identify and define your problem. The clearer the problem, easier it is to find an answer. For example, your topic may be global warming, but you may be investigating a possible correlation between global warming and the recent Florida hurricanes. By narrowing your topic to this specific area, you can focus your searches and find more relevant information.  

2.   Select a search tool.

      There are lots of search tools available at our disposal. For many of us, the Internet is the most convenient and familiar place to start, but don't forget the resources that libraries offer. Libraries provide not just the books, periodicals, and journals, but also electronic services such as Dialog, Nexis/Lexis, Factiva, Westlaw, and others. If your library gives you access to these resources, you should take a look. It's an eye-opening experience to see how much quality information is not publicly available on the Web.

      For those using the Web for research, search engines are a great way to find information. Search engines are good for finding targeted and precise information. I use Google as my main research tool, but there are several different search engines (and even meta-search engines). At times, there are significant differences in the search results from the different search engines. If you're not satisfied with the information you're locating, it may help to try another search engine (I'd also recommend rephrasing your search query).

      Subject directories are great for finding research oriented queries, queries that involve exploration of a topic. Usually sites listed in the subject directories are reviewed by experts in the field. They are often authoritative sources of information on those topics. Many of the resources that are accessible via the Web, are not indexed in search engines. This information is often referred to as the "Invisible Web". Subject directories often point to many of these valuable resources.

      I also want to take a moment to mention forums, news groups, listservs as a way of exchanging ideas and sifting through topics discussed by other members.

      For a detailed discussion on search tools, see Finding the Right Information on the Web.

3.   Data collection and analysis.

      This is an area where many of us fall short. We focus on gathering information, but we give little thought to how we will organize the information once we retrieve it. For information oriented data, I use askSam to collect, organize and analyze. I collect notes and snippets of information in my notes database. Once I've all relevant data collected, I go through notes and shortlist 3 to 5 main ideas I've collected. Lastly, I go through each item in detail rejecting least favorable ideas one by one until I've one idea that meets my objectives. On other occasions, I synthesize main ideas together to provide me with a broad overview.

      For numerical data, I use Excel. Excel gives me the ability to perform basic mathematical functions on the data. For controlled experiments and academic research, I use SAS. SAS is a statistical analysis tool that lets you perform procedures like Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Frequency Distribution, Probability, Regression Analysis and much more.

4.   Results & Findings.

      I present my results and conclusions in a report, paper, powerpoint presentation or in tabular format. If you're writing an academic paper, you will need to cite your research sources and/or prepare a bibliography. I'd recommend Citation to create footnotes, endnotes and bibliographies for your research.

      For formal papers and presentations, one often sees much effort in the presentation of the results. This is often not the case for research presented internally. Obviously, spending extreme amounts of time making an internal report look "pretty" is not the most productive way to spend a day. Nevertheless, you want to make sure you do not neglect the presentation of your results. Make sure the information is easy to read and understand. Let people know that you did the research to back up your work.

      For example, I once asked two people in our company to look at a couple of software products and recommend the one that they thought would best suit our needs.

      The next day I got two replies. The first reply said: "Use product A".

      The second reply said, "I evaluated products A, B, and C, and I feel that C best suits our needs." The reply then went on with a summary paragraph of why he felt that product C was best followed by a list of the three products with price and positive and negative aspects of each product.

      When I read the two replies, I felt that more thought had gone into the second evaluation (which may or may not have been the case - but that was my perception). In addition, I was very impressed by the co-worker who sent the second reply, and I mentioned his thorough work to several others in the company.

      There's an important lesson here - the way you present your results affects the confidence others have in your work.

5.   Get Organized.

      Finally, get organized. Organize your research in such a way that you can find it quickly later on. You never know when you may need to update your research, or when questions will arise about a particular fact or source. Information you gather for one project may come in handy for another purpose. If your research is well documented and organized, it's easy to go back and use or update old sources.

      I use the askSam research template to organize documents and reports I've written. Watch a tour on Manging Notes, Research and Random Information using the research template.

References:

Finding the Right Information on the Web, http://www.asksam.com/four/surf31/article.asp

The Search Process, http://www.slu.edu/departments/english/research/page5.html

Checklist of Internet Research Tips, http://library.albany.edu/internet/checklist.html

Steps in the Research and Writing Process, http://karn.ohiolink.edu/~sg-ysu/process.html

Organize Your Digital World, http://www.asksam.com/four/surf41/article.asp

Tips for Using Technology in Research Writing, http://www.asksam.com/four/surf32/article.asp

I hope you found a few of these tips and resources helpful. If you would like to contribute your own tips on research strategies, please feel free to post them on our forums.

Anant Patil

askSam Systems