A few methods and tips I personally employ when researching topics.
Firstly, theres a few different types of research, with the academic/theorhetical variant being chief among them. Of course data, numbers and where said research can be used often matters, but for the sake of personal knowledge it can be less pressing.
.Find Your Topic
The cornerstone of decent research is knowing where you’re starting and what exactly it is you’re looking for. Lets take something mundane like pool skimmers for example. Most people know what they are, and what they do- clean pools. Perhaps you want to know more than that, like where they got their name, where did they originate, etc…
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.Work Backwards
Topic in mind, now we can work backwards, in which case, we turn our attention to pools, briefly, because they’re integral to our anchor point. The point of working backwards is to find applications for your main topic, where can this thing be used, when, how- the basics. They’re important because it provides context that can heighten your initial understanding.
.Sourcing
Now we’ve got a topic, and a primary application, next is the location of sources. It’s easy to just type up a query and use the generated response, but that’s surface level, and can sometimes be somewhat misleading depending on the topic. Scholary articles, journal entries and sometimes even entire webpages can be dedicated to the topic you’re looking into. Sources are important though, and the best way to validate a source, is to check that info box at the end of a webpage, or by verifying the company/author is of solid repute. You wouldn’t take advice fishing advice from a carpenter that never goes out on a boat, would you?
.Make (Foot)notes
Finding new information is the easy part (mostly), but it’s pointless if you don’t retain the knowledge you accrue in some way. Note-taking, or leaving little tidbits of information tailored to your information retention style bring a deal of help to your research. Whether you prefer traditional sticky notes, or the app that comes with most devices, either or will work.
.Apply Apply Apply
Finding a place to apply this new knowledge is another valid part of research. The application of something learned is proof of your understanding, use it in a sentence (written or verbal). Find a real world situation that applies, the list of applications for whatever your learn goes on.
To wrap things up, research is something done often, and more frequently than people realize. It isn’t (and doesn’t have to be) academic all the time, either.
