Comments on: 6 Ways to Conduct Accurate Research

By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith

Rebecca Laffar-Smith — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:31:58 +0000

I’m a check and double check kind of researcher. Google is great, there are many times it has provided wonderful results for my research but if I’m say, looking up a quote but can’t remember who said it or exactly what it said, I’ll browse until I find what I think it is, then double check that with a search specifically for that phrasing or that person.

If the quote and credit is accurate there will be a huge number of results coming back from the specific search term. If it is wrong there will be a very small number of results.

I also remind myself that, “just because it appears in print doesn’t mean it’s right”. Even the Webster’s dictionary gets it wrong from time to time, that’s one of the reasons it gets revised frequently. Text books, proofs, reference guides, etc. are all capable of making errors.

Thus, check and double check. Don’t depend on ANY single source.

By: Dani

Dani — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:15:16 +0000

There have been times when I have found Wikipedia helpful, when I needed more info or was stuck/coming up empty. It is loaded with info I can then research independently and from reliable sources (dates, locations, names, events). Usually, the info from Wikipedia has been related in some way to the topic – so I had a lead as to where to find more, and reliable, information. Any research I get from the internet I make sure is coming from a reliable source (.gov, .org, etc) and I try to verify from at least 2 other sources. I try to ensure that all three are not just the same thing regurgitated, but independent pieces that all verified the same general info. Did that make sense?

Speaking of regurgitation, how often do YOU (anyone) check to see if your content has been stolen or ’spun’ and reposted online? Frankly, I am bothered by the fact someone can take your original work, rewrite a few words and then its not considered a copyright violation or plagiarism (I’ve been told).

If its the same info with only a few words replaced or a line or two taken out or added, it sure feels like plagiarism to me.

By: Damaria Senne

Damaria Senne — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:13:06 +0000

I subscribe to a lot of research houses in my field and they send me summaries of their newly launched reports ( some of the US-based ones are the IDC, Portico and Commtouch.)

If something in the summary interests me, I ask nicely for a specific portion of the report.

They have all been happy to give me sections of the report for free, and to arrange telephonic interviews with the report writer if I need something clarified.

I also interview experts ( mostly by phone, so location doesn’t matter).

I’ve also identified a number of institutions, whether non-profit, government or academic, which I track. I regularly check their web sites for new reports and media statements.

This gives me story ideas and jumpstarts my research process.

By: jen

jen — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:36:33 +0000

With regards to Wikipedia, writers (for respected venues) can’t cite Wikipedia as a reference (and shouldn’t be permitted to). However, check with your children’s schools as many (including my own) are allowed to cite Wikipedia in research papers. Does that mean they soon will be permitted to in college? And then professionally?

By: Lara

Lara — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:31:14 +0000

I do understand. Perhaps being a nurse as well as a writer who has certainly had lives in my hands I took that comment to heart.

By: James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips

James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:15:46 +0000

@ Lara – maybe not to that extreme, but bad writing can have serious effects. Take a look at some of the content out there on the Internet. It promotes unhealthy practices (like quack diets) or questionable means of attaining success. People take action on what they read, many times, and that can be very dangerous.

Consider this: A person takes medication X for depression. He or she really wants relief from an issue, and some article promotes using product Y – without stating the potential risks or while offering inaccurate information from a questionable resource.

The person consumes both X and Y, and suffers a heart attack because the medication conflicted.

I go to extremes, but it can and does happen. Frequently.

By: Lara

Lara — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:08:49 +0000

“Obviously, there’s incompetence (or even malice) in every field: you know the psycho doctor or nurse who decides to put some lethal amount of medicine in a patient’s IV, etc”

Are we sure that bad writing/plagarism/paraprasing/lazyness is as bad as murder?

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:29:44 +0000

I live in a very rural area and if it wasn’t for the Internet I would be frequently driving 40 minutes into the library and 40 minutes back to do research. And at today’s gas prices – there goes my fee!

So I jump start things on Google, primarily for sources such as associations, newsletters, magazines, experts, etc. Another place I search on the internet is Amazon to see what books and other media are being produced around the topic and how recently. If I find a few books that fit my research, I can then go to the library online and request those books and have them delivered to our little local library only 2 miles from my house! That and my phone saves on a lot of mileage.

By: James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips

James Chartrand - Web Content Writer Tips — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:19:27 +0000

@ RLD – Hehehe… I always get a kick out of picking out mistakes from my local newspaper.

By: RLD

RLD — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:15:41 +0000

“We’re already struggling to prove that there are *GOOD* web content writers who offer just as much quality in their work as the magazine writers.
Poor writers happen in ALL fields. Not just on the ‘net.”

Good call, James! There’s a newspaper in my hometown that is so poorly written, that I can’t bring myself to read it.